This letter seeks not only to refute Theodore Wlazowski’s Oct. 16 letter, but also to send a message to all those like him who seek, as Christianity often has since its inception into Roman society around the year 300 A.D., to either eradicate or convert those who don’t fall nicely into its apparently fastly held value and belief system.

First, it is important to say that, for LGBT of faith, Christian outlets exist in several churches throughout Ames, central Iowa and the entire nation.

Please do not think that Christianity is as exclusive as its recent representatives in the Daily would pretend.

Now on to Ted’s letter. I’ll first say that I thank you, Ted, for recognizing the events on campus last week. National Coming Out Week was a great success nationwide.

This year proved that progress made in Ames and everywhere has lent support and recognition to those coming to terms with who they are, deep down inside, disregarding that they must accept that lifestyle in a world where they will often be discriminated against, hated and feared.

I am sorry, however, that National Coming Out Week has driven you and those like you to write letters based on the Christian values and ethics you share.

None could disagree that, for Christianity to continue with the success it has enjoyed through the centuries, it must commonly follow the example of acceptance set forth by many denominations throughout the world.

The world is a much more diverse place than was ever recognized or realized sixteen hundred years ago. Just as people, societies and cultures have changed, so, too, has religious faith.

This is evident in the myriad Biblical translations throughout the centuries. The King James Version of the Bible was adapted to reflect the religious-drive of that time.

The “New American” version, which you quote from, must reflect the time-period of its 1901 translation.

Ninety-six years later, I think it is fair to say that a lot has changed.

The perception of homosexuality has changed not only through the eyes of religion, but also in science, media and American society. A recent Newsweek issue (February 24, 1992) superimposes the question, over a close-up of an infant’s face, “Is this child gay? Born or Bred: The Origins of Homosexuality.”

Like it or not, Newsweek is a respected news journal with an enormous circulation; it reflects the issues America wants to read about. That this question was posed, on the front cover, in 1992.

It very strongly implies that society, in general, is open to explanations of homosexuality other than your apparent belief that it is a choice.

Letters similar to that of Theodore Wlazowski are the work of a small but vocal minority who will not accept people for who they are or what they have done.

Rather, they reject people for who they love.

Just as we must not judge individuals for being of a racial or ethnic or religious minority, judgement of individuals based on sexual orientation falls short of our social standards today.

---

Tom Van Waardhuizen

Sophomore

Botany