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I, too, felt the editor's note was inappropriate and unnecessary. Had the editor included the entire quote, I would still feel he needed to express his views in the same text that the rest of us use rather than tacking it on to the end of a readers letter. My own opinion is he abused his position as editor. For what it's worth!

Well, in as much as I respect the N & R, when it comes to anything connected with the GLBT issue/s, I expect nothing less. In the South, where "everyone" is a God-fearing, Bible believing "Christian" what can anyone expect?

The GLBT community has been viewed, whether openly stated or not, as an expendable part of our society and culture. Until the GLBT community stands up and protests just as Black society did 40-50 years ago, nothing will ever change. What good is it for a retired GLBT person to out themself (i.e. Richard Chamberlain)? They have nothing to lose at that point. Then, a 20-40 year-old GLBT person has everything to lose, including employment.

NC has very few (if any) company's that protect a person's employment regarinding sexual orientation. And while the State of NC has written policy, it is seldom used. There is always "something else" stated!

So, there is even more at work here than just the suicide risk/completion issue!

Darryl,

Everyone does not believe as you do. A lot of people believe homosexuality is wrong. A lot of those people don't go to church and do not consider themselves to be Christians. Just like a lot of people don't believe in adultery, murder, stealing, etc.

You obviously don't have a problem with gay and lesbians and most people I've met don't really care what people do in their own homes.

But when it comes to establishing laws that make it 'okay' to be gay, that is crossing the line for a lot of people. You can call those people homophobic, or bible-believing, or any other names, but they have just as much right to their views as you do.

They believe homosexuality is wrong just as much as you believe it is okay.

Oh, and let me add this. I am God-fearing. I also and God-loving. And I try to be God-obeying though I fail often.

But I'd rather tell people I get my direction from God, than I get my direction from Darryl.

mr t,
Your points call for some explanation as to general human rights in this country. Just because some, even a majority, of people in this country believe a lifestyle (which hurts no others) to be wrong, doesn't mean that they have a right to "outlaw" it or otherwise restrict it. Contrary to the opinions of many, our democracy is not one of the majority rules. It is more appropriate to state that it is our governments role to protect the minority from the tyrany of the majority.

Interesting argument, but I think that our government's role also is to protect the majority from the tyranny of the minority.

As far as your theory that their lifestyle hurts no others. Tell that to the families of the Gay and Lesbian Teens that commit suicide in higher numbers than their peers (I know the argument already; it is because of homophobic people that these people kill themselves). Tell that to the children who have to explain to their peers why daddy is holding hands with another man. You don't think that is excruciating? Tell that to the wife and kids that daddy left for his boyfriend.

While I agree that being a homosexual is a personal choice, it is also true that any choice we make may also affect other people. Now before someone tells me how adulterers or straight people or anyone else's decisions hurt others in order to change the subject, let me say that I already know that.

And I don't say these things from an anonymous cave. I have the same discussions with my gay friends and co-workers. And we still remain friends because I don't try to tell them how to live their life and they don't try to tell me how to live mine. We accept our differences and move on.

Mr t, While I agree someone may choose to live a gay lifestyle (in order to be true to themselves rather than caving in to what others might want them to be), I cannot think of any good reason why someone would choose to be gay. In other words, why would anyone choose to be ostracized by society, condemned by the majority of heterosexuals, discriminated aganist by the government, beaten, raped and killed simply because they are gay and to have their souls banished to hell by the church? Doesn't sound like anything I would CHOOSE.

Consider this, please: If anything can happen when all those x and y chromasomes hook up, why is it so far fetched to think homosexuality may be caused by genetics? Just a little food for thought.

If I have a vote, please also, cast mine for "accept our differences and move on".

I think there could be countless studies on why people consider themselves to be homosexual.

Is it because they are only sexually attracted to their same gender? Is it because they feel closer to their own gender when it comes to other forms of intimacy? Is it for attention? Is it because they feel accepted by a group who is very accepting of others like them? Maybe they had a bad experience with someone of an opposite sex. Maybe a bad relationship with a father, a lover, etc.

I have known lots of gay people in my life and have had the privilege of talking with them at length. I've had close friends, family, room-mates, co-workers and childhood buddies who are gay.

In each case, their answers to my questions are a little bit different.

Basically, I feel that life plays a whole lot more into someone's lifestyle than genetics or biology.

Given the very nature of homosexuality, it would be hard to say that people inherited it from their gay parents because it is unlikely that many of those gay people would have children.

But what I've observed are different patterns. Very few of the gay men I've known had fathers in their lives. Some had fathers who died, others were abandoned at an early age, and some had abusive situations. Could that have contributed to their feelings? I've also known people who were really overweight or felt like nobody accepted them. They found acceptance in their homosexuality. It actually is kind of like joining a group where you have something in common.

Some people like the attention they get from being gay. I know that sounds hard to believe, but some people like attention whether it is good or bad.

And a lot of people are just plain horny. They would screw a fence if they got satisfaction out of it. I think that is why you often have the 'prison' gay person. It isn't really that far of a stretch for people if you think about it.

The fact is, we just don't know.

I will say this, though, that leads me to question the whole choice thing?

Why would any man choose to put his penis in another man's feces and be excited about it? To a germaphobe like me, that would just totally rule out the gay lifestyle.