LTTE by a loving mother of a gay son - powerful and moving - pass it on

[Nothing Without Hope]

I posted this in another thread and was asked to repost in its own thread. This LTTE, written by a Vermont mother in 2000, is all over the internet and was clearly intended by the author to reach and move as many people as possible, so I will give it in its entirety for those of you who haven't seen it. I think this is about the fifth time I've posted it at DU.

Letter to the Editor

by Sharon Underwood, Sunday, April 30, 2000
from the Valley News (White River Junction, VT/Hanover, NH)

As the mother of a gay son, I've seen firsthand how cruel and misguided people can be.

Many letters have been sent to the Valley News concerning the homosexual menace in Vermont. I am the mother of a gay son and I've taken enough from you good people.

I'm tired of your foolish rhetoric about the "homosexual agenda" and your allegations that accepting homosexuality is the same thing as advocating sex with children. You are cruel and ignorant. You have been robbing me of the joys of motherhood ever since my children were tiny.

My firstborn son started suffering at the hands of the moral little thugs from your moral, upright families from the time he was in the first grade. He was physically and verbally abused from first grade straight through high school because he was perceived to be gay.

He never professed to be gay or had any association with anything gay, but he had the misfortune not to walk or have gestures like the other boys. He was called "fag" incessantly, starting when he was 6.

In high school, while your children were doing what kids that age should be doing, mine labored over a suicide note, drafting and redrafting it to be sure his family knew how much he loved them. My sobbing 17-year-old tore the heart out of me as he choked out that he just couldn't bear to continue living any longer, that he didn't want to be gay and that he couldn't face a life without dignity.

You have the audacity to talk about protecting families and children from the homosexual menace, while you yourselves tear apart families and drive children to despair. I don't know why my son is gay, but I do know that God didn't put him, and millions like him, on this Earth to give you someone to abuse. God gave you brains so that you could think, and it's about time you started doing that.

At the core of all your misguided beliefs is the belief that this could never happen to you, that there is some kind of subculture out there that people have chosen to join. The fact is that if it can happen to my family, it can happen to yours, and you won't get to choose. Whether it is genetic or whether something occurs during a critical time of fetal development, I don't know. I can only tell you with an absolute certainty that it is inborn.

If you want to tout your own morality, you'd best come up with something more substantive than your heterosexuality. You did nothing to earn it; it was given to you. If you disagree, I would be interested in hearing your story, because my own heterosexuality was a blessing I received with no effort whatsoever on my part. It is so woven into the very soul of me that nothing could ever change it. For those of you who reduce sexual orientation to a simple choice, a character issue, a bad habit or something that can be changed by a 10-step program, I'm puzzled. Are you saying that your own sexual orientation is nothing more than something you have chosen, that you could change it at will? If that's not the case, then why would you suggest that someone else can?

A popular theme in your letters is that Vermont has been infiltrated by outsiders. Both sides of my family have lived in Vermont for generations. I am heart and soul a Vermonter, so I'll thank you to stop saying that you are speaking for "true Vermonters."

You invoke the memory of the brave people who have fought on the battlefield for this great country, saying that they didn't give their lives so that the "homosexual agenda "could tear down the principles they died defending. My 83-year-old father fought in some of the most horrific battles of World War II, was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart.

He shakes his head in sadness at the life his grandson has had to live. He says he fought alongside homosexuals in those battles, that they did their part and bothered no one. One of his best friends in the service was gay, and he never knew it until the end, and when he did find out, it mattered not at all. That wasn't the measure of the man.

You religious folk just can't bear the thought that as my son emerges from the hell that was his childhood he might like to find a lifelong companion and have a measure of happiness. It offends your sensibilities that he should request the right to visit that companion in the hospital, to make medical decisions for him or to benefit from tax laws governing inheritance.

How dare he? you say. These outrageous requests would threaten the very existence of your family, would undermine the sanctity of marriage.

You use religion to abdicate your responsibility to be thinking human beings. There are vast numbers of religious people who find your attitudes repugnant. God is not for the privileged majority, and God knows my son has committed no sin.

The deep-thinking author of a letter to the April 12 Valley News who lectures about homosexual sin and tells us about "those of us who have been blessed with the benefits of a religious upbringing" asks: "What ever happened to the idea of striving...to be better human beings than we are?"

