AB - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 27, 1997 Columnist shows she’s ignorant of gay reality Dear Sir: 1 responding to Kathy Florilto’s column in the August 20th issue of the Terrace Standard, In it, she writes ‘Tt (tolerance) doesn’t merely ask for a respect of differences, but often demands acceptance of the beliefs and practices of others.’’ Isn’t that what tolerance is about? I may not agree with what somcone may say or believe, but it is is their Tight to do so. Just as it is my right to be able to walk two blocks to work without being harassed by teenagers driving by in their parents cars. It happens on a daily basis, and it happens because [ am gay. I have never done anything te these people, but they still feel it is their ‘right? or even duty to try to make my life worse. It is for exactly this reason that the provincial government is introducing legislation to teach tolerance towards gay people, Gay people are now the number one target of hate crimes in North Amert- ica. More so than any other group, in- cluding any racial or ethnic group. Why? Well, a good place to start is at home. Many young gay people don’t get support from their family when they come out, Many are kicked out, and even disowned. ’ The difference between racism and homophobia is that the targets of homophobia often have no support at all, not even at home. If a teenager doesn’t have the sup- ‘port needed from their parents, then il’s up to the schools to provide the support for the student. Failure to do so means a very hard life for the stu- dent, which is why the suicide rate among gay teens is so high. In her column, Kathy Floritto also says ‘‘,.of a lifestyle which 99 per cent of them will never know”. | dis- agree with her statistics. Most studies show the percentage of gay people to be around 10 per cent. Imagine 10 per cent of Terrace being gay, a fair estimate, That is 2,000 people. Now, for a very conservative estimate, let’s say that the percentage of gay people is actually half that, about 5 per cent (a very conservative eslimale indeed). That’s still 1,000 pcople-in Terrace who are gay. Of course, if-we really want to make an absurdly small estimate; per cent as Ms, Floritto suggests, that is still 200 people in our city. The Mail Bag To say that 99 percent will never know the gay lifestyle is still false, as the 200-plus gay people in town do in- teract with the ‘general public’, and will be in contact with the populace. Studies also suggest that as many as 50 per cent of North Americans have had or will have a homosexual experi- ence in their life. Usually, this occurs in adolescence, when hormones are raging, and curiousity is high. Should these kids who experiment be punished for simply acting natural- ly? I would say not. Simply put, they often do it themselves, The stigma at- tached fo committing a homosexual act is guilt enough. Perhaps it is because it is taught that homosexuality is evil, and inherently wrong. This is where I have a problem with other people’s opinions. They are entitled to think whatever they want about me, but I refuse to believe that I am a bad person simply because of my sexuality. ] get angry at someone who expresses their hatred of me simply because of who I am, as it is my right to defend myself. There are certainly many arguments against the proposed legislation, and many are very valid regardless of your viewpoint. I personally believe that it would be better to have this sort of is- sue taught at home by the parents, but in many cases it isn’t going to happen. The safety and happiness of the chil- dren has to come before the beliefs of the parents, especially if the parents’ views are damaging to the child. Religion or beliefs of any kind have no bearing on whether a person is/will be gay, so why should a child of homophobic parents have to suffer the emotional torment of being led to be- lieve that they are somehow ‘wrong’? This is why so many gay kids commit suicide. They would rather die than face their parents’ rejection. This is not to say that everyone against the proposed legislation is homophobic, but there certainly homophobes in that group. Ms. Floritto also says in her column ’ “Their (the pro-tolerance group 's) goal is universal endorsement of the - homosexual lifestyle.”” That is a complete falsehood. I don’t ‘All Products Of B.C. Dill CUCUIMDENS 201 Boxeseesseetcssnensesscssteeseien 4 3”. Dill Weed Burch...nemeeimunnmnnnnesinnnnns 69°.. Cauliflower, Cello cst ctteennnnmnnnm VA Beets 25 ib Bag .nsmesnisnininnninnninionnnnne a ae BL OCCOL ee 69" tian TUPMIPS 251 Bop.eenennnnnninnnnnnnnnninnnnsinin a Beans, creen oot SO 1D/9 Kg Sweet Red Peppers Or Yellow 111 acx........ 1 5*., ask for anyone’s approval or endorse- ment, but I ask for your acceptance. You don’t have to agree with how I live my life, but it is my life to live. And it is also your children’s lives to live. If your child is gay, then it is your duty as a parent to give your child unconditional: love and support no matter whal.. | lo Earle Ratcliffe Terrace, B.C. NDP anti-church | on gay issue Dear Sir Thanks to people like Helmut Gies- brecht and his NDP colleagues the is- sue of homosexuality in our schools has been thoroughly muddied. The issue is not homosexuals per se. Homosexuals are people and that means they are like the rest of humanity, composed of the good, the bad and the ugly. The issue is ideology. The NDP have become totally partisan on the is- sue of homosexual curriculum to the point where they have sided against any representation from the traditional Judeo-Christian community. This is not debate. If church repre- sentatives were also allowed into schools to bring their world view to the attention of students, if other groups were allowed to express their points of view - that would be debate. Promoting homosexual lifestyle has nothing to do with the buman rights of gays as people. I was taught by two lesbian teachers back in the 1960’s, who like the so-called straight teachers, kept their orientation ta themselves and did a professional job every day insuring that ] was being taught what they were being paid to teach me. They were two of the best teachers J had in high school. No one in a democracy has absolute rights above and beyond the rights of other groups in our society. Churches have been relegated to the catacombs of this culture over the last 30 years in the name of liberal progression to the point where the scales are off balance in favor of ‘‘them against us”’, an alti- tude which is non-democratic. And, as in their handling of econom- ic matters, the NDP are once again revealing their own version of al- chemy --# aiming gold into lead.” Brian Gregg Terrace B.C, DON'T me MISS Skeena Valley Fall Fair Grounds BSKEENA VALLEY, wel FAIS ee Assocation = FALL FAIR Friday Aug. 29 Saturday Aug. 30 Sunday Aug. 31 2:00 pm Terrace Fall Horse Show 1:00 pm _Exhibit Hall Opens 2:00 pm ‘Official Opening 9:30 am Totem Saddle Club 10:00 am Logger’s Sports $3.50 $2.00 FREE 4H, Heavy Horse Pull, Concessions, Pet show and so much more! Fun for the entire family! pari 2 and SE E you THERE! under 5 and under We've changed... Check out our great in-store savings. 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