Charles Koehler 0:04 Portions of the broadcast day on KRJY St. Louis are pre-recorded. I'm Charles Koehler and this is Lambda Reports a program by and for the St. Louis lesbian and gay community. Our guest today is St. Louis circuit Attorney George Peach. Mr. Peach has agreed to join us by phone from his office downtown. Welcome to Lambda Reports. Can you hear us okay on your end? George Peach 0:27 Yes, I can hear you. Charles Koehler 0:29 Great. Mr. Peach, you're on record is saying that you're opinionated because you feel that it is that giving opinions is a part of your job. And you say that people need to know where public officials stand. So let's take a look at where you stand on the topic of violence. In a landmark study conducted by the US Department of Justice in 1987, the report concluded that quote, homosexuals were probably the most frequent victims of hate motivated violence, it notes that, quote, the criminal justice system, like the rest of society has not recognized its seriousness, end quote. Can you tell us what steps you have taken to sensitize your staff to the increasing levels of violence committed against lesbians and gays? George Peach 1:18 Well, we don't have any special programs to devote it to any particular group of people. If someone is assaulted and victimized in any way, shape, or form, in the city of St. Louis, and they make a complaint a police report, and we have a suspect, we'll prosecute that individual regardless of whether the person is gay, lesbian or otherwise. Charles Koehler 1:40 Okay, can you give us an idea of what of what concrete steps you would recommend that that lesbian and gay community take to actively work with the St. Louis law enforcement officers and your office to fight an increase in violence? George Peach 1:54 Well, you know, if they're not happy with police work, or if they want the police department to do particular things for their community, then they had to pick it up with the police department, if anyone in your audience has a complaint about what may have been done by the circuit attorney's office at the warrant application stage or later, my phone number is public. And I answered all my call so they can complain to me if they wish. Charles Koehler 2:23 Great. We noted that the St. Louis Police Department has just instituted a program to improve relations between the police and black teenagers. In the lesbian and gay community, there's a perception that there is perhaps more to fear from the police than from criminals. And I'll cite the 1987 Department of Justice study that notes, quote, many minority groups, especially Southeast Asians, and gays are reluctant to report crime end quote. What concrete steps do you recommend be taken by law enforcement officials to change this perception? George Peach 3:00 Well, you know, you're quoting from some study. I'm sure you're reading it precisely. But what is that study? What cities are they talking about? Charles Koehler 3:09 This was a nationwide study that was conducted in 1987, for the United States Department of Justice. George Peach 3:16 Well, I think you're I mean, I'm not aware of anybody in this community that thinks the Southeast Asians or the homosexual community don't get a fair shake from our law enforcement system. It's never been brought to my attention that they think they are. Charles Koehler 3:35 Okay. And if they do feel that they are being unfairly handled or treated, what recommendation would you make? George Peach 3:43 Well, like I said, this off, I have 115 people that work for me, and it's not so large that I can't talk to anyone that might want to call me on the phone, if they have a specific problem. If there's some group that wants to be addressed, or so forth, all you have to do is call and we'll make that arrangement. But if they have problems with the police department, or quoting, copying what you read to me, if they think the police department looks down on, then there's a board of police commissioners, and there's a chief of police, and they ought to just get together with them if they have a problem with the men in blue and their attitude wherever it might be. Charles Koehler 4:22 Okay. We noted that Chicago, Seattle, Baltimore, New York City, and Madison, Wisconsin, all have ongoing active programs to improve relations between the law enforcement officials and their lesbian and gay communities. What opinion do you have about starting such a program in St. Louis? George Peach 4:40 I don't see any need for that; if people convinced me there's a need for it. Like I told you before, I've been here 13 years. I didn't I didn't mention that period of time, but I've been here a long time, and I haven't received any complaints. Charles Koehler 4:53 Okay. Would you make any recommendations to the heterosexual community to help stop any violent attacks against lesbians and gays, which are, as the study notes, by far in most cases unreported? George Peach 5:12 No, I don't have anything to say to that. I mean, are you aware of