[Letter from James C. Barber to Dallas Voice dated November 4, 1986] Page: 1 of 6
This letter is part of the collection entitled: Louise Young and Vivienne Armstrong Papers (The Dallas Way) and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Special Collections.
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LAW OFFICES OF JAMES C. BARBER
4310 GASTON AVENUE
DALLAS, TEXAS 75246
JAMES C. BARBER*
STEVEN B. THORPE TELEPHONE
JOE K. CREWS 214-821-88
November 4, 1986
" BOARD CERTIFIED-PERSONAL INJURY TRIAL LAW
TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION
Hand Delivered
Editor
Dallas Voice
2727 Oak Lawn, Suite 105
Dallas, TX. 75219
Re: Recent DGPC Election Pamphlet Piece
by William Waybourn
Dear Voice Editor:
I am writing in response to an article by Mr. William
Waybourn, an official of Dallas Gay Alliance, in the recent
election pamphlet handed out by the Alliance's political arm, the
Dallas Gay Political Caucus. I am writing the Voice with the
hope that my views will be published, because I believe Mr.
Waybourn's piece may have seriously damaged and confused
important political efforts on behalf of gay people in this
community.
The essence of Waybourn's criticism is that the political
process is so sordid and mundane that it is distasteful for him
to even be involved in it, and he suggests that other gay people
and advocates of gay rights should feel the same. But at least
he recommends they hold their nose and vote anyway! He also
criticizes Democratic candidates Kathryn and David Cain for not
taking stronger stands on gay rights, in effect lumping them in
with all other political candidates regardless of how heinous
their opposition to the progress of gay civil rights.
Perhaps Waybourn's frustration with the political process is
understandable, but it is also dangerous. By insisting on a
candidate's open support of the repeal of Penal Code S 21.06
and/or the passage of a gay civil rights bill as essential
prerequisites to gay support, he is further isolating the gay
rights movement, and lessening the chance of ultimate victory on
this issue. Militancy on this issue may be understandable, but
confrontation politics should be a last resort. It is not a fair
trade to require a political leader to sacrifice his chance for
political victory by requiring him to take a public stand in
support of gay rights, even though in principle it may be the
morally correct thing to do. Politics is the art of the
possible, and only by patience and compromise will victory be
achieved on this issue. It will do the gay community little good
for one of these candidates to take a stand on gay rights and0@eid%>41
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Barber, James C. [Letter from James C. Barber to Dallas Voice dated November 4, 1986], letter, November 4, 1986; Dallas, TX. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1786647/m1/1/?q=%221986%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.