Best LTE EVER on gay rights. MUST READ.

Posted on Atrios' blog from Valley News of VT/NH:

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004_05_30_atrios_archive.html#108594138105819735

Letter to the Editor
by Sharon Underwood, Sunday, April 30, 2000
from the Valley News (White River Junction, VT/Hanover, NH)

As the mother of a gay son, I've seen firsthand how cruel and misguided people can be.

Many letters have been sent to the Valley News concerning the homosexual menace in Vermont. I am the mother of a gay son and I've taken enough from you good people.

I'm tired of your foolish rhetoric about the "homosexual agenda" and your allegations that accepting homosexuality is the same thing as advocating sex with children. You are cruel and ignorant. You have been robbing me of the joys of motherhood ever since my children were tiny.

My firstborn son started suffering at the hands of the moral little thugs from your moral, upright families from the time he was in the first grade. He was physically and verbally abused from first grade straight through high school because he was perceived to be gay.

-- much more, DO read this exquisite letter --

And have you over for dinner. :thumbsup: That's probably the best letter I've ever read, on any subject.

That belongs in a journalism textbook. Absolutely right on brilliant.

and a great one to pull out of the archives.

Thanks!

-- Allen

incredible writing.

Now please forgive me while I cry. I love that lady!

I had found this letter awhile ago when I got the book Civil Wars. Sadly it hadn't been printed at the time but it is an awesome letter. I hope that young man is living the dream that his mother had for him.

What a moving letter. I was moved to tears. When I think of all the kids over the years that have been cruelly harassed, some to suicide, by moral bigots and religious bullies it makes me seethe inside. I am an atheist because I cannot conceive of a loving, compassionate God (the only kind worthy of being worshiped) standing back and letting this happen to children whom he (or whatever) supposedly created in his image.

Sounds like he was pretty close to the edge from an early age.

My reaction to my homosexuality, as a teenager, was to grind my teeth, in my sleep. My dentist says she's never seen anything like it, they have been reduced to nubs in places and I need about $25,000 in dental work. What a sick, twisted nightmare we force our kids to endure.

I hated myself so much in middle school that I thought about offing myself often. Our kids deserve better.

:hug:

especially since they are more vulnerable -- less capable of "coping" with that abuse since they're, well, KIDS.

But every human being in the world deserves the chance to simply be who they are, without apology without denigration, abuse or hate, and without having to hide the truth of who they really are. This business of having to deny a whole, innate part of their essential natures (and not much is more intensely personal or innate than our sexual orientations!) is soul-destroying and IMO, THAT's a sin, IMO (on the part of those in this society whose behaviors and attitudes make that a necessity for anyone). I also believe it's a form of spiritual abuse, and those who are taught to fear or hate are being spiritually abused as well.

I've always found it astounding -- it would be amusing if it weren't so cruel -- homophobes make up these terrible lies about gays and lesbians, scare themselves to death with their delusional lies, and then blame gays and lesbians for their own scarey delusions!

"Every human being in the world deserves the chance to simply be who they are, without apology without denigration, abuse or hate, and without having to hide the truth of who they really are."

All I can is, AMEN!

My dentist is horrified. I need basically all new teeth.

My god this woman nailed it!

I am not gay but the cruelty shown towards gays in our society has been making me sick for decades. This woman has put those feelings in a nice concise package I only wish it would be seen by more of the so called christians out there.

but I came out to a class of students on Thursday. I was asked if I was gay by an out student and I was prepeared to give my usual I don't discuss that at school but just couldn't. Instead I said, yes I am. I just couldn't dishonor the courage that kid shows each and every day with a ludicrous line like that. I don't think I will get fired or anything but it still is a little weird to have actualy said yes.

I celebrate your decision, your courage, your standing in comeraderie with your student.

:toast:

In 10th grade he faced down the bullies and appears to be winning. If I helped him some small amount then great, but he deserves the credit.

I'm going to send that letter to my homophobic father. It pains me to have a parent who has this blind spot on his humanity vision. Guess we all wish our parents had our own attitudes.

My girlfriend and I just went through a pregnancy and miscarriage and I considered telling my father that my child might be born gay and he better deal with it because he wasn't bringing homophobia into my family.

Sadly homophobia is common, all too common. I feel most sad for those on the real front lines of this battle. The sons and daughters of people like Randal Terry, Phylis Schaffley, Lynee Cheney, and Robert Knight among others. It is hard to imagine a worse senario for growing up gay than being the child of a famous homophobe.

I hope that if you decide to try again you have better results. You must be devastated. Again, I wish you well with future pregnancies.

I am proud of you and the example you are showing to the kids who are in your class.

Who knows? Perhaps you have saved a closeted kid from self-destructive behaviour because now he sees someone who lives a fulfilling, professional life who is gay. :)

but he is the brave one. I really hope I can be back at that school before the year is out just to check in so to speak. But there are only a few school days left.

for the good gay thread.

