SCIENTOLOGY, TRAVOLTA & GAYS

[RS Davis]

SCIENTOLOGY, TRAVOLTA & GAYS
(photos of John Travolta & LRH in article)

If you thought that the Christian coalition's pray away the gay ads were
kinda wacky - you ain't seen nothing yet. Welcome to the tipsy turvy,
bizarre, freaky, scary world of Scientology. It's the same 'ol, same
'ol - homosexuality is the root of all evil but fear not for we can heal
you child - however, according to various reports, Scientology is far
more deceptive, cunning and ruthless in a brainwashing "tell me all your
secrets and you'll be saved kind of way".

The cult made headlines last month when a lawsuit involving a former gay
member and John Travolta was made public. Travolta is named in a
lawsuit that charges the actor helped the Church of Scientology deceive
a gay member into believing he could turn straight. Michael Pattinson,
a Newport Beach artist, alleges that the sect used John Travolta as an
example of a homosexual "cured" by the Church of Scientology.
Pattinson's 166-page complaint, filed in federal court in Los Angeles,
charges that he "reasonably relied upon" Travolta's marriage to fellow
Scientologist Kelly Preston as proof that "Scientology processing and
courses would 'handle' my own homosexuality".

Pattinson, who is suing the church, Travolta and 21 other members for
fraud, charges that he spent 25 years and $500,000 trying to become
heterosexual - but that he's still gay. Pattinson's lawyer, Graham E.
Berry - a longtime foe of the church who has often battled it in court -
told Star Magazine that "Michael was in a Clearwater, Florida,
Scientology center with Travolta and they used him as an example of
someone who could be cured of his "ruin".

Travolta's lawyer, Jay Lavely, told the New York Daily News: "This looks
like complete hogwash. Travolta is a happily married man, which proves
he isn't gay". Kurt Weiland, a Scientology spokesman, called the
lawsuit "meritless".

Believe what you may - one thing for sure is that Scientology is
definitely one of the most homophobic and hateful cults out there. In
his book, "Ethics, Justice and the Dynamics", Scientology founder L. Ron
Hubbard sums up his liberal views on homosexuality:
"It must be noted...that promiscuity, perversion, sadism, free love,
homosexuality and other irregular practices fall far below an acceptable
level of ethics. A society which falls into this category can be
expected to abuse sex, to misuse and maltreat children and to act, in
short, much in way that the current cultures are acting...People who are
at this level on the second dynamic (that's Scientology mumbo-jumbo) are
intensely dangerous in the society since aberration is contageous...."
(L. Ron Hubbard's young son, Quentin, a homosexual, committed suicide
over his failure to win his father's love and favor).

Of course that doesn't stop Scientology from financially exploiting the
gay community. According to Pattinson's lawsuit, the Church of
Scientology coerces gay celebrity members to remain in the Scientology
"closet". Various exposes, written over the past few years, indicate
that Scientologists use personal confidential information to keep it's
members in line. TIME Magazine, in an article of the cult published in
1991, revealed some of the blackmail tactics utilized by Scientology:
"Sometimes even the churches biggest zealots can use a little
protection. Screen star (John) Travolta, has long served as an
unofficial Scientology spokesman..."

The church's former head of security, Richard Aznaran, recalls
Scientology ringleader (David) Miscavige's repeatedly joking to staffers
about Travolta's allegedly promiscuous homosexual behavior. At this
point, any threat to expose Travolta seems superfluous: last May, a
male porn star (Paul Barresi) collected $100,000 from a tabloid for an
account of his alleged two-year affair with the celebrity.

Travolta refuses to comment, and in December, his lawyer dismissed
questions about the subject as "bizarre". Two weeks later, Travolta
announced that he was getting married to pregnant actress Kelly Preston,
a fellow Scientologist who had just called it quits with actor Charlie
Sheen.

According to Pattinson's lawyer, Graham E. Berry, of the Los Angeles
law firm of Berry, Lewis, Scali & Stojkovich, the harassment doesn't
stop with celebrities. Berry, is gay, claims that the Church of
Scientology employs a slew of private investigators and attorneys who
have tried to dig up as much dirt about him as possible. "As an openly
gay man, Scientology couldn't use my homosexuality as leverage.
However, they've used my sexual orientation to accuse me of white
slavery, pedophilia and drug dealing. They're quite a vicious group of
people". Berry has denied the allegations and has filed lawsuits for
defamation.