Some African-American Christian women working for Oakland's government organized the Good News Employee Association, which they announced with a flier describing their group as "a forum for people of Faith to express their views on the contemporary issues of the day. With respect for the Natural Family, Marriage and Family Values."
The flier was distributed after other employees' groups, including those advocating gay rights, had advertised their political views and activities on the city's e-mail system and bulletin board. When the GNEA asked for equal opportunity to communicate by that system and that board, they were denied. Furthermore, the flier they posted was taken down and destroyed by city officials, who declared it "homophobic" and disruptive.
The city government said the flier was "determined" to promote harassment based on sexual orientation. The city warned that the flier and communications like it could result in disciplinary action "up to and including termination."
Read the rest of George Will's column in The Sun Herald.
George Will writes for newspapers and Newsweek magazine. He also appears on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday mornings. E-mail, georgewill@washpost.com.
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The group was just advertising its existence? While I don't think the government e-mail system is the proper forum to distribute political or social commentary, I have no problem with allowing groups to simply alert potential members as to their existence. It seems very hypocritical to allow one group to advertise but not another.
The First Amendment protects the freedom of expression, and one can be 100% opposed to a viewpoint but still respect the right of that person to hold it.
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