Iowa State Daily staff writer Tracy Call wrote a compelling profile about a lesbian relationship that appeared in the paper Oct. 10.

It told about the personal difficulties Joelle Andrew has had as a result of her relationship with her girlfriend Reis Pearson.

The profile by Call was thorough and emotional.

Unfortunately, some readers of the story did not take it this way. They apparently must have thought it was a story not worth publishing, let alone being placed as the centerpiece of the front page.

Unfortunately, some readers of the story hated having the story in the Daily in the first place, and decided to do something about it.

And they did.

“You can shove your lesbian story up some dike’s ass for all I care,” said one of 11 messages Call received from readers.

In addition, the words “Queer Lover” were inscribed on her door.

These messages represent the stupidity of people who are ignorant and choose to be ignorant about a controversial issue.

The feature story written by Call was not a demonstration of support, nor a condemnation, of homosexual issues.

It was a brief depiction of what life is like for members of the Iowa State community, and what they go through being a lesbian couple.

Why anyone would be the target of such hatred, let alone Call, seems a little incomprehensible.

Talk about killing the messenger.

These people also represent the ignorance of those who find the best way to blame someone now is to attack anyone associated with an issue in any way.

In this case, it was Call, who merely attempted to raise the level of awareness of an important issue, not take sides.

Although the story and its messages are a thing of the past, it is still sad and disturbing to know that there are ignorant, stupid, homophobic people on this campus who feel threatened just by one couple’s story.