Judge: Put Gays in Mental Institutions

April 12 -- A Mississippi judge has come under fire from gay rights groups after he wrote a letter to a local newspaper saying that gays and lesbians "should be put in some type of mental institute" rather than be given the right to marry.

Equality Mississippi, a statewide gay rights group, with the support of Lambda Legal, a nationwide gay rights organization, filed an ethics violation complaint today against George County Justice Court Judge Connie Wilkerson, arguing that the letter is evidence that the judge cannot be impartial.

"The letter is a clear statement of prejudice against gays and lesbians that calls into serious question whether the judge can decide cases fairly and impartially," Greg Nevins, a staff attorney in Lambda Legal's southern district office, said.

"In my opinion, gays and lesbians should be put in some type of mental institution instead of having a law like this passed for them," Wilkerson said in a letter to the George County Times that ran on March 28. The letter was referring to a California law that gives gay partners the same rights to file wrongful death suits as spouses or other family members have.

Wilkerson, 65, who has been a Justice Court judge for six years, said he was sorry his comments about gay people have stirred up so much controversy, but maintained that his views do not affect his performance on the bench.

"I wish somebody that's been offended would come up and let me show them what I think of them, the individual. I have no feelings against them," Wilkerson said. "I don't ask a fellow if they're a homosexual or a lady if she's a lesbian when they come in front of me. That has nothing to do with my judging."

‘I’m Trying to Help’

Wilkerson said he meant no harm with his letter.

"I've wrote letters throughout my life, and I probably just wasn't thinking about the problems that it might cost my fellow man," he said. "I'm sorry it's caused anybody any problems. I'm trying to help."

He said gay people should look for help with their "disease" in the Bible.