I’ve been keeping a close track on what’s been printed lately on and around campus, and after a letter written on Nov. 21, 1997, I feel that it is very necessary for me to comment on it. So, let’s take a look at what has been shown one last time and then I’ll forever hold my peace about this particular situation.

The letter sent to the Daily by Ev Cherrington stated, “Simple logic reveals that something must be wrong with the gay lifestyle.” There was no reasoning behind this “simple logic,” no explanation of why he felt this way and no consideration for those of us who may have lost a friend, relative or partner because of suicide whether it be due to our inability to cope with how the world was reacting to our sexuality, depression, abuse or neglect (that could mean straight or gay for the latter three.)

The letter sent to the Daily by Curt Lund and 34 other individuals stated, “What is killing our queer teenagers? You are Ev Cherrington. You and everyone like you, and the attitudes you exude. Bigots, close minded, clueless, misinformed, blinded bigots with your blanket bigoted remarks and simple logic. Kids realize they may be gay. Then they see you and people like you telling everyone they are terrible.”

No offense, Mr. Borseth, but what in the heck did you expect the LGBTA population in and around campus to think? Ev’s comment was blatantly intolerant towards the homosexual community, included absolutely no understanding about homosexuality, and whether you think he meant it or not it was hurtful to quite a few Les, Bi, Gay, Trans, Ally individuals on campus. You feel that an apology is needed and I agree.

So, you and Ev are invited to any Alliance meeting to apologize to its members for the inconsiderate, misinformed, hurtful statement made by Mr. Cherrington to those of us that have lost loved ones to suicide. (I believe I already called and invited him once before to explain his stance to our members.)

Don’t misunderstand this letter Mr. Borseth, it’s not all directed towards you or Mr. Cherrington, because there are a lot of things I feel that will be brought into light (by no means for the first time) for everyone on this campus that seem to be oblivious to all the information around them.

Mr. Borseth stated, “After reading the alarming suicide rate among the homosexual community, Ev wanted to warn people of the dangers he felt that lifestyle contained and to rescue them from potential harm.”

Just one question about this comment seems to jump into my mind. How in the world do you intend to “save” somebody that is born a homosexual?

My parents and grandparents thought that they could use my love for them to change my sexuality, and have since realized that no matter how much I love them, I can’t change to appease them because I didn’t choose this.

Do all of you folks still think that homosexuals would choose a life filled with rejection from educators, peers, friends and family? A life where you can be fired (in all except for nine states — Iowa not included in those.) because a boss hears a rumor that you’re gay?

A life where your love for your partner is not recognized by the church or the government by marriage? (That is also in most places in the U.S.) A life of watching over your shoulder for those quick footsteps behind you and not knowing if those footsteps will bring a severe beating or even your death? And if you did get beaten, knowing that most individuals will feel that you’d deserve getting beaten for being “that way.”

A life where you can be blatantly verbally abused in the street because it’s still an openly accepted form of hatred? (This has happened to me three times in five days.) Being forced to deny a big part about yourself in order to serve your country, even though your sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with how well you’d be able to do your job? Being denied housing, promotions and benefits?

Having your religion turn their back on you due to mistranslations that nobody seems to notice? (You have your stances and I have mine. That doesn’t make me right and you wrong, but it also doesn’t make you right and me wrong. That also doesn’t make Christianity the “right” religion.)

So, the point I’m trying to make is this; What part of “Homosexuals are born homosexuals.” aren’t you getting? Even more importantly than that: why aren’t you getting it? The information is out there for everyone to see. Come to the Alliance meetings, talk to an LGBTA person, go to the LGBTSS office in Dean of Student Services offices.

Honestly, we don’t recruit, corrupt or convert, and the sad thing out there is that many actually believe that we do. Ya’ll really shouldn’t flatter yourselves, because if you’re not a lesbian or bisexual, you’re not my type.

Now, many will tell me that I shouldn’t do this, but I’m inviting individuals that want to actually talk about this stuff to get ahold of me. As Curt Lund stated in “Pay Attention,” we have a responsibility to ourselves, our community and to humanity to teach what’s really going on and our best way to do that is visibility.

There are some out there that see it fit to, instead of talk to me about what’s on their minds, talk to my parents, brother, sister and friends instead. (And I say the word “talk” in the loosest possible sense. More of a bunch of teasing and an overall dislike with how vocal I am.)

If you’re going to talk against me and what I stand for, at least have the courage to be able to say it to my face.

I’m a very blunt and honest person when it comes to things like that, if you hadn’t already noticed, and even though I still won’t understand you for your hatred towards me, I’d at least respect you for being openly ignorant. (This doesn’t mean screaming out nasty versions of dyke, lesbian, queer, fairy, etc. at a distance. It means a calm, cool, collected, mature discussion of facts.)

I feel that it’s my responsibility to educate the public about this issue and battle homophobia with every bit of strength I have in my body. So, in laymen’s terms, I’m not going to go away and I’m not going to stop fighting on this issue until homosexuals everywhere have equal rights and are treated like exactly what they are … people.

Where is this going to start? It’s going to start in our schools, homes, on the playground and in church with the education we receive. We aren’t born to hate, it’s taught to us. There were a few instructors when I was growing up that were very openly racist, sexist, homophobic and judgmental on people that were “different” from themselves.

THIS is where bigotry starts. With parents, teachers and peers teaching an uninformed opinion on something that they can’t possibly comprehend and have never shown a real interest to do so.

Now, just because of a few bad seeds in my growing environment, doesn’t mean I didn’t grow from the experiences. I honestly don’t think I’d be half as determined if I hadn’t had that ignorance and intolerance in my life, but in the same light I don’t want anyone else to have to go through it either.

I also had quite a few things that happened while I was there that helped me grow into my maturity, open-mindedness, a love for one another with a bunch of wonderful individuals that judged me on my merits and not the sexuality I was born with, and they’ll always have a special place in my heart.

So, I’m more than happy to say that enough is enough. Let’s stop bickering, whining, moaning, hating, insulting, slandering, misinterpreting and misunderstanding one another and in order to do that, we’re going to have to realize that not everybody is the exact same as you … whether you like it or not.

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Angie Chipman is a sophomore in psychology and is the president of ISU’s LGBTA Alliance.