The Bottom Line

Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: News

Ron Correa declared a hunger strike early in the morning of Sunday, September 10. Correa had had enough. He was tired of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals being pushed aside by the media and the government.

Correa will not eat again until sufficient media attention is given to the inequalities between heterosexuals and the LGBT community.

But how do you decide when to stop?

"That was tough for me. Obviously if I waited for it to be discussed in Congress, I wouldn't be here very long," says Correa, smiling. "But I will wait until it provokes a discussion in the media."

Specifically, Correa will not consume any calories-only water-until his demands are met.

His demands include:

Revoke the Defense of Marriage Act, which grants benefits to male/female unions.

Fully invoke the First Amendment. Correa believes the U.S.'s current interpretation of the First Amendment is flawed.

"'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.' By not allowing homosexuals to have marriage they are violating this section of the First Amendment," says Correa. "They are beginning to establish a religion by promoting religions that do not believe in homosexual marriage."

Modify and Enact the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to include gender identity. The original Civil Rights Act does not specify sexual orientation or gender identity, therefore "you can still federally discriminate against LGBT persons in the workplace or in public," says Correa.

Revoke "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Correa believes that all persons "able-bodied and patriotic should be able to serve in the military. We should be equal across the board."

Correa has received a lot of attention to his cause through both his Facebook and MySpace profiles, attracting literally thousands of visitors leaving hundreds of comments.

Correa remembers his breaking point, the events leading up to his life-changing decision.

"I had been considering for a few months. I was reading a book called Stranger Among Friends, which was written by a civil rights lawyer named David Mixner," says Correa.

Stranger Among Friends is the memoir of David Mixner, who was a good friend to President Bill Clinton. Mixner says that he had convinced Clinton to allow homosexuals in the military, but Clinton listened to his cabinet instead, going ahead with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools