1 00:00:11 --> 00:00:12,660 Well, it's the eve of 2 00:00:12,660 --> 00:00:14,310 the great debate in Cobb County 3 00:00:14,310 --> 00:00:15,450 tomorrow the county commission there 4 00:00:15,450 --> 00:00:17,520 is going to vote on money for the arts in 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,375 a controversy about family values and gays. 6 00:00:21,375 --> 00:00:24,030 Channel Five's Jim Kaiserski reports it's one of the hottest issues 7 00:00:24,030 --> 00:00:26,725 ever to go before the Cobb County Commission. 8 00:00:26,725 --> 00:00:29,000 Okay, you're against the art funding. 9 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,400 So many calls have come into the Cobb County Commission 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:32,495 about tomorrow's vote, 11 00:00:32,495 --> 00:00:35,225 the county was forced to open a phone bank. 12 00:00:35,225 --> 00:00:37,370 Elva Dornbusch says most of 13 00:00:37,370 --> 00:00:40,340 the calls she's logged support Commissioner Gordon Wysong, 14 00:00:40,340 --> 00:00:41,675 and that's a lot of calls. 15 00:00:41,675 --> 00:00:43,407 How many you think you got? 16 00:00:43,407 --> 00:00:45,140 Ah, oh gosh, about six thousand. 17 00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:46,940 County Commissioner Gordon Wysong 18 00:00:46,940 --> 00:00:49,925 has strong views about homosexuality. 19 00:00:49,925 --> 00:00:53,885 Homosexuality is basically amoral in 20 00:00:53,885 --> 00:00:55,700 every society that we know 21 00:00:55,700 --> 00:00:58,265 of from recorded history forward. 22 00:00:58,265 --> 00:01:00,680 There hasn't been any society that's adopted and 23 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,830 endorsed homosexuality as a normal practice. 24 00:01:03,830 --> 00:01:06,230 And I don't think this should be the first. 25 00:01:06,230 --> 00:01:07,760 Wysong does not believe 26 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,380 the County should pay for anything 27 00:01:09,380 --> 00:01:12,890 contrary to what's defined as family values, 28 00:01:12,890 --> 00:01:15,290 and that includes the arts in a production 29 00:01:15,290 --> 00:01:16,520 that the Theatre on the Square. 30 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,530 in Marietta. The Theatre is 31 00:01:18,530 --> 00:01:20,810 putting on a play with a Christian theme right now, 32 00:01:20,810 --> 00:01:22,220 but earlier this year it put 33 00:01:22,220 --> 00:01:24,065 on "Lips Together, Teeth Apart." 34 00:01:24,065 --> 00:01:25,670 Wysong didn't see the play, 35 00:01:25,670 --> 00:01:27,410 but two people he sent to see it 36 00:01:27,410 --> 00:01:29,030 told him it had a gay theme. 37 00:01:29,030 --> 00:01:30,830 Michael Horne says it wasn't so. 38 00:01:30,830 --> 00:01:33,980 It was a respected Pulitzer Prize-winning play. 39 00:01:33,980 --> 00:01:37,070 It had no homosexual theme as Wysong charges. 40 00:01:37,070 --> 00:01:39,590 Almost ten thousand people saw the play. 41 00:01:39,590 --> 00:01:42,350 We received no letters of complaint about the play, 42 00:01:42,350 --> 00:01:44,000 and in fact, our subscribers, 43 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:45,440 which are 4100 people, 44 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,030 primarily of Cobb County, 45 00:01:47,030 --> 00:01:49,850 throughout Cobb County, voted Lips Together, 46 00:01:49,850 --> 00:01:52,520 Teeth Apart, their favorite play of the entire season. 47 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:53,990 Commissioner Wysong says 48 00:01:53,990 --> 00:01:55,520 that the production in the Theatre on 49 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,745 the Square in Marietta raised his level of concern. 50 00:01:58,745 --> 00:02:00,350 But what really got him started, 51 00:02:00,350 --> 00:02:03,320 he said, were events in Atlanta and Washington. 52 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,630 In Washington there was the Gay Rights March. 53 00:02:05,630 --> 00:02:07,520 Wysong says gays there announced 54 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,440 a goal of establishing a curriculum in 55 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,480 every public school which teaches 56 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,300 acceptance of the gay lifestyle. He's against that. 57 00:02:14,300 --> 00:02:15,560 The other event was the 58 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:17,660 domestic partners debate in Atlanta. 59 00:02:17,660 --> 00:02:19,910 It passed giving homosexual partners of 60 00:02:19,910 --> 00:02:21,620 city workers the same benefits 61 00:02:21,620 --> 00:02:23,585 as heterosexual marriage partners. 62 00:02:23,585 --> 00:02:25,310 And now the legislature will 63 00:02:25,310 --> 00:02:27,140 take up that issue next year. 64 00:02:27,140 --> 00:02:28,820 The Cobb arts vote, he says, 65 00:02:28,820 --> 00:02:30,700 will send a message to legislators. 66 00:02:30,700 --> 00:02:33,335 That heterosexual marriage is sanctioned 67 00:02:33,335 --> 00:02:36,785 by the government and homosexual marriage is not. 68 00:02:36,785 --> 00:02:39,740 Commissioner Wysong says he believes a majority of 69 00:02:39,740 --> 00:02:42,425 the five county commissioners will vote not to fund, 70 00:02:42,425 --> 00:02:44,570 quote, those activities which seek 71 00:02:44,570 --> 00:02:46,820 to contravene existing community standards, 72 00:02:46,820 --> 00:02:48,590 end quote. That would mean a loss of 73 00:02:48,590 --> 00:02:49,970 about forty thousand dollars from 74 00:02:49,970 --> 00:02:52,000 the budget of the Theatre on the Square. John? 75 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,900 We'll see how the vote comes out. 76 00:02:53,900 --> 00:02:54,890 Jim, thank you very much. 77 00:02:54,890 --> 00:02:56,270 Up next on eyewitness news at six... 78 00:02:56,270 --> 00:02:59,490 This is Georgia's News at Ten. 79 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:05,850 The explosive controversy over arts funding in 80 00:03:05,850 --> 00:03:08,300 Cobb County comes to a boiling point tonight 81 00:03:08,300 --> 00:03:13,000 as county commissioners vote to kill all arts funding. 82 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:13,610 Good evening. 83 00:03:13,610 --> 00:03:15,350 I'm Kevin Cokely and I'm Karen Greer. 84 00:03:15,350 --> 00:03:16,700 The vote comes after two weeks of 85 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:18,950 emotional debate over the Commission's resolution 86 00:03:18,950 --> 00:03:20,780 condemning the gay lifestyle in 87 00:03:20,780 --> 00:03:23,195 favor of so-called family values, 88 00:03:23,195 --> 00:03:26,330 and a proposal to restrict arts funding. Earlier today, 89 00:03:26,330 --> 00:03:28,505 hundreds of people attended the second public hearing, 90 00:03:28,505 --> 00:03:30,485 and then tonight's commission meeting, 91 00:03:30,485 --> 00:03:32,735 where are the vote cut funding altogether. 92 00:03:32,735 --> 00:03:34,790 News at Ten's Lu Ann Sodano joins us now from 93 00:03:34,790 --> 00:03:36,145 Marietta. Lu Ann? 94 00:03:36,145 --> 00:03:39,830 Kevin and Karen, the Commission room was filled to capacity tonight. 95 00:03:39,830 --> 00:03:43,085 The overflow crowd spilled out onto the Marietta Square. 96 00:03:43,085 --> 00:03:44,300 They all came to hear 97 00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:47,075 the final vote on the plan to cut arts funding. 98 00:03:47,075 --> 00:03:50,450 The culmination of weeks of heated debate. 99 00:03:50,450 --> 00:03:53,480 Harsh words among opponents subsided for 100 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,090 a few moments tonight at the crowd anxiously 101 00:03:56,090 --> 00:03:58,400 waited for the Cobb County Commissioners. 102 00:03:58,400 --> 00:03:59,630 The crowd was waiting 103 00:03:59,630 --> 00:04:01,400 for the Commission's vote on whether to 104 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,455 kill funding for the arts in the county. 105 00:04:03,455 --> 00:04:05,270 Commission Chairman Bill Byrne began 106 00:04:05,270 --> 00:04:06,530 the meeting by saying that 107 00:04:06,530 --> 00:04:10,500 government spending must be based on need and not desire. 108 00:04:10,500 --> 00:04:15,000 I move that we remove all local grant funding 109 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:18,500 for the arts and theater from the fiscal '94 budget 110 00:04:18,500 --> 00:04:20,000 and redirect those funds 111 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,185 to the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of purchasing 112 00:04:24,185 --> 00:04:28,000 video cameras for all our police patrol cars 113 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,300 and to procure trained dogs for our K-9 unit 114 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:36,500 in an effort to better enforce the laws within our community. 115 00:04:36,500 --> 00:04:38,750 Commissioner Bill Cooper had reportedly been 116 00:04:38,750 --> 00:04:41,195 set to cast the lone dissenting vote, 117 00:04:41,195 --> 00:04:43,220 but tonight set the record straight. 118 00:04:43,220 --> 00:04:45,000 My position has been very consistent, 119 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,500 that I would not decide on the issue 120 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:51,500 the proposed ordinance change or total cancellation of the arts grants 121 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:55,500 until both public hearings had been completed. 122 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,000 Moments later, the vote was taken. 123 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,000 Motion carries, 5-0. Thank you, gentlemen. 124 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:06,000 [clapping] 125 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,850 Opponents of the measure say 126 00:05:07,850 --> 00:05:09,470 the Commission's action could have a 127 00:05:09,470 --> 00:05:10,940 devastating impact on 128 00:05:10,940 --> 00:05:13,940 private funding for the arts in Cobb County. 129 00:05:13,940 --> 00:05:17,090 If the community does not give to the arts, 130 00:05:17,090 --> 00:05:19,820 then private contributors say that the community does not value 131 00:05:19,820 --> 00:05:22,445 those arts organizations and they will not give funds. 132 00:05:22,445 --> 00:05:25,040 The - There will be a domino effect that's going to hurt 133 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,450 the arts community well beyond 134 00:05:26,450 --> 00:05:27,770 this money from the County Commission. 135 00:05:27,770 --> 00:05:30,065 The sponsor of the original measure 136 00:05:30,065 --> 00:05:33,000 to restrict arts funding doesn't see it that way. 137 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:34,100 That this is going to become 138 00:05:34,100 --> 00:05:35,660 a cultural wasteland over a 139 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:38,195 $125 thousand is ludicrous. 140 00:05:38,195 --> 00:05:39,680 It's not our job to support 141 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,425 that business anymore than it is to support a mall. 142 00:05:42,425 --> 00:05:44,150 There are lots of businesses 143 00:05:44,150 --> 00:05:46,000 in Cobb County that would love to have a subsidy. 144 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,000 Arts has no special rank in those businesses. 145 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:51,575 Meanwhile, outside the commission meeting room, 146 00:05:51,575 --> 00:05:53,700 the reaction to the vote turned raucous. 147 00:05:53,700 --> 00:05:55,500 Neo-Nazis, we say no! 148 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:57,900 Homophobia's got to go! 149 00:05:57,900 --> 00:05:59,900 Neo-Nazis, we say no! 150 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Homophobia's - 151 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,770 Police stood by, ready if needed. 152 00:06:03,770 --> 00:06:06,000 One man in the crowd was from Athens, Georgia 153 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,770 and came to support the commissioners. 154 00:06:09,770 --> 00:06:11,930 We don't- We've got no hate against these people. 