Words made me cringe, gay man recalls Dear Sir: I am writing in response to the homosexual tolerance article in the May 21st edition of the Ter- race Standard. First off, [’m a gay male of 19. I know first-hand vant a gay Student goes through every day of his ife. I heard words like ‘faggot’ and ‘queer’ thrown about the halls, and cringed inwardly every time. Even some teachers, who are supposed to be en- couraging us to be the best we can be, use these derogatory slurs without even thinking about what they are saying. Most teachers are above that, but to the few that aren't, their words wound. I couldn't do anything about it, as I was still ‘‘in the closet’, but the few close friends who shared my secret saw my pain. Adolescence is tough enough without having to deal with the constant unwitting but still burtful in- sults. That’s what the program is trying to prevent. It’s about tolerance. It’s not trying to ‘convert’ your children to homosexuality, but to teach them how to be considerate to other people’s feelings. As mentioned in the article, homosexuality is the main cause of teenage suicide. It’s not the fact of being gay in itself, but the threat of being found out. It’s the threat of losing their friends, their fam- ily who may choose not to associate with them. The easier way out is to commit suicide, I was very lucky in that my friends and family I thought about suicide many a time before | came out, but am very glad | was stronger than that. were always very supportive of me. The first thing my mom said to me when I came out was ‘‘T still love you, no matter what.” 1 thought about suicide many a time before I came out, but am very glad I was stronger than that. Per- haps it was because I already knew that my mother would be supportive, and even then it took me 18 years to do it. In the article, Terrace parent Gordon Schuss says “Tt is unproven that homosexuality is without con- sequences and severe repercussions...” Most of the repercussions of being gay are from society. If people were to be more tolerant of homosexuals, there would be no repercussions beyond those of ‘being straight. That’s what +H" Brogeam | that is ‘Being introduced . is trying t ‘teach. , .. He also says that is up to parents to teach their children about moral issues like this, but are the parents doing that? From the actions of their chil- dren in the schools, I would say not. That is why the schools must do it themselves, Tgnoring the problem won’t make it go away. Kids are killing themselves in record numbers be- cause they are afraid to be themselves. Task each parent out there to ask themselves what they would do if one day their child came up to them and said “Mommy, Daddy, I’m gay...”’? I ask the parents, would you rather have your child be gay, or have your child choose to end their own life? Earle Ratcliffe Terrace, B.C, Lifestyle ‘dangerous’ Dear Sir: The godless element of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation have overreached themselves in pernicious stupidity by arguing that public schools need to change children’s attitudes towards homosexuality by including in the curriculum books which portray sexual deviance in a positive way. Promoting homosexuality as just another lifestyle is about the worst possible form of child abuse that I could imagine. Worse yet, it is an indicator that after 400 years of heresy and 30 years of generalized apostasy, West- em civilization based on the authority of the Catho- lic Church is lurching toward a horrible end. During my 20s when I was a practising atheist I lived amongst coarse and worldly men in barracks, barrooms, bunkbouses and several universities. I was in agreement with the Irishman who said, “What would shock me would tum the hair of mil- lions grey". Nevertheless, I was appalled when I first read about homosexual lifestyle. The earthly consequence of male homosexuality is suffering through a great variety of diseases caused by anal sexual activity resulting in an early death for 98 per cent. The average homosexual in North America does not live past his mid-40’s. Since homosexuals are made in the image and the likeness of God they are innately loveable but they are troubled individuals engaging in dangerous ac- tivity. It is neither kind or wise of us to encourage or legitimize such a destructive lifestyle — especially to our innocent children. Tom Brophy Terrace, B.C. | Thumbs up to the teachers of tolerance Dear Sir: - The collective of the Terrace Women’s Resource Centre commends Cathy van Dyk and other teachers in the school district who are working against intolerance and discrimination. The rights of everyone will be served by creating a student body which is open to ideas and strives to understand rather than condemn differences. Working against intolerance means embracing citizens who hold widely divergent views end come from contrasting backgrounds, recognizing the rights of different rellgious groups to worship open- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 4, 1997 - AS Readers debate homosexuality CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The ail Bag Dear Sir; attempting to offer students a ride to, the library. Obviously, the schools were concerned enough to lake some action, Given this, it is surprising that the same week, the school district voted down a request