2 Letters - Courier - On Homophobia and Defense of marriage

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Published in the Courier News, Wednesday, July 19, 2006

[Letter to Editor]
Marriage defense stereotypical rant

Rosalie Maimone's continuing homophobic diatribes on the Courier's editorial pages are increasingly distressing and cannot go unanswered. Her June 29 "defense of marriage" was bad enough, but her July 15 rant about PFLAG ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on June 30 exemplifies irrational hysteria at its most extreme.

Her "defense" of the concept of "traditional marriage" doesn't hold up to logical scrutiny and lacks any understanding of the historical role of marriage in cementing economic and political relationships. One need only think of the marriages between members of royal families or landowners in Europe, a practice that continues today in societies where arranged marriages, dowries and bride prices still are common. Fortunately, in most contemporary societies, those are the exceptions rather than the rule.

Her incoherent July 15 letter reaches a new low. She apparently wants us all to think gays and lesbians want to "stamp out" what she terms "all us heterosexuals." Her assumption is that all gay people hate straight people and vice versa -- an unfortunate example of stereotyping at its worst. It would be sad indeed if any reader were to take this nonsense seriously, especially coming from someone living in Plainfield -- a community which welcomes everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status or sexual orientation.

With what she terms her "busy life," it's amazing that she found time to pay attention to such a trivial matter as who rang the bell at the Stock Exchange closing the day after her first letter was published.

Ms. Maimone also appears to be unaware of the increasing scientific evidence that sexual orientation has genetic origins. People no more "choose" to be homosexual than they "choose" to be black, Hispanic, white, or Asian. Homosexuality is not an "alternative lifestyle," as she claims -- our sexual orientation is something we are born with.

Her June 29 letter mentions the civil rights movement's struggle for "the most basic rights" to vote, to educational choices, to autonomy in every sense of the word, but she doesn't seem to mean it. If she did she would endorse "as most civil rights leaders do today" the right of every gay or lesbian individual to be the person they are and to enjoy the basic rights every other American enjoys -- "in the words of the Declaration of Independence, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That, in fact, is what "autonomy in every sense of the word" should mean.

My husband and I have been married for more than 42 years -- and by the way, we are not members of PFLAG. Neither of us chose to be heterosexual, that's simply the way we are. When someone's sister can obtain a marriage license but her gay brother can't, that's just wrong. Discrimination against any American on the basis of any innate characteristic is a blemish on the dream that established this nation. And those who invest so much energy in spreading hysterical homophobia do America, and all of us, a great disservice.

DOTTIE GUTENKAUF
Plainfield

Link to online story.

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)

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Published in the Courier News, Wednesday, July 19, 2006

[Letter to Editor]
Homophobia ignores real ills

I couldn't but smile all throughout the reading of Rosalie Maimone's recent letter, "Homophobia not High on Priority List." I have been reading all the letters that have been sent to the Courier News about this subject. Not only do I agree with Rosalie Maimone, but also the urge to "come out of the closet" rushed me to send you this note.

Yes, I support the gay community, and yes, I'm good friends with a lot of them, not only in Plainfield, but also in other counties and even in distant places such as Mexico and Colombia. I never felt being gay was a sin, or a crime, or even less, a mental disability. Quite on the contrary, it has shown me that women can accomplish anything that a man, physically and economically, can do, and that males can actually balance their work and family time and be successful, if they choose, in raising a family.

Moving to Plainfield has not only strengthened my positive views about gays, but it also has given us, me and my family, the opportunity to see them firsthand supporting and contributing to the betterment of Plainfield. As a heterosexual family who loves being in Plainfield, we see this as an opportunity to raise our children free of stereotypes.

Until we stop judgment on the next person, our society won't be able to focus on the real ills of Union County -- poverty, homelessness and crime. Being gay -- Rosalie is right -- is not, and should not be, on any list.

MARIA PELLUM
Plainfield

Link to online story.

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
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