155 00:06:11,930 --> 00:06:13,685 They are the ones that's saying we hate them. 156 00:06:13,685 --> 00:06:16,500 I don't hate homosexuals. 157 00:06:16,500 --> 00:06:19,500 I mean, I hate the deed. I don't- I don't agree with what they- 158 00:06:19,500 --> 00:06:21,670 they are, but I don't hate them. 159 00:06:21,670 --> 00:06:23,840 I mean, that's not- that's the Christian way. 160 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:28,235 I disagree with any sort of hate politics, 161 00:06:28,235 --> 00:06:30,410 and I was very proud of 162 00:06:30,410 --> 00:06:33,000 Cobb County when it began to fund the arts. 163 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,330 The way it sounded tonight was that this issue didn't evolve 164 00:06:35,330 --> 00:06:38,855 evolve from homophobia, but in fact, it did. 165 00:06:38,855 --> 00:06:43,295 It was in fear of lawsuits and the funding of the arts. 166 00:06:43,295 --> 00:06:46,500 And I'm very disappointed in Cobb County. 167 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:50,240 If in fact Cobb County commissioners were fearful that a plan to restrict 168 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,045 arts fundings to certain groups would trigger lawsuits, 169 00:06:53,045 --> 00:06:55,880 they were right. The ACLU had planned to 170 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,615 file a suit if that original proposal went into effect. 171 00:06:59,615 --> 00:07:00,950 Things though it may not have 172 00:07:00,950 --> 00:07:02,480 changed even with this new plan 173 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,285 to cut arts fundings altogether for all groups. 174 00:07:05,285 --> 00:07:07,540 The ACLU said it is reviewing its position 175 00:07:07,540 --> 00:07:10,230 and may well in fact file suit. 176 00:07:10,230 --> 00:07:14,840 Live in Cobb County, Lu Ann Sodano. Channel 46 News at Ten. 177 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,835 This is definitely not the end of this debate. 178 00:07:16,835 --> 00:07:18,012 Yeah, far from it, right Lu Ann? 179 00:07:18,012 --> 00:07:19,190 Not at all. 180 00:07:19,190 --> 00:07:21,000 Thanks. An arrest - 181 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,500 [...] County, we say no! Homophobia's got to go! 182 00:07:24,500 --> 00:07:26,810 People angry about the outcome were in the streets tonight 183 00:07:26,810 --> 00:07:28,490 after the Cobb County Commission voted 184 00:07:28,490 --> 00:07:31,925 to stop using any taxpayers' money for the arts. 185 00:07:31,925 --> 00:07:33,410 That unanimous decision to 186 00:07:33,410 --> 00:07:35,210 eliminate government funding for the arts 187 00:07:35,210 --> 00:07:36,890 and the angry reaction to the vote 188 00:07:36,890 --> 00:07:38,825 make up our top story here on the night beats. 189 00:07:38,825 --> 00:07:40,340 The controversy erupted when 190 00:07:40,340 --> 00:07:42,380 some people complained about a play. 191 00:07:42,380 --> 00:07:44,450 It touched on homosexual issues. 192 00:07:44,450 --> 00:07:46,010 The complaints escalated into 193 00:07:46,010 --> 00:07:48,634 a firestorm over family values. 194 00:07:48,634 --> 00:07:50,090 Tonight, the Cobb County Commission 195 00:07:50,090 --> 00:07:51,620 voted five to nothing to 196 00:07:51,620 --> 00:07:54,680 eliminate all government funding for the arts. 197 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,420 Channel Two's Lynn Harasin begins 198 00:07:56,420 --> 00:07:58,145 our live team coverage. Lynn? 199 00:07:58,145 --> 00:07:59,630 Monica, things are finally 200 00:07:59,630 --> 00:08:01,400 quiet here on the square in Marietta. 201 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,725 That was hardly the case a few hours ago. 202 00:08:03,725 --> 00:08:05,450 The three hours of public debate 203 00:08:05,450 --> 00:08:06,860 this afternoon seemed to have 204 00:08:06,860 --> 00:08:08,525 no effect on the commissioners. 205 00:08:08,525 --> 00:08:11,180 For weeks it was expected that Cobb would get out of 206 00:08:11,180 --> 00:08:13,700 the arts business and that's just what happened. 