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Monday, August 12, 2002 Page: 6A
I’M WRITING IN REPONSE TO THE REBUTTALS TO THE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY CHRIS
BJORKE ABOUT THE COMING OUT SHOP. I’M HOPING THE TIMES LEADER WILL BE KIND
ENOUGH TO PRINT A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE COMING OUT SHOP. LET ME START OFF
BY STATING I’M A HETEROSEXUAL, CHRISTIAN MALE. IF I REMEMBER THE TEACHINGS I
HAVE RECEIVED GROWING UP IN THE CHURCH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TAUGHT IS TO
NOT JUDGE OTHERS. DIDN’T JESUS SAY LET HE WHO HAS NOT SINNED CAST THE FIRST
STONE? YET IT’S BECOME APPARENT TO ME THE “RELIGIOUS RIGHT” OF NE PENNSYLVANIA
IS DOING JUST THAT. I COULD GO BACK AND FORTH WITH PEOPLE QUOTING SCRIPTURE IN
SUPPORT OF MY POSITION ON THIS ISSUE, BUT WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO? THE FACT OF
THE MATTER IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE JUDGING OTHERS AND TRYING TO FORCE THEIR BELIEFS
ON PEOPLE AND THAT IS WRONG. UNTIL NOW, YOUR LOCAL GAY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
QUIET AND INVISIBLE, EXISTING UNDERGROUND, OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. NOW THEY ARE
BECOMING MORE VISIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, ALONG WITH
IGNORANCE, IS PRODUCING A KNEE-JERK REACTION FROM A FEW PEOPLE IN THE AREA.
WHEN MY SISTER FIRST INFORMED ME SHE WAS GAY, I WAS HURT, ANGRY AND CONFUSED.
IN THE 14 YEARS SINCE THEN, I HAVE LEARNED GAY WOMEN AND MEN ARE LOVING AND
CARING PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WITH ONE EXCEPTION, THEIR SEXUAL
PREFERENCE. IN REV. PURDY’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR, HE STATES HE IS OPPOSED TO
THE “GAY” LIFESTYLE, ABORTION, PORNOGRAPHY IN ANY FORM, ADULTERY, DRUNKENNESS,
CHILD ABUSE, STEALING, LYING, CHEATING, GOSSIP AND SUCH LIKE ACTIONS. I AGREE
WITH HIM ON MOST OF THOSE ISSUES, BUT I HAVE NO DESIRE TO CLOSE DOWN ALL THE
BARS, LIQUOR STORES, PORNOGRAPHIC OUTLETS, ETC. I ALSO KNOW THE ACTS OF
DRUNKENNESS, ADULTERY, GOSSIP AND CHILD ABUSE HAVE RUINED LIVES AND MARRIAGES
IN THE “STRAIGHT” COMMUNITY. ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED LONG BEFORE THE COMING OUT
SHOP OPENED AND WILL CONTINUE HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WHEN WAS THE LAST
TIME YOU WENT TO A CHURCH AND DIDN’T HEAR PEOPLE GOSSIPING ABOUT EVERYONE? HOW
MANY TIMES HAVE WE READ ABOUT MINISTERS GETTING ARRESTED FOR SOLICITING
PROSTITUION OR FLEECING ITS CONGREGATION? ISN’T THERE A HUGE PROBLEM IN THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH BECAUSE PRIESTS HAVE MOLESTED AND SODOMIZED LITTLE BOYS? THE
CHURCH HAS MORE PRESSING ISSUES AND NEEDS TO CLEAN UP ITS OWN BACK YARD BEFORE
IT STARTS WORRYING ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE’S BACK YARD. IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
THE GAY LIFESTYLE AND DON’T INTEND TO PATRONIZE THE COMING OUT SHOP, FINE. BUT
LEAVE THEM ALONE AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR IN-HOUSE MATTERS; WE’LL ALL BE MUCH
BETTER IF YOU DO. USED 08/12Elden Hardesty
Indianapolis