to have the Street Proofing Our Kids program come into classrooms if it was requested by a PAC, a teacher or a principal. This anti-abduction pro- gram gives children the skills they need to recog- nize dangerous situations and te avoid becoming victims of individuals who want to harm them. My child attended the program and we both en- joyed it and Jearned from it. It is my understand- ing that this program was offered to the school district at no-cost. With this mast recent incident, I am saddened that the school district is preventing more children from leaming to protect themselves. I hope that this notice made it home to every parent and that every parent knows how to teach their children about this issue without creating fear in the child. The SPOK people know haw. Kids in Prince SELF-DEFENCE training for children has been a part of Street Proofing Our Kids workshops that have come to Terrace in the past. But so far those workshops have happened outside class time. School District #82 has recently refused to allow it during schoal hours. School board decision neglects child safety Children were sent home recently with a notice alerting parents that there was a suspicious male Rupert area just went through the program during schocl hours, It seems that this approach would be more beneficial to kids than just sending home a notice. N. Godfrey Terrace B.C. Rape victim says kids need defence training Dear Sir: Tam writing about the latest school board deci- sion not to allow the streetproofing our kids pro- gram to be presented during school hours. As a young woman I had the horrifying experi- ence of being altacked and raped while walking home one evening. I now believe that, had I known some defensive actions to take, I might have escaped at least some of the trauma which unfortunately is still a part of my life. 1 think our children deserve to receive this in- formation as part of their preparation for the rest of their lives. (Name withheld by request) ly and freely, and accepting a variety of lifestyles. Students are intelligent beings, not sheep. Aquainting students with the knowledge that homosexual relationships exist gives them informa- tion, not ethical or moral values, We teach the his- tory of the industrial revolution and the Second World War, but we do not expect our students to long for the days of child labour or to organize into Hitler Youth. Knowledge, and the power to think can only make our students into better, ethical adults, Karla Hennig, coordinator Terrace Women's Resource Centre. Keep immoral teaching out of classrooms Dear Sir: I totally disagree with education minister Paul Ramsey’s view that homosexuals be given equal opportunity and rights in our education system, I find his threats of removing education officials for standing their ground and doing what is consid- ered morally right by the vast majority of the pop- ulation as nothing less than fascism. Sex education is fine insofar as teaching our children about the dangers of venereal dis- ease, propagation, or the bonding of man and woman which most commonly leads to childbirth and families, After all the government themselves claim families to be the comer stones of society. When persons of power such as Mr, Ram- sey start speaking of forcing our educators to teach of issues that are not widely accepted as normal or moral, we the people should become alarmed and suspicious. I am agnostic, meaning I do not believe nor dis- believe in religious beliefs, however if it tums out Paul Ramsey there is a heaven, I don’t believe my chances of seeing the pearly gates are all that good. However I will not be condemiied for standing by my beliefs that something which is abnormal is what I should believe in on the whim of a politician, The phrase ‘‘alternate lifestyle’? could also refer to people who have found pleasure in alcohol or drugs and have become addicts and do not feel they need help. These people are quite content living their lifestyle, As long as they can afford it and not harm anyone in the process I suppose it is fine. However it does not mean we should start agreeing with, praising, or teaching the pleasures of this to our children in school. I send my children to school to learn reading, writing, and math, not to learn to accept the fact that two people of the same sex can find pleasure in one another. The following statement may anger or even of- fend some of you, but if you Jook at it from a physi- cal, medical, and scientific point of view, an organ that nature or possibly God designed for exiting material only shouldn't have things put in it Tam quite surprised at the quiet acceptance of Mr. Ramsey's statements by the more religious folks in our communily after all the outcry of how it was wrong to allow our children to sce nude paintings hanging in the R.E.M. Lee Theatre. Unless you belicve that as creatures of nature we are slowly evolving into hermaphrodites, the sex act between two people of the same sex is unnatural and can not be condoned or construed as anything less and should not be allowed in our schools. Our children are a captive audience in classrooms and should not be taught to accept anything which is immoral or unnatural, After all, the children being taught come from homes in which a man and a woman created their being not two men or two women. I for