WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Residents Outraged After Sexually Explicit Letter Sent To 65,000 Homes

Residents Outraged After Sexually Explicit Letter Sent To 65,000 Homes

By Maureen Kyle

(LOUISVILLE, December 8th, 2004, 9 p.m.) -- A sexually explicit letter sent to 65,000 homes in Jefferson County is causing outrage, not only in neighborhoods where it was distributed, but also among members of the Louisville Metro Council. The letter urges people to ask their council representative to vote against the "Fairness Ordinance." And as WAVE 3's Maureen Kyle reports, the letter also targets a religious group.

The language is explicit and the message is clear. "I think its very vindictive -- hateful," says Karen Carpenter. She's one of the 65,000 people who received the literature from Frank Simon with the American Family Association of Kentucky.

The letter graphically describes sexual acts between same-sex partners, or so-called homosexual behavior. Carpenter was so upset she called her councilman. "I told him if he voted for this, or against this -- however you want to put it, that I wouldn't vote for him again."

Councilman Ron Weston was equally upset. "How does this happen?" he asked. "That this type of information is sent through the mail?"

Complaint calls are flooding Metro Council offices. Not only because what happens behind closed doors is now described in black and white in thousands of homes, but because the letter also targets the Catholic Church, citing the priest sex abuse scandal.

"As a Catholic, when I read it, the first thing that hit me was, that they are trying to take an unfortunate situation in this one religious body to promote their agenda."

Councilwoman Madonna Flood says many of her constituents feel targeted. "They wanted to go to the media, but they're afraid of retaliation from this man and this group. And there shouldn't be that kind of fear because you're a Roman Catholic, or any religion."

The language in this letter also leaves some Metro Council Members asking which group will be targeted next?

"It definitely shows that bigotry is alive and well in the city of Louisville," Weston said.

Even though Frank Simon was unable to be reached for comment, Councilman Doug Hawkins -- who is sponsoring the amendment to the "Fairness Ordinance" -- says he wouldn't necessarily have sent the letter out himself. But he says the language is necessary to define what homosexuality is.

Meanwhile, anyone who received this letter and wishes to be taken off of this mailing list can pick up a "1500 Form" from the U.S. Post Office. It will prevent any more mailings from Frank Simon and the American Family Association from ending up in your mailbox.

Online Reporter: Maureen Kyle

Online Producer: Michael Dever