207 00:08:13,700 --> 00:08:17,000 [inaudible] anti-gay! Cobb Commission KKK! 208 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,100 Gay protesters and arts activists expected 209 00:08:19,100 --> 00:08:22,145 the Cobb Commission's vote even before it was passed. 210 00:08:22,145 --> 00:08:23,870 Commission Chairman Bill Byrne, 211 00:08:23,870 --> 00:08:26,255 surprised no one with his recommendation, 212 00:08:26,255 --> 00:08:28,985 which he announced ten days ago. 213 00:08:28,985 --> 00:08:32,540 I move that we remove all local grant 214 00:08:32,540 --> 00:08:34,280 funding for the arts and theater 215 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,665 from the fiscal '94 budget, 216 00:08:36,665 --> 00:08:39,470 redirect those funds to 217 00:08:39,470 --> 00:08:41,420 the Department of Public Safety for 218 00:08:41,420 --> 00:08:42,845 the purpose of purchasing 219 00:08:42,845 --> 00:08:46,385 video cameras for all our police patrol cars 220 00:08:46,385 --> 00:08:50,030 to procure trained dogs for our K9 unit. 221 00:08:50,030 --> 00:08:53,015 Call a question. Motion carries, 5-0. 222 00:08:53,015 --> 00:08:55,895 With that, Cobb County got out of the arts business, 223 00:08:55,895 --> 00:08:59,465 and eleven Cobb arts groups will lose their public funding. 224 00:08:59,465 --> 00:09:03,605 Still many people believe the vote was really anti-gay. 225 00:09:03,605 --> 00:09:05,585 I'm angry and I'm very sad. 226 00:09:05,585 --> 00:09:07,100 It was Commissioner Gordon 227 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:08,630 Wysong who introduced 228 00:09:08,630 --> 00:09:11,090 both the anti-gay resolution and 229 00:09:11,090 --> 00:09:14,030 the original motion to limit arts funding. 230 00:09:14,030 --> 00:09:15,830 There are no negative economic 231 00:09:15,830 --> 00:09:17,690 consequences from what we did. 232 00:09:17,690 --> 00:09:20,180 I've gotten letters from businesses all over 233 00:09:20,180 --> 00:09:23,180 the country who have praising us for what we're doing. 234 00:09:23,180 --> 00:09:24,560 One who said they're opening 235 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:26,375 nine more branches in our county. 236 00:09:26,375 --> 00:09:27,830 But the Chairwoman of the Board 237 00:09:27,830 --> 00:09:29,390 of the Theatre in the Square says, 238 00:09:29,390 --> 00:09:32,570 she's been interviewed by people all across the nation. 239 00:09:32,570 --> 00:09:35,030 And everyone, she says, is appalled. 240 00:09:35,030 --> 00:09:38,630 I am saddened to think that we've gotten to this place, 241 00:09:38,630 --> 00:09:40,130 although I've said all along 242 00:09:40,130 --> 00:09:41,975 that was the agenda to begin with. 243 00:09:41,975 --> 00:09:43,940 The worst part is that we had to 244 00:09:43,940 --> 00:09:45,935 do it in a very cruel fashion. 245 00:09:45,935 --> 00:09:48,290 That brought all kinds of bad feelings in 246 00:09:48,290 --> 00:09:51,815 among all the Cobb County citizens. I lay that at 247 00:09:51,815 --> 00:09:53,525 Gordon Wysong's feet. 248 00:09:53,525 --> 00:09:55,640 Commissioner Wysong told me he 249 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:57,995 believes the whole issue will now go away, 250 00:09:57,995 --> 00:09:59,975 but apparently it will not. 251 00:09:59,975 --> 00:10:02,750 Gay activists will hold a news conference tomorrow 252 00:10:02,750 --> 00:10:05,735 on the square in Marietta to announce their next step. 253 00:10:05,735 --> 00:10:07,910 We're live in Marietta, Lynn Harasin, Channel Two 254 00:10:07,910 --> 00:10:10,160 Action News Night Beat. Lynn, thank you. 255 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,200 Reaction to the commissioners' vote was immediate, 256 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,000 especially outside the meeting room. 257 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,470 Our team coverage continues now 258 00:10:15,470 --> 00:10:16,880 with Steve Filmer who reports on 259 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,000 the anger and the protests that follows. 