Indeed, sir, what ever happened to that?

Thread for posting GLBT-rights cartoons:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1364235#1365792
thread title (6-6-06): Add YOUR favorite CARTOON supporting GLBT rights to this thread!

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Remarkable letter. I hope her son finds the peace he seeks.

[EFerrari]

2. Good for that mom! Wonderful letter.

K&R

[PA Democrat]

3. Recommended!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Peace to that mother and her son

When I taught school, I NEVER tolerated any form of taunting and teasing, because I went through it as a child (I was fat). Children can be incredibly cruel or incredibly kind. It comes from how they are taught.

[im10ashus]

5. I have a rule. I never cry at work.

I just broke that rule.

;(

Edited to K&R!!

[unpossibles]

9. god knows I came so close myself

amazing letter. I hope people actually read it in your newspaper with an open heart and an open mind.

:grouphug:

[im10ashus]

6. Is there a link?

I would like to share this with my own mother.

:-)

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. It's around the internet and even available in some other languages.

Google:
"Sharon underwood" +letter
and you'll get a list of links

[im10ashus]

15. Thank you!

I will do a search.

:hi:

[tech3149]

7. Outstanding letter

That's one great Mom.

[yellerpup]

8. I'm sending this to every mom I know

K&R :kick:

[Roon]

10. My Mother walked out her church

because they started showing anti-gay videos. She has two gay sons. So now she only goes to non-denominational churches.

[BrklynLiberal]

46. A middle of the night kick

[xmas74]

11. This section made me perk up.

"You invoke the memory of the brave people who have fought on the battlefield for this great country, saying that they didn't give their lives so that the "homosexual agenda "could tear down the principles they died defending. My 83-year-old father fought in some of the most horrific battles of World War II, was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart.

He shakes his head in sadness at the life his grandson has had to live. He says he fought alongside homosexuals in those battles, that they did their part and bothered no one. One of his best friends in the service was gay, and he never knew it until the end, and when he did find out, it mattered not at all. That wasn't the measure of the man."

My grandfather stated the same thing. He said that most of the men that he knew that fought also felt the same way.

It's strange how all I hear now is that, in order to be a "real" soldier, you must be hetero. I've heard WWII and Korea vets say that they didn't give a damn. All they really cared about was if the person had their back or not.

[China_cat]

18. I remember the interview with the openly gay

commander of a Dutch army unit several years ago. When asked if the men in his unit objected to him being gay he answered "no, but they give me a hard time because I smoke".

[xmas74]

19. Exactly.

Besides, the soldiers probably thought of it as one less handsome American in uniform competing for the attention of the young women.

[bobbieinok]

20. didn't Goldwater before he died say gays in the military were OK??

and refer to some ancient Greek battle where soldiers fought even harder b/c they were fighting for their lovers??

[xmas74]

23. I'll have to look that up.

That's an interesting factoid that I would love to use in an argument sometime.

I need all the facts I can get. I live in a military town.

[Nothing Without Hope]

29. I just Googled and found a LOT of hits on Goldwater advocating inclusion:

He took a clear, consistent stand and must have done some good. I searched Goldwater +gays +military
Here's the URL of the completed search:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Goldwater+%2Bgays+%2Bmilitary&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Here are the hits on just the first page of many:

Barry Goldwater on the Military Ban
The following is a transcript of Barry Goldwater's commentary on the military gay ban ... Lifting the ban on gays in the military isn't exactly nothing, ...
www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/ user/scotts/bulgarians/barry-goldwater.html - 5k - Cached - Similar pages

SLDN: Don't Ask, Don't Tell / Lesbian & Gay Military Resources
Barry Goldwater on Gays in the Military. Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. After more than 50 years in the military and politics, I am still amazed to ...
www.sldn.org/templates/law/ record.html?section=33&record=289 - 18k - Cached - Similar pages

Goldwater advocates gays in military
Former Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater declares that the military should lift its ban on gays and said he thought the American people weren't strongly opposed ...
www.azcentral.com/specials/ special25/articles/0611goldwater.html - 45k - Cached - Similar pages

