Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) August 5, 1997

********* ACTION ALERT ***********

LETTERS NEEDED: MURDER ACCOMPLICE IN GAY BASHING MAY BE RELEASED

Nancy Rodriguez's son, Paul Broussard, was killed on the 4th of July weekend in 1991. She has been notified that an accomplice in her son's murder, Paul Chance Dillon, is being considered for early release.

Ms. Rodriguez is asking for PFLAGers to please send letters once again encouraging the Board of Pardons and Paroles to NOT grant parole. She says, "The response of letters last time to TDCJ was just wonderful and I appreciate everyone's help tremendously. It means a lot to me to have such caring people sending protest letters."

Ms. Rodriguez says it is important to urge that parole be denied to this inmate, and SPECIFICALLY ask not to reset him for review for three years.

Below are some sample letters. The first one is by Asst. District Attorney Mike Anderson, and is included in this posting because it describes in uncompromising language the ugly facts of this case. The second serves as a suggested model for your letter.

 

1)

TDCJ
Pardons and Parole
P.O. Box 13401
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Paul Chance Dillon, TDC #00710455

Dear Sirs:

I am writing you to protest the release of a defendant that was convicted for his part in the murder of Paul Broussard. He and nine other men from the woodlands came into Houston during the July fourth weekend of 1991 and proceeded to a gay area of town to "fuck with some fags." There they met Paul Broussard and his two friends Kerry Anderson and Rick Delauny. Without any warning the ten defendants attacked the three victims.

The individuals that I am writing to you about threw Paul Broussard to the ground and began to kick and hit him in the face, chest and groin. Broussard was then stabbed and his wallet was taken from his pocket. Several of the assailants struck Broussard and his companions with boards with nails driven in them. Broussard later died from the injuries he received.

It would be unconscionable for this defendant to be granted early release. He participated in the attack in which a man was killed because of what they perceived his sexual preference to be. Although this attack occurred before any hate crime legislation was on the books, this is a hate crime plain and simple. This inmate should be denied early parole. If I may be of any further assistance please feel free to call me.

Sincerely,

Mike Anderson
Asst. Dist. Attorney
Harris County Texas

2)

Mr. Victor Rodriguez
Chairman, Board of Pardons and Paroles
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
P.O. Box 13401
Austin, Texas 78711

Dear Chairman Rodriguez:

It has been brought to my attention that Paul Chance Dillon, TDC #00710455, will be coming before the board soon. I urge you to deny parole in this case and to not reset him for review for three years, which I understand is in your power.

Mr. Dillon has committed a very serious hate crime and remains a threat to the community. Additionally, Mr. Dillon's victim's mother lives in another state and frequent review of her son's multiple murderers is expensive, time consuming and extremely stressful for her.

A strong, clear message that hate crimes are unacceptable, and will carry the maximum punishment must be sent. Please see that justice is served and do not grant parole to the killer of Paul Broussard.

Respectfully,

Your Signature

Your name written out

Your PFLAG affiliation (ie. Concerned PFLAG Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, Member, Chapter President, Chapter Chair, etc.)

cc: Nancy Rodriguez

 

Ms Rodriguez requests that copies of your letters be sent to her either by mail or by fax:

Nancy F. Rodriguez
P.O. Box 7782
Warner Robins, GA 31095-7782
Fax: 912.746.4095

 

Note: For those of you who got to see the PFLAG gay bashing commercial before it was pulled from the airwaves, Nancy Rodriguez was the mother in the commercial, sharing her true story. She was fired from her job in Atlanta the next day after the commercial was released nationally.



Extending Iowa City's protections to entire state of Iowa
Action by June 23

 

IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
HUMAN RIGHTS A HUMAN ISSUE
CITY OF IOWA CITY

The Iowa City Human Rights Commission will be sending representatives to address the Iowa Civil Rights Commission at their June 27 meeting, urging them to recommend to the state legislature that sexual orientation be added as a protected category under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Heather Shank (I.C. Human Rights coordinator) and Alison Ames Galstad (former chair of the I.C. Human Rights Commission) addressed the State Commission on this issue in December. At that time, the Commission agreed to put the issue on the agenda for their fall retreat, at which they make decisions about recommendations to the legislature for the upcoming session. Since December, 5 new commissioners have been appointed to the State Commission, and we (the I.C. Commission) believe the issue needs to be revisited.

The ICHRC will be compiling a packet of materials to present to the state Commissioners on this topic. Any individual who has experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation is asked to send a description of that discrimination to the address below. Any other individual who wishes to express their point of view on whether or not sexual orientation should be a protected category in Iowa is also invited to send a letter stating such opinion. To be included in the packet for the June ICRC meeting, materials should reach the address below by Monday June 23. Please *write* your email or letter to the State Commission, but *send* it to the address below:

Thanks for your input. If you have any questions, please call Heather Shank at the phone number listed above.

Sincerely,

Jan Warren
Iowa City Human Rights Commission



Gay Groups' Official Repsonses to Disney Boycott

GLAAD (Gays and Lesbians Alliance Against Defamation has compiled a list of the responses by national groups such as Lambda Defense Fund, PFLAG, and the HRC to the Southern Baptist Convention's boycott of Disney.


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