... deserves a kick so everyone who might have missed it can read it. This one should be made into a spam mail and dissemenated all over the net - powerful, persuasive, and right.

OUGHT TO BE. Period.

God gave us the ability to think. And to choose love over hate. These holier-than-thou tripe-for-brains seem to prefer not thinking and hating and do it in the name of God.

it's so good to see it here as well.
especially after that ugly little business of denying communion to people who wear sashes to church -- oy.
this letter demonstrates the real courage it takes to be open and loving -- may i always try to set an example the way this woman has.

"The fake Christians say that homosexuality is a sin, that it's a choice and that it is a temptation that must be resisted. I would like to ask them if they actually consider gay sex a temptation. If so then they are gay and they would be a lot happier if they just acknowledged the fact."

NAILED! :bounce:

a mother whose child has been injured by others.

That is one powerful letter!

I am all for the establishment of GLBT youth groups in schools, because it is so important for a young person who is different from the majority in ANY way to know that he or she is not alone.

Sad to say, though, I would not be surprised if the young man's teachers also participated in the abuse. When I was in high school, the male teachers used to browbeat and make sarcastic remarks about any boy who didn't fit the masculine stereotypes.

I still vividly remember my first PE teacher. He used to pick on me merciously. He called me wuss and would laugh at me when I did poorly on the field of play which was pretty much all the time. The only thing I did well, kick a kickball, he ruined by pitching to me differently than anyone else. He was just horrible. I have no idea why one would do that to a first grader. Heck, I didn't even know what gay was back then, I just was a sucky athelete.

to keep this letter out of the abyss.

EVERYONE should read it. It's just amazing.

Thanks for posting it!

There's a budding knuckle-dragger in my son's sixth grade class. One of their other classmates, one of my kid's best friends, was swayed by this other boy for awhile, but has since come back around to more enlightened thinking (much to both his mother's AND my relief, and my son's as well).

Yesterday this mother and her boys, and my two kids and I went on an all-day outing. Her oldest son (my kid's best friend) had told me the other boy's mom had read to him from the Bible about how homosexuality was bad. I laughed and handed him a copy of the following:

Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality, who dispenses advice to people who call in to her Radio show. On her radio show recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination, according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet.

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21: 7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1: 9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them?
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan


Anyway, I handed a copy of this to the kid, and read it aloud in the car, to raucous laughter from the other mom and all four kids in the back. The boy kept it. From time to time throughout the day, quoted several passages from it, especially the "should I smite them?" and the parts about "why can't I own Canadians?" and the touching of footballs and "do we have to smite them in public or can we kill them in a private family gathering" and other silly parts.

That's gonna be all over the sixth grade tomorrow...

heh-heh-heh

that is unreal. Wicked cool.

He's gay, and one of the first people who openly started making snide comments about the war - WAY early, when I thought nobody else felt the same way I did about it. So every week when I'd go in there to get lunch for everybody, we'd share some quick commiseration. Finally, one day, he made some comment about feeling like he was in the last group to be legally discriminated against. I thought of this Dr. Laura letter that I'd kept in a file in my computer, and told him I had a good comeback that he might enjoy reading. I printed out a copy and gave it to him the next time I saw him. Later on, I saw him elsewhere in the neighborhood and he thanked me for it, and said he was passing it around.

And, actually, no, I don't keep copies of it with me. But I keep the file in my computer in a place where it's easy to find, and print it out whenever I think it might do some good. Actually, at this moment, I've printed out a couple of extras to keep REALLY handy for the next time I need 'em. I knew I'd have a chance to give it to this lad. I've been trying to help him see the light ever since he briefly sort of fell under the spell of the young knuckle-dragger kid. My son was nearly distraught to find out his best friend wasn't a Democrat anymore. Slowly but surely we eased him back out of the Dark Side. I suggested that maybe it's because this kid doesn't know anybody who's day, but then the mom with me in this case blurted out "OH YES he DOES!" And she paused, and then added - "he just doesn't realize it."

One of MANY MANY reasons why I ardently want bush bounced is because of the situation in that classroom. If bush wins, the young republi-CON will be absolutely hell to live with - he tends to be an in-yer-face type, unfortunately. I know he would lord it over my kid and his friends RAWTHER mercilessly, because they've had quite a few political arguments on the playground by now, and I know full well he would love to stick it to my son, something fierce, if Kerry lost. Which is NOT gonna happen if THIS mom has anything to say about it!!!

I am glad your son's friend is seeing the light. Hopefully Kerry will win.

so I can make myself a copy. Loved it when Jeb Bartlett spouted this or something like it off to the Dr. Laura knock-off they had on West Wing a couple of seasons ago.

For making me remember this letter.

I lucked out. I grew up with great friends, a loving family, supportive teachers, and a welcoming community. I have never had to experience what this young man has gone thru. This mother truly deserves the praise she is recieving.

honest and effective.
thanks for posting, i shared it.