ly caused rather than socially and culturallychosen" (Garber, p. 225). This statement brings up several ways of exerting control overdeviant behavior (linked to a particular group of people): by making the behavior apunishable, criminal act; by discrimination through laws; by not granting protection ofrights; and by prohibiting the recognition of same sex marriage (as if by not recognizingit, it isn't really there). An example of this social control is demonstrated in the case of Ballot Measure 9. In 1992, an initiative was put on the ballot to amend Oregon's state constitution toprohibit and revoke laws which protect homosexuals from discrimination. The Oregonreferendum sponsored by the Oregon Citizen' Alliance (OCA) further mandated that allgovernment agencies and schools recognize homosexuality as "abnormal, wrong,unnatural, and perverse"; and no government monies could be used to "facilitate"homosexuality. The issue became a campaign to vilify, demonize, and dehumanizehomosexuals. Note, the focus here was not on the behavior, but on the people. Religiousright organizations such as the OCA take the demonic approach with their sole objectiveto seek out, point out, control, and eliminate deviance. An example of this conflict is going on right now, here in San Diego County. People are upset that the Grossmont Union High School District voted to add the words"actual or perceived sexual orientation" to the district's nondiscrimination andmulticultural policies, which already include protection from discrimination based onrace, religion, gender, and disability. According to an article in the San Diego UnionTribune on June 4, 1999, those opposing the new policy that would give specialprotection to gay and lesbian students believe it is "enabling this (homosexual) agenda toinfiltrate the schools." One student remarked, "I think if they give the gay people rights,then they have to give everybody rights." Another parent r...
