Many people believe that being gay consists of nothing more than a specific act or a set of behaviors. Such a view is inaccurate and consigns the person who is homosexual to the status of a morally corrupt or mentally ill individual. This is the view promulgated by antigay persons and political groups. The truth is that being gay is an intimate, integrated aspect of one’s identity that, like heterosexuality, is not tied to a specific behavior at all. This idea is perhaps best understood when you consider the fact that gay males and lesbians, prior to any kind of sexual activity, identify themselves as virgins.

The point is that there is a distinction between what people do and who they are. And for gay males and lesbians, like heterosexual persons, who we are is much more important and central to our humanity. For example, being gay is the social equivalent of having an alternate race, religion or national origin.

Passing judgment on people based on who they are is prejudice and passing judgment on people because they are gay is the moral equivalent of racism.

Although there are people who cannot see gay males and lesbians for who they are, there are increasing numbers of people who are realizing that same-sex attraction is a consistent, identifying feature of human personality that cannot be denied.

Don Paulsen

North Sioux City, S.D.