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124 Unit 2 ■ Appealing to an Audience

It’s the THEMS who benefit when the Gays going to do? As a supervisor, I will raise ques-
and the Blacks and the Latins fight amongst tions in public and demand answers. On how
© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
themselves. It’s the THEMS who want to tear the money is raised. And how the money is
down the homes and community centers of spent. I will force the other supervisors to
the USes for their special pet projects. It’s the stand up and be counted when it comes to the
THEMS who divide — and conquer. It’s the spending priorities of the city. As one imme-
THEMS who are the real outside agitators in diate example: Why money for every other
our communities. And they’ve been here for parade and none for the Gay Day parade, the
years. second largest in the City? Maybe the largest.
Who are the THEMS? They’re the ones. They And I will question the lack of priority for
pay the taxes and run the corporations and other groups and communities. It’s true that
have large investments in the city. I’ve run . . . and run . . . and run. . . .
But who buys the soap, the food, the towels, Why?
the shoes, the cigarettes, the beer and the Because I think there is a tremendous and
cars that make the profits for the corporations? vital difference between a “friend of the Gay
Who buys the insurance which provides the community” and an avowed Gay in public
profits for the THEMS? Who puts their money office. Gays have now been slandered nation-
into the banks so the THEMS can invest in wide. We have been tarred with the brush of
their pet projects? Who convinced us all that pornography, we have been libelously accused
somehow people removal was the same as in the Dade County Affair. It is not enough to
urban renewal? have a “friend” represent us, no matter how
One of the biggest myths spread by the 20 good a friend he or she may be. The Black
THEMS is that since it’s “their” money to begin community made up its mind to that long
with, they should say how the taxes are spent. ago when they realized that the myths about
But it’s your money. Oh, there’s a crumb here Blacks could only be dispelled by electing black
and there that’s tossed to the different com- leaders, so that the Black community could be
munities. They fund a program, anoint a few judged by those leaders and not by black crim-
“leaders” to run it who then go into the com- inals and myths.
munity and shout: “Look what they’ve done The Spanish community should not be 25
for us!” judged by Latin criminals and myths.
The THEMS get most of the pie, the The Asian community should not be judged
anointed leaders get a few crumbs — and by Asian criminals and myths.
therefore sing the praises of their masters — The Italian community should not be
and the community gets a few invisible judged by the Mafia and myths.
specks. The anointed leaders are the Uncle Neither should the Gay community be
Toms — and yes, the Gay community has its judged by its minutely few Gay criminals and
fair share. Look at who sings the praises of the myths. Like every other group, we should
government in power and you’ll see — for the be judged by our leaders. By those who are
most part — people who have been granted themselves Gay. By those who are visible. For
position or power or income. [the] Invisible, we remain in limbo. A shadowy
Now let’s get personal. Okay, Harvey, you myth, a person who has no parents, no broth-
say, enough of the rhetoric — what are you ers, no sisters, no friends who are straight,

03_williamideas1e_35663_ch02_084_159.indd 124 24/11/21 2:48 PM