There seems to be a great deal about this "anti-gay" situation that has been left unsaid by those who are campaigning to stop Andre Garcia from starting as Executive Director of the City of Buffalo Commission on Citizens’ Rights and Community Relations.
I remember sitting with Andy Garcia & Frank Messiah from the NAACP in the 1998 when those two men got the Council to add sexual orientation to the city anti-discrimination laws. No one from the glbt community pushed them to do it was actually their idea.
I also was one of the people running Barbra Kavanaugh's campaign for City Council and Andy Garcia attended fund raisers, did volunteer work and endorsed Barbra's candidacy.
I have privately been told that the complaint against Mr. Garcia while an administrator at Kalieda Health Systems was a result of a falling out between him and the complainant. I am sure that the complainant may have indeed been the target of words but due to the confidential nature of the employment based settlement we do not know the context of the situation and the settlement terms.
When Mr. Garcia was named to the Human Rights Commission position it was a no brainer for me because I know that Andres Garcia is not homophobic and does not have the capacity for it. Could he or would he call someone "faggot" out of anger or even do it in an a bad effort in humor? Yes. I am guilty of the same thing.
Are we really all so politically correct that we will deny our city the services of a man who immersed himself into our community and our lives?
Mike Campbell, the long time owner of the old Buddies bar called me the day after the this situation hit the news media. Campbell told me not only did Andy come to Buddiesfest evey summer but that Any always greets him with a hug and a kiss. Thats not just tolerance.
Would an anti-gay person push for the election of a lesbian to public office or initiate adding gays to anti discrimination laws? I do not think so.
The people that operate Aids Community Services and their Pride Center program seem to have launched this anti-Garcia campaign. I cannot fathom what they hope to gain out of it. It is unfortunate that they have chosen to target one of the local glbt civil rights movements strongest allies.
The Andy Garcia many of us is not only a friend of these groups of people that we tend to call "The Gay Community" but part of it.
I am not a personal friend of Mr. Garcia and I am also not a person who receives or looks to gain any benefit from supporting a City Hall position or stature. I am just sort of ashamed at what some gay and lesbian people are doing to a man who has done more for gay rights than they have ever done.
•Tim Moran, Publisher