one have to question the moral decency and ethics of a minister of state who would enforce these teachings on our children and indeed expect’ us to open our homes and familles to his political aspirations and beliefs. It is time, perhaps, that we have heterosexval pa- trades and come out of the closet and not be ashamed of our beliefs. , , Allan Grier Terrace, B.C. Where are tower jobs? Dear Sir: Mr. Bruce MacNicol of West Fraser, on April 24 said, and I quote, ‘‘T gave the word to resume log- ging.” On this date, five (5) people are back to work. Many people are out of work and all we hear are tore excuses, add to which medical and dental benefits are going to expire. Last year, Mr. MacNicol told their own employ- ees from the woods division that nothing would change for a year and a half. Not true, because many people were told three towers would not be going to work this year, ; Dave Badge Terrace B.C, Stat shopping opposed Dear Sir: I read the article on statutory holiday openings (Terrace Standard, May 21) that quoted Chamber of Commerce president Skip Bates. Mr. Bates, what gives you the right to make such a decision for the thousands of us that work in retail? The stores in Terrace are open more than enough hours to accommodate all shoppers. I do not see your bank opening on Sundays or late nights, or extended Christmas hours. It is easy for you to sit behind your desk and think up all these so-called ideas, Especially when it will not affect you or your family, How would your family feel if you had to work Sundays and stat holidays? Not happy, I'll bet. You say that you have surveyed the businesses, Well, what about the employees. Do we not count? T can teli what the answer would be NO-NO-NO. We have a life too. We have families that would like to spend holidays together. We have the right to our stats and we deserve every single one. When will it stop? First just these four days, then you will recommend that all stats be included, then you will want everyone to stay open till midnight. Tf you’re worried about the tourists, I think they come to Terrace to fish, not to shop. I know they will not be running in for any blue light specials. So Mr. Bates, you will have opposi- tion to your idea, and [ will be the first to say no to stat holiday shopping. Susie Viveiros Terrace B.C. Dry grad opponent misinformed on policy Dear Sir Two previous published articles/correspondence regarding the Caledonia Dry Grad have inspired me to write this letter, The first, an article describing | , “the 1997 grad dance bothered some members of the* ' a Kinsmen Club of Terrace, but it was Shirley Mont- gomery’s letter that has prompted this response. The initial article contained a description of pre- vious Grad Dances ‘‘where Kinsmen have supplied security and ensured no grads drink and drive.” Unfortunately, some people of the community may fee] that the Kinsmen allowed drinking at the grad dance and Shirley’s letter could further fuel that in- sinuation. Her utter disregard of the after grad parents’ com- mittee and their efforts is demonstrated with a blatant qualifying statement ‘‘I have not taken part in the planning and have not gone to the meetings since I could not support an idea that has the poten- tial to cause more damage than good.”’ My question is how can you write honestly about a subject when you don’t know the whole story? The previous After Grad dances had a strict no- alcohol policy and if liquor was found, it was con- fiscated. The dance was designed to be a safe closed party for the grads. The phrase ‘‘dry grad”’ is stricily a change in name to help promote the no alcohol policy. Also, when it was stated that the idea was “grabbed by a handful of parents who decided they would over mle what the majority of graduates wanted’’, you missed a point. As chairman of the after grad for the Kinsmen for the past two years, I know it wasn’t the parents’ choice, but the decision of administration within the school and school district to distance themselves from this project. It was this “handful of parents” that willfully volunteered when no one else would, As for losing sight of who this night is for, we can’t forget that the legal drinking age in B.C. is stilt 19 years, Instead of condemning a group that is promoting the idea that you can have fun without drinking, our community should be whole heartedly supporting and volunteering to this goal. The after grad party in Kitimat, which the Terrace parents are emulating, has almost 100 per cent turnout consistently — which is definitely higher than Terrace’s record. The Kinsmen Club of Terrace applaud the efforts of these parents for taking on such an ambitious project on relatively short notice. In fact, we will be at this year’s dance helping to keep this night a spe- cial one for our grads. My challenge to other grad parents and members of the community is to support our groups by volunteering or donating to this very worthwhile event by contacting Joset Graham at 638-1347, Bill Mikaloff al 635-7992, or myself at 638-0033. Joe Barbosa After Grad chalrman Kinsmen Club of Terrace About letters The Terrace Standard welcomes letters to the editor. Our mailing address is 3210 Clinton St., Ter. race, B.C., V8G 5R2. You can also fax us at 250-638-8432. And you can send letters by e-mail to us at standard@kermode.net .