Another post on Steve Hunt
Since the Washington Post site requires registration, I'm copying the letters to the editor here for your viewing pleasure.
washingtonpost.com
Readers: Letter Sends Wrong Message
Thursday, February 10, 2005; Page VA05
Mr. Hunt is calling for students to hear other "views" of homosexuality, from such anti-gay extremists as Concerned Women for America. That's fine. But don't stop there.
How about inviting some Ku Klux Klan members to a black history lecture? Holocaust deniers are always good to have around when discussing Nazi persecution, just to give another "perspective." And what Women's History Month would be complete without a retelling of it from a man's point of view?
And just what is a "gay lifestyle" anyway? I get up and go to the gym, go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, go out with friends, call my family, buy stuff, pay my taxes and do lots of other things. I'm gay, and those activities and more are part of my life, but what exactly makes it a gay lifestyle? Can anyone explain that?
Finally, Hunt explains that gays often suffer from physical (he left out psychological) abuse. What, like his letter? Isn't it just a little disingenuous of him to perpetuate the abuse he cites as a reason not to acknowledge one's sexuality?
I wish that when I was in school there had been the kind of family life education in which today's kids participate. Maybe my high school experience would have been a lot happier. Armed with the knowledge and support that I wasn't alone, and that being gay is okay, maybe I would have been able to concentrate on building friendships and studying harder, rather than worrying about who was going to call me "faggot" or try to beat me up.
Would that Mr. Hunt could walk a day in the shoes of a gay teen. Maybe then his perspective of "other views" would change.
Dan Kaufman
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We're writing as leaders of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, an organization of more than 1,300 professional journalists from around the country.
The association works from within the industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of issues in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Our members have been watching The Post's coverage of the Fairfax School Board controversy with great interest.
On behalf of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and its members, we wanted to thank you for your sensitive coverage of the controversy, and for generally looking beyond the emotionally charged rhetoric on the issue of sexuality in schools to ensure all sides in the debate have their views expressed accurately.
That said, we wanted to remind you and your readers of an apparent oversight in the Feb. 4 Metro section article, "Letter on Homosexuality Prompts Rebuke From Board": the use of the phrase "sexual preference." While there's no consensus about the exact causes of or triggers for homosexuality, the vast majority of credible research in the field agrees that sexual orientation is not a choice.
The use of phrases such as "preference" inherently suggests that being gay is a conscious choice, and can have a major impact. For readers who are questioning their sexuality or gender, such phrases can intensify doubts and fears. To the public at large, those phrases can reinforce the idea that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people should be the subject of ridicule, or can be "changed" through so-called "ex-gay" ministries, which most credible psychologists agree can do considerable harm.
The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association has a number of resources for journalists covering issues facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Our Stylebook Supplement and Journalists' Toolbox are available online at www.nlgja.org.
Eric Hegedus
President
Pamela Strother
Executive Director
National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association
I would also urge everyone to listen to Steve Gellman's song "Just like you" from his cd Return to Summer Lake. (to listen to the song "sound bite" go to the song link I provided and then look for the song on the left side of the screen). Steve Gellman is a lovely man, a fabulous musician, and a great friend.
Edit: PS on Steve Gellman, if you live in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Northern VA, you should really get out to hear him play. It's typically low or no cover in very small venues like coffee shops. I promise you, you'll love him!