Poli-ticks
By Arlene Violet

Protect the First Amendment

Let’s get this out of the way: Bishop Thomas Tobin, as a United States citizen with the same constitutional rights as anyone else, has the right to express his opinion. Even more so, as a religious leader, he has the right and additional duty to express what he thinks are the doctrinal underpinnings of his religion. Whether you agree or disagree with him you should never block or limit his expression. Similarly, if you have a disagreement as the LBGTQ and its supporters do, you also shouldn’t be shut up in your counterargument.
Personally, I disagree with the Bishop. There are lots of folks who support the Pride parade because they eschew discrimination in any form. They adopt another Christian tenet as an overarching life guide, i.e. to love your neighbor as yourself. As a practical matter this means extending to everyone the same privileges and rights that you want for yourself. Further, the entire issue of one’s sexuality is one which has been studied and modified as more scientific information becomes available. While some regard the work of Kinsey (1948-1953) as the seminal work, Masters and Johnson (1959-1991) and a plethora of other researchers have raised important data which challenges the conventional wisdom of just what is normal vs abnormal sexual orientation and identity. This work should be encouraged not stymied.
Most importantly, the First Amendment in all its permutations should be protected. Recent events in Bristol and Fall River over a child’s story hour where a transgender person reads a story about tolerance has come under attack. Like everything else, parents have the right to vote with their feet. Either “walk” your kids to the story hour or walk the other way. You are in control. Publicly express your opinion as some women have done because they think the overly sexualized clothing worn by some transgendered people insults women as sex objects. All of this back and forth is important in a society.
Recently, there has been some consternation about an exhibit in the Bristol Art Museum where one artist submitted homoerotic pieces with a military theme. Again, folks can vote with their feet. Attend or not attend. Argue about its appropriateness or not. Only one thing please don’t do; ban it.
I, for one, am appalled by some pieces by Andres Serrano, like his snapshot of Jesus on the Cross soaked in the artist’s urine. Hate speech is obnoxious, but, I’d rather know how some people are still thinking then have it shrouded.
Further, some things which are considered heresy can also someday be correct. You only have to recall that the Church condemned and convicted Galileo of heresy for holding the belief that the earth revolves around the sun contrary to Church doctrine. Pythagoras (6th century BC) was ostracized for suggesting that he world was more round not flat. All of these incidences where the popular wisdom was challenged and ultimately proven to be wrong should serve up a healthy dose of humility to folks who think they know it all.
If free speech means anything, it means the right of others to express ideas which you may strongly oppose, trusting the people to sort out the wheat from the chaff. Plus, you and I might actually learn something!

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.