Barry Goldwater: Job Protection For Gays
Job Protection For Gays. By Barry Goldwater. Last year, many who opposed lifting the ban on gays in the military gave lip service to the American ideal that ...
worldpolicy.org/globalrights/ sexorient/1994-0713-goldwater.html - 6k - Cached - Similar pages

Washingtonpost.com: Barry Goldwater Dead at 89
During the 1990s, Mr. Goldwater spoke out in favor of allowing gays to serve in the military, and he worked in Phoenix to end job discrimination against ...
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/ politics/daily/may98/goldwater30.htm - Similar pages

Gays in the military
But legislating someone's version of morality is exactly what we do by perpetuating discrimination against gays ." Barry M Goldwater ...
www.religioustolerance.org/hom_mili.htm - 34k - Cached - Similar pages

Vanderbilt Television News Archive: Gays in the Military / Harvard ...
Headline: Gays in the Military / Harvard University Demonstration / Goldwater ... Position of conservative former Senator Barry Goldwater on the issue ...
openweb.tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/ 1993-6/1993-06-10-ABC-8.html - 6k - Cached - Similar pages

Barry Goldwater: A Who2 Profile
Long 1994 profile of Goldwater on how he's changed (and he hasn't). Goldwater on Gays in the Military. Banning gays from the military is stupid, he says ...
www.who2.com/barrygoldwater.html - 9k - Cached - Similar pages

Barry Goldwater: Biography and Much More From Answers.com
Long 1994 profile of Goldwater on how he's changed (and he hasn't); Goldwater on Gays in the Military Banning gays from the military is stupid, he says ...
www.answers.com/topic/barry-goldwater - 106k - Cached - Similar pages

Barry Goldwater - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Goldwater graduated from Staunton Military Academy and attended the ... "Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater - 60k - Cached - Similar pages

[xmas74]

37. Thank you!

[Nothing Without Hope]

31. Here's a relevant 2005 DU article on gays in the military:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/05/03/05_gays.html

Military Policy on Gays is Costly and Dangerous

March 5, 2005
By Gene C. Gerard

The military spent over $200 million to recruit and train personnel to replace service members discharged over the last decade for being openly gay, according to a Congressional report that was just released. The report found that over 10,000 troops were discharged for violating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that was instituted in 1993 under President Clinton. The policy allows military personnel to serve only if they do not disclose their homosexuality to anyone, including family members.

(snip)

Most significant has been the discharge of much needed foreign language experts. Between 1998 and 2004, at least 88 language specialists were expelled from the military for being gay; no fewer than 20 were proficient in Middle Eastern languages. At least 37 were discharged since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This has placed the country, and our troops, at great risk.

(snip)

Twenty-four nations allow gay individuals to openly serve in the military. And the U.S. armed forces has ample evidence that doing so has not created the problems they fear. Although not widely reported, an article was published in 2003 in Parameters, a publication of the U.S. Army, which reviewed the experiences of foreign military allies who abolished their ban on gay personnel. The article concluded that there was no negative impact on unit cohesion, morale, retention, or recruitment.

American troops have been serving with gay British soldiers in Iraq for the past 18 months. British military authorities have noted that there have been no problems. The British navy is so pleased with gay personnel that they are now actively recruiting gays and lesbians. Part of this effort includes allowing gay couples to live in housing previously reserved for married couples. Royal Navy Commodore Paul Docherty said they want to change the military’s culture so that gays will feel comfortable working there.

(snip)

[xmas74]

38. I will have to sit down later and read that carefully.

Sounds like it has many good points to argue.

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. I'd love to see more powerful LTTEs from such soldiers

showing up the lies of the hate- and fear-mongers. The LTTE in the opening post has had a literally global impact. One person CAN make a difference.

[xmas74]

25. I would too.

My grandfather served and he stated that he didn't give a damn what they did in their free time, just as long as they had his back when it counted.

My brother also served. He's attended gay weddings (he'd attend a lesbian wedding if invited) so you know how he feels about the subject.

[Nothing Without Hope]

32. My father served in the Korean War. Though he had a ready collection of

"jokes" about other races and religious groups and was anti-feminist, I don't recall his EVER making derogatory comments or jokes about gay people