TVC Leader Troubled By Homosexual Activists Recruited by Bush Administration
April 12, 2001

Washington, DC – "The appointment of homosexual activists Scott Evertz to head the White House AIDS policy office and Stephen Herbits to screen Defense Department employees, sends an unfortunate message to those concerned about AIDS and military readiness and morale," said TVC’s Chairman, Rev. Louis P. Sheldon today.

Scott Evertz has stated that one of his first tasks is to reduce the "stigma" of homosexuality within the black community as a way of slowing the spread of AIDS. This is "homosexual-speak" and is an effort to use the dignity of the White House to promote homosexuality in our culture.

By saying he wants to reduce the "stigma" against homosexuality in black communities, Evertz is using a euphemism to describe his real objective: To actively promote homosexuality among blacks. If he does this, he will have to target black pastors who preach against homosexuality as a sin. "Will Evertz attempt to violate the religious liberties of black pastors to preach from the Bible against sin? If he does, he will have a major battle on his hands," observes Rev. Sheldon.

A recent CDC survey of young black homosexuals in their 20s indicated that as many as 30% of them are HIV infected. "Homosexuals—regardless of their race—are becoming infected with HIV because of their sexual behaviors, not because of stigma," said Rev. Sheldon. "Homosexual activists are claiming that homophobia is also a cause of HIV infections, but this a lie. It is homosexual sex that spreads AIDS, not social stigmas or opposition to deviant sex practices."

"If Evertz is going to attempt to destigmatize homosexual intercourse in the black community, he is going to increase the spread of AIDS in that community," notes Sheldon. "Evertz may unwittingly help create a more serious AIDS epidemic if he encourages more blacks to engage in homosexual sex acts."

"We do not pour gasoline on a fire to control its spread," said Rev. Sheldon. "Nor should we attempt to reduce the spread of AIDS by encouraging blacks to approve of homosexual sexual behavior."

Rev. Sheldon is also alarmed by the appointment of Stephen Herbits by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Herbits will be screening job applicants for the Pentagon. He has been senior counsel at Window Communications, a pro-homosexual public relations firm and was an original member of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a group that promotes the normalization of homosexuality in our culture. Herbits is also a long-time friend of Clinton confidant, David Mixner, an activist homosexual.

"Herbits’ appointment sends a message to Congress that the Defense Department openly supports homosexuals in the military, despite the Congressional ban," said Sheldon. "Herbits is an advocate for overturning this ban—despite the intent of Congress and senior military officials to protect the Armed Forces from homosexual activism. This appointment is a slap in the face to our servicemen and to Congress."

Traditional Values Coalition is an inter-denominational public policy organization comprising over 43,000 member churches. For more information call Christy Moore at (202) 547-8570. TVC, 139 C Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Web address: www.traditionalvalues.org.