New PFLAG Leader Calls for Straight Talk on Equal Rights

The new national leader of PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, has come out and called on straights to embrace equal rights for everyone. John Cepek and his wife Char are leading the way, believing that as more straight people advocate for equal rights the effort will be more effective. PFLAG is a group of straight folks who support their gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender children and friends. As Char Cepek says:

“All we want is our law-abiding, taxpaying gay son to have the same civil rights as our law-abiding, taxpaying straight son."

Equal taxes should mean equal rights. If glbt people continue to be denied equal rights we shouldn't have to pay the same taxes as others. If marriage rights aren't available to everyone they should be available to none. The Fourteenth Amendment is quite clear about equality and even the Supreme Court has the term "Equal Justice Under Law" engraved over the entrance. Perhaps someday we'll achieve that situation.

With a campaign dubbed “Straight for Equality,” Cepek will call for more heterosexual people to “come out” for civil rights for gay folks. He’s seen that strategy already pay dividends in Illinois.

Heterosexuals played a huge role this month in thwarting anti-gay activists’ attempt to amend the state constitution to make sure homosexual unions would never be legal in Illinois.