a situation where that happened in St. Louis? Charles Koehler Yes. George Peach I'm not. Charles Koehler 5:20 Okay. Perhaps we can discuss that at some time in the future. That might be enough material for a future program. But by now, I'm sure that you're aware of, let us say the outrage in the lesbian and gay community and in the St. Louis community at large, by many people over your repeated public use of the derogatory term queer. Could you tell our listeners just who you're referring to when you say queer? George Peach 5:46 Well, what do you mean by repeat it? I said once. The only person to repeat it is you. Okay? Queer is a term that was used in my neighborhood growing up and referring to homosexuals. So I mean, if that bothers I'm sorry. Charles Koehler 6:03 Okay. Are you are you're saying then this would apply to all gays and all lesbians and perhaps bisexuals? George Peach 6:12 Yeah, I guess so. You can apply it to anybody you want. It's just I said it one time. People wanted me to retract it. I'm not gonna retract it. I said it. And if they don't like it, life goes on. Okay. Charles Koehler 6:27 Can you give us an idea of what other minorities identified by the St. Louis Hate Crimes Bill that you have chosen to make derogatory remarks about? George Peach 6:37 What St. Louis Hate Crime Bill? Charles Koehler 6:39 Okay, fine. Well, we'll get to that to that later. Kevin Barrow, who's the director of the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce on Violence notes that remarks such as the one you made about queers, are stepping stones to violence. He notes that when people make these kinds of anti gay statements, it makes it easier for others to infer that gay people are somewhat less than human and deserve to be victimized and bashed. Do you have any comments about that? George Peach 7:07 Stupid conclusion to draw, but everybody can say anything they wish, I guess. Okay. Charles Koehler 7:12 Would you choose to use the word queer to refer to lesbians or gays in a court of law? George Peach 7:23 I don't know. Probably not. Unless it was part of the evidence in the case, then you'd have to refer to it. Charles Koehler 7:28 Okay. Do you feel that there are sufficient resources to handle the drug problems and violent crimes facing the city of St. Louis? George Peach 7:40 Well, I don't think you'd ever probably have enough resources, but we have enough to combat what's there. I mean, you never really had enough policemen, do you? Charles Koehler 7:53 I don't know. This is not my area of expertise. Could you tell us, and this is a question that's come up from some of our listeners, why St. Louis policemen are seducing other men in the parks, while at the same time, manpower and money could be directed toward arresting drug dealers and hardened criminals? George Peach 8:13 Well, there's plenty of police officers to go around for every aspect of work that they have to do. And they do a hell of a job in arresting drug dealers and drug pushers and drug possessors. They also have to protect our parks, and our public places, from homosexual people who hang around, they're trying to commit public acts of indecency to destroy the parks for people that want to take their kids or their family to the park for the reasons that the parks are there. So I think the Vice Squad consisted entirely of perhaps eight to eight individuals. And certainly with a city the size of ours, I think we're worthy of having a policeman to worry about that particular problem. So I don't think they're misusing their resources when they do that. Charles Koehler 8:58 okay. Can you tell us if any straight men or women that are being arrested for committing similar acts in public? George Peach 9:06 Oh, I think we've had a few but I don't think that …ß Charles Koehler do you have in your figures? What was your phrase, straight people, I don't think they commit acts of intercourse in the middle of the park that disrupts the people from the usage of the park. If they do, they'll be arrested. ≈ Charles Koehler 9:20 OK, So would you be able to tell us if the St. Louis Vice Squad is enforcing public sex laws uniformly in both the heterosexual and homosexual communities? George Peach 9:32 I assume they are but if you wanted to know you can call them. Charles Koehler 9:36 Okay. Well, where can our listeners go to find statistics to support this? Where would you go to find out? George Peach 9:41 The police department has statistics on all of their arrests and they recharge and the arrests that they build people far and they have a statistician on their payroll that worked full time so we hear that information. Charles Koehler 9:54 So, you would suggest contacting that standard statistician? George Peach 9:58 Yeah, that was the only the only person who might have the information you want. Charles Koehler 10:02 Okay. Concerning the recently popularized Mr. Butler in Forest Park case, do you feel that he's a victim of gay bashing by police? George Peach 10:12 Absolutely not. Charles Koehler 