In response to the “Gay Rights Different than Civil Rights” letter by David Owalabe, it is my understanding that civil rights means that all human beings should have the right to live comfortably, have equal access to resources and be treated as human beings.

I agree that black Americans have had to put up with inhumane treatment for years, but black Americans, along with other ethnic minorities, aren’t the only ones to be treated inhumanely.

It wasn’t that long ago that women also began fighting for our equal rights as citizens. Furthermore, gays have had to mask their true identities as individuals for centuries so that people like you would not discriminate against them by claiming that they do not deserve equal rights.

How would you feel if the person that you loved got into a terrible medical accident and you weren’t allowed to see them in the hospital? How would you feel if your own family disowned you for simply being yourself?

Have any of these things ever happened to you? My guess is probably not. In that case, I think that gays have a long way to go.

Kristen Corey

Senior

Sociology