During the past few weeks, there has been a lot of talk about the topic of homosexuality on television, mostly due to Ellen DeGeneres.

For many, the reaction has been “Why do these people want to be recognized for being gay?”

I would rather be recognized as a person who happens to be gay rather than as a “gay person.” Ellen DeGeneres has expressed the same concern that she will now be known as “the lesbian comic.” Like Ellen, I am OK with being gay but that is just a part of who I am as a whole person.

While living in a society that says it is not OK to be gay, it has taken me many years to accept that being gay is OK for me. I don’t expect everyone to agree; I just expect people not to judge. As other minorities search for visible role models, so do people who are gay or lesbian.

John Nelson

Iowa City