Leaving aside the HORRENDOUS title of the article, it is an interesting piece on how the DC police department is trying to improve relations. I think that the Chicago PD was once trying that, but they've had such literally gruesome encounters lately that you wonder how it's going. They had horrible attrition with their out-gay officers, due to unceasing harassment within the department, and I don't know if that's gotten any better.
Mind, Parson does seem to be a bit ... misguided:
He also routinely walks through a "health club" on 14th Street where sexual rendezvous also happen in the locker room cubicles. He announces his presence over the public-address system and then walks through, shaking hands and handing out business cards. Sex in public is illegal in the District, which is why Parson makes his announcement. He is much more interested in other offenses, such as hate crimes and assaults, that some victims are hesitant to report. But, he said, if there were ever a need to raid such a club, he would want to be the one to do it. "It's the same reason why my father wanted to spank me," growing up, Parson said. "I know he cares, and I know he's not going to hurt me."
I'm sorry, but there's a difference between being spanked by your father and being arrested for having sex in public. The first does not usually carry the YO! GAYBOY ARRESTED FOR BEING PERVERTED IN PUBLIC! stigma. (If you're old enough to be doing such things, and your father is trying to spank you for it, you have many other problems to deal with in any event.)
Copyright © 2001, Iain Jackson, after-words.org
[Archives: 2001 and after]
Archives before February 5, 2001
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12/19/2001: vive la france
12/19/2001: princess, redux
12/19/2001: yemen and rumsfeld
12/18/2001: you're NOT in the army now
12/18/2001: interesting donation
12/18/2001: shame on winn dixie, indeed
12/18/2001: saudi princess
12/17/2001: new resolve
12/17/2001: a victim of the attack ... yeah, right
12/17/2001: polluters ho!