illusionofjoy | Letter to the editor: the queers are here to stay! (Reply)

I am really sick of assholes and morons. For example, Mr. Bob Stamer of Baldwin, who wrote the following letter to the editor, published in today's Post-Gazette:

What's this world coming to? Joyce Gannon wrote a May 27 article titled "Gays Welcome." She reports as if homosexual behavior is perfectly OK. Sexual contact between two people means between opposite sexes, not the same!

To write that this city is a "'welcoming and diverse' place for people with alternative lifestyles" is a disgrace. This city has enough problems; we don't need our normal kids to see this disgusting and abnormal behavior. Keep it in California.

I simply could not let this one rest. My response:

Bob Stamer's letter ("Not Welcome" Thursday, June 2, 2005) is a perfect example of the ignorance that still plagues society. I can imagine him writing a similar letter about African-Americans were this 40 years in the past. It saddens me that people still cling to such small-minded and incorrect attitudes out of their own irrational fears. Furthermore, I think the entire city of Pittsburgh should be insulted that Mr. Stamer has taken it upon himself to decide what forms of diversity are and are not acceptable here.

Here are the facts: sexual behaviour, despite what Mr. Stamer may believe comes in all forms and flavours naturally. While less common, from a biological standpoint, homosexuality is just as natural and normal as heterosexuality. What Mr. Stamer prefers in the way of sexual contact does not define all sexual contact, whether he likes it or not. In regards to his statement that, "we don't need our normal kids to see this disgusting and abnormal behaviour," I would like to point out that there are already plenty of laws against sexual congress occurring in public places, so this shouldn't even be an issue open for argument. Perhaps Mr. Stamer is encouraging his children to peep into the neighbour's bedroom windows or is buying them some nice, good old heterosexual pornography?

Homosexual behaviour is perfectly okay. No gay or lesbian has ever tried to force a heterosexual to convert, yet individuals like Bob Stamer are more than willing to condemn those who cause him no harm, save the persecution complex he feels when people don't live according to his way of thinking. What is this world coming to, Mr. Stamer? Hopefully, it is coming to the point where archaic mindsets such as yours will be completely eradicated and people will be allowed to live their lives in peace without having to suffer the derision of hatemongers such as yourself.

To paraphrase a popular saying from the gay rights movement: they're queer and they're here: get used to it!

I encourage everyone reading to write in to tell Mr. Stamer and those like him where to shove it.