260 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,760 On the Square, TV monitors blared the vote as it happens. 261 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:26,000 Motion carries, 5-0. Thank you, gentlemen. 262 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,280 Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! 263 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,230 We live in Cobb County for a reason and 264 00:10:33,230 --> 00:10:35,555 we support the decision that came down so far. 265 00:10:35,555 --> 00:10:37,070 Gays, lesbians and 266 00:10:37,070 --> 00:10:38,660 their supporters swarmed over 267 00:10:38,660 --> 00:10:40,500 to the county office building. 268 00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:43,000 Commission and the Klan work hand in hand! 269 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,000 Commission and the Klan work hand in hand! 270 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,475 It's always a tragedy when a county in 271 00:10:49,475 --> 00:10:52,820 Georgia is seen by the rest of America as 272 00:10:52,820 --> 00:10:57,155 being backwards, Southern stupid backwater 273 00:10:57,155 --> 00:10:59,000 and that's what's happening in Cobb County again, 274 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:00,335 and I'm ashamed of it. 275 00:11:00,335 --> 00:11:02,540 I'm not surprised at all. The thing is 276 00:11:02,540 --> 00:11:04,070 that I'm here to let them know that as 277 00:11:04,070 --> 00:11:05,630 a resident Cobb County 278 00:11:05,630 --> 00:11:07,640 I do- I do not like what's happening here. 279 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:08,930 I do not appreciate it. 280 00:11:08,930 --> 00:11:10,370 Across the street stood 281 00:11:10,370 --> 00:11:12,845 supporters of the anti-gay resolution. 282 00:11:12,845 --> 00:11:14,900 We don't have any morals in the world 283 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:16,909 today and we need to reinstate 284 00:11:16,909 --> 00:11:19,100 the morals for the children and 285 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:21,785 the generation that's growing up behind us. 286 00:11:21,785 --> 00:11:26,000 This is not an issue about taxation. That's right! 287 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,450 This is an issue of American culture. 288 00:11:29,450 --> 00:11:32,525 Police kept a lid on it all. Within about an hour, 289 00:11:32,525 --> 00:11:34,160 the shouting was over. 290 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,170 In many ways, this small theater is 291 00:11:36,170 --> 00:11:37,340 where these big issues got 292 00:11:37,340 --> 00:11:38,840 started and now the theater 293 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,595 is hanging out this black awning. 294 00:11:40,595 --> 00:11:43,355 Not because the theatre is going to close. 295 00:11:43,355 --> 00:11:45,380 The people who run this theater say it is 296 00:11:45,380 --> 00:11:47,645 simply a statement about how they feel, 297 00:11:47,645 --> 00:11:49,850 about what's going on in Cobb County. 298 00:11:49,850 --> 00:11:51,650 In Marietta, Steve Filmer, 299 00:11:51,650 --> 00:11:53,795 Channel Two Action News on the Night Beat. 300 00:11:53,795 --> 00:11:55,520 So here's the bottom line on 301 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:56,660 the controversial vote on 302 00:11:56,660 --> 00:11:58,070 money for the arts in Cobb County. 303 00:11:58,070 --> 00:11:59,870 The county commission voted unanimously to 304 00:11:59,870 --> 00:12:02,345 eliminate county funding for all arts programs. 305 00:12:02,345 --> 00:12:04,445 There was an immediate and angry protest 306 00:12:04,445 --> 00:12:06,575 by gay activists and art supporters. 307 00:12:06,575 --> 00:12:09,065 The funding cut will take effect on October first. 308 00:12:09,065 --> 00:12:11,500 The money will be reallocated to public safety. 309 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:13,880 Tonight police say- 310 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:17,100 It's Wednesday, August 25th, 1993. 311 00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:20,500 World News This Morning continues with Lisa McRee. 312 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:23,540 And for those of you who are just joining us here, 313 00:12:23,540 --> 00:12:25,130 the morning's top news stories. 314 00:12:25,130 --> 00:12:27,590 American planes have made an airdrop 315 00:12:27,590 --> 00:12:30,800 of food to starving Muslims in the Bosnian city of Mostar. 316 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,270 The UN hopes a truck 317 00:12:32,270 --> 00:12:34,550 convoy will get food there later today. 318 00:12:34,550 --> 00:12:35,870 ABC News has learned that 319 00:12:35,870 --> 00:12:37,460 the Clinton administration may 320 00:12:37,460 --> 00:12:39,290 help finance health care reform, 321 00:12:39,290 --> 00:12:43,100 cutting $200 billion from Medicare and Medicaid. 322 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:45,620 And Michael Jackson responds to news of 323 00:12:45,620 --> 00:12:47,570 a police investigation by saying he 324 00:12:47,570 --> 00:12:50,555 will be cleared of any wrongdoing. 325 00:12:50,555 --> 00:12:52,595 In Cobb County, Georgia, 326 00:12:52,595 --> 00:12:54,500 the same county commissioners who voted 327 00:12:54,500 --> 00:12:57,200 two weeks ago to condemn homosexuality, 328 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,035 have now voted to eliminate funding for the arts. 329 00:13:00,035 --> 00:13:01,760 Last night's five to nothing vote 330 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,905 came after a heated public meeting. 331 00:13:03,905 --> 00:13:08,075 More on that story from Cobb County and ABC's Al Dale. 332 00:13:08,075 --> 00:13:11,150 Gay activists, their opponents, and members of 333 00:13:11,150 --> 00:13:13,820 the arts community crowded into the hearing room to 334 00:13:13,820 --> 00:13:14,900 present their views to 335 00:13:14,900 --> 00:13:17,765 the County Commissioners. At issue, whether to delete 336 00:13:17,765 --> 00:13:20,150 taxpayer funding of arts programs that do 337 00:13:20,150 --> 00:13:22,775 not reflect family-oriented standards. 338 00:13:22,775 --> 00:13:24,350 We have sexual deviants trying to 339 00:13:24,350 --> 00:13:26,525 influence our schools, churches, and government. 340 00:13:26,525 --> 00:13:28,100 Commissioners, there are artists 341 00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:29,450 who have chosen to enrich 342 00:13:29,450 --> 00:13:32,870 the quality of life in your community. Celebrate this, 343 00:13:32,870 --> 00:13:34,880 don't condemn it. The commissioner 344 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:36,080 who propose taking away 345 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:37,490 the funds and who authored 346 00:13:37,490 --> 00:13:40,625 a previous resolution condemning the gay lifestyle, 347 00:13:40,625 --> 00:13:43,280 says he was motivated by a rising tide of 348 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:46,100 homosexual rights activities nationwide. 349 00:13:46,100 --> 00:13:48,710 Holding that lifestyle up as 350 00:13:48,710 --> 00:13:52,115 morally equivalent to a heterosexual lifestyle. 351 00:13:52,115 --> 00:13:55,100 That is offensive because that's not true. 352 00:13:55,100 --> 00:13:57,200 After three hours of public hearings, 353 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,570 the commissioners voted unanimously to cut off 354 00:13:59,570 --> 00:14:02,525 all $100 thousand earmarked for the arts, 355 00:14:02,525 --> 00:14:04,100 not just projects that might 356 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:06,050 fail their family values tests. 357 00:14:06,050 --> 00:14:10,500 I call the question. Motion carries, 5-0. Thank you, gentlemen. 358 00:14:10,500 --> 00:14:11,400 [clapping] 359 00:14:12,670 --> 00:14:16,400 For some, bitter disappointment. 360 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:21,700 Very sad. I feel like Cobb County has turned back in time. 361 00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:25,170 Others were convinced a victory had been scored.