An anonymous blogger, BetterDazComing, published a blog on the St. George Utah Spectrum website today titled: Homosexuals in Military 2. He concludes with the following:
"I really would like to hear an explanation of why others think this lifestyle choice should be allowed- anywhere, not just in the Military. "
My response:
The first reason is that we who have gay and lesbian members of our families, who we know and love, absolutely deny your fundamental assertion that one's sexual orientation is a lifestyle choice.
The second reason is that there is an abundance of research by psychiatric and psychological professionals that supports that which we know in the deepest recesses of our souls.
The third reason is that malicious diatribes such as yours are completely devoid of any thought or rationality and are rooted in deep prejudices of which you seem to be unaware.
My fourth reason is that as a health care professional I have been privileged to engage with many in the GLBT community and their families as they have struggled to heal the pain that is the consequence of being the targets of hatefulness directed at them.
My fifth reason is a bit more personal but it is, for me, more meaningful than any of the previous except the first. In 1991 one of my daughters was diagnosed with AIDS. Being uninformed about the disease, I went to the gay community for information. After working through my own subconscious homophobia, my family and I were the recipients of a level of compassionate support that equaled or exceeded other support of which we were the beneficiaries.
My
sixth reason is that I am aware that the love that a gay or lesbian
person feels for their partner is no different in quality than the love
that I share with my wife.
The
seventh reason is that I agree with Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has worked in with gays in the military
since 1968 and is uncomfortable with a policy that causes people to lie
about who they are in order to serve our nation. The policy and the
burden it places on the military and service members is violation of
personal and national integrity.
I
could go on, but sadly I am not optimistic about my ability to find the
words that will be meaningful to the writer of the referenced blog.
Thanks George for your eloquent response. My heart is lifted knowing there are thoughtful intelligent people, such as yourself, in this world.
Posted by: Linda | February 05, 2010 at 05:08 PM
Excellent response, George! It's a shame that so many people focus on differences to distinguish who is more human, when we are really all quite the same in that sense.
Posted by: Diane | February 05, 2010 at 04:24 PM