10:13 Okay. Can the police or the public rather see the police report filed by the person whose purse was snatched? George Peach 10:24 What person had their purse snatched? Charles Koehler 10:26 Supposedly Mr. Butler was stopped by the police because the police were looking for a purse that was snatched. George Peach 10:32 No, I don't think that's correct, sir. Charles Koehler 10:34 Okay, George Peach 10:35 To my knowledge. That's not part of the evidence, but I'm so sure of it, that I, just to answer your question, I don't think there is a person who reported their purse snatched. Charles Koehler 10:49 Okay. So in other words, to your knowledge, there was no purse snatching or purse snatcher that the police were looking for. George Peach 10:56 Right. I don't believe that's okay. Charles Koehler 10:59 Okay. Getting back to the city's Hate Crimes Law as a private citizen, and as a resident of the City of St. Louis, What is your opinion of this new Hate Crimes Law? George Peach 11:09 The only law I'm aware of is a state statute, and I think the Board of Aldermen have created … Charles Koehler 11:16 That's what I'm referring to sir. George Peach 11:17 The state statute? Charles Koehler 11:18 No, the Board of Aldermen. George Peach 11:20 Well, I'm sorry, then because I don't, we don't enforce the ordinance of the City of St. Louis, in the circuit attorney's office. I'm totally unfamiliar with, with what the ordinance reads. But there is a new, basically a new hate statute that's been passed by the Missouri legislature that refers to people of different color, or race or creed and religion. But I think the thing you're referring to is, is a city ordinance. Charles Koehler 11:48 Okay, you do live in the city of St. Louis, and would apply to you also, of course, okay. George Peach Well, sure, it applies to me. Charles Koehler And to everyone else who lives in the city. George Peach 11:57 Yeah. But you're asking me what my opinion of it is. I don't, I haven't read it. I don't enforce it. So, you know, I assume it's a good thing. Charles Koehler 12:05 Okay. Do you feel that the police can adequately serve the lesbian and gay community with their current attitudes are commonly assumed attitudes toward lesbians and gays? George Peach 12:20 So you're asking the wrong person? I don't know what the police attitude is towards the homosexual community and most of your questions seem to be complaints or wondering about what police think and I don't know that. Charles Koehler 12:34 Let's get a little bit into your office. Would you hire a qualified openly lesbian or gay person to be your assistant? prosecuting attorney? George Peach 12:44 Yeah, I'd consider it. He or she would have to compete with all the other applicants that we have. Charles Koehler 12:49 Okay. And do you feel that an openly lesbian or gay person could be an effective prosecuting attorney for the city of St. Louis? George Peach 12:56 Probably. Charles Koehler 12:58 Okay. What advice would you give to a gay or lesbian person considering a career in the law enforcement or legal profession in this in the city of St. Louis? George Peach 13:09 Well, I've never thought about I mean, I don't know why he or she would need any particular advice, but I'm not, I don't know. I mean, they're, I don't think they'd need any more advice than they would need in any other facet of life. Okay. Charles Koehler 13:25 But if they came to you asking for advice, would you have any to give to them? George Peach 13:28 Advice about how to be a lawyer in the St. Louis Community? Charles Koehler 13:32 Yes, knowing that they're gay or lesbian? George Peach 13:35 I mean, I'm aware there's a few people. I mean, I'm aware of a few lawyers who are gay or lesbian, and they seem to get along fine. I'm not in a position to give them advice. Charles Koehler 13:44 Okay. Have you had any personal negative experiences or fears of gays or lesbians led to your feelings about them? George Peach 13:53 Or your you're presupposing that because I use the word queer, I don't care for them. And no, I had no experiences that made me not care for them if that's what your question was. Charles Koehler 14:10 Okay. A major nationwide survey was recently conducted covering public attitudes toward homosexuals. And we'd like to know some of your opinions of 44 short questions taken from that poll. For instance, do you feel that homosexuality should be made illegal? That was one of the questions asked, George Peach 14:26 Made illegal? Charles Koehler Yes, sir. George Peach No. Charles Koehler 14:29 Okay. Would it make any difference if a close friend told you that he was gay? George Peach 14:34 Sure it would make a difference to me. Charles Koehler 14:36 Okay. And what would you do if your child told you that he or she was gay or lesbian? George Peach 14:42 It'd bother me. Charles Koehler 14:44 Okay. And do you know someone personally, who is lesbian or gay? George Peach Sure. Charles Koehler Okay. And some additional questions. … Transcribed by https://otter.ai