To Tim Davis:

I’m sure you’ve received a great deal of positive attention from the gay community here at ISU and Ames regarding your article in the Daily (last) Wednesday—at least I hope so.

And I wanted to write you as well, both from the roles of co-President of the Alliance at ISU (formerly the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance) and as Ryan Sievers, a concerned college student who is gay.

From a presidential and educator’s viewpoint I wanted to say thank you for being an advocate to the LGB community and for writing the published article.

Your matter-of-fact tone and simple observation and statement of the obvious (to us, at least) conveyed and revealed a sense of some of the truly ridiculous stances that people across the U.S. and the world have taken against homosexuality.

It is with a simple review of our beliefs, such as your article, that helps people to actually think about their position without becoming defensive or offended.

It’s a good way to teach, and your article and those like it continue and expand the education of the general public on the issue of homosexuality.

As a former Speaker’s Bureau Coordinator and educator of LGB issues I wanted to point out to you that there is one section in your article to which most people in the gay community would have taken offense.

That is the section comparing homosexuality to mental retardation or cerebral palsy. Equating them as equals and as “genetic defects.”

Even though you didn’t intend to, you have validated the “wrongness” of homosexuality.

People would very much like to see mental retardation and all other mental problems eradicated from existence. Homosexuality is more than likely a genetic phenomenon, but it is not a “problem” that people should pity.

I don’t want to explain to a boss—that wants to fire me because I’m gay—that he shouldn’t because I can’t help it, and that I was born that way. My insurance will cover it…

I hope you see my point.

The emphasis should be placed on the need for general humane acceptance because that is who and what kind of human being I am.

Now, as Ryan, I would simply like to thank you for making the effort to have your voice heard and for speaking truly and openly about the gay community. Every little bit helps!

Thanks again; keep up the good writing.

Ryan L. Sievers

Anthropology

Iowa State University