To the editor:

The hostility and bigotry espoused in the letters of James Long, Mark Davis and Nathan Swanson, Peris Chamberlain and Kyle Mehman and Matthew Schaefer cannot go unanswered.

Two primary opinions were expressed in these letters: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals should not be LGBT in public, and LGBT events and issues do not pertain to non-LGBT individuals. Both of these opinions are indefensible.

The photograph that brought the most comment was that of a gay couple kissing during the Reverse Campaniling event. Reverse Campaniling is both an affirmation of LGBT community and a protest against the idea that being LGBT is something to be ashamed of or hide.

To deny same-sex couples the right to publicly affirm who they are is to deny their rights as citizens and human beings.

A life of closeted fear is not an example of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. LGBT individuals deserve the same rights as any other citizen.

To say that LGBT events and issues do not affect and are not of interest to non-LGBT individuals is to deny the pervasive fear of and hostility toward LGBT individuals. LGBT events and issues are pertinent to all of us in the same way that issues of racism are pertinent to each of us.

Discrimination against and violence toward LGBT individuals are societal problems that we must all work toward overcoming. Anything that helps raise awareness of LGBT issues is newsworthy.

A little “desensitization to gayness” would go a long way. Maybe those of us who are not LGBT should become used to hearing about LGBT events, individuals, and issues before our friends, sisters, brothers, sons or daughters come out to us. Acceptance and support will do more good for everyone than fear and hatred will.

Matthew R. Burack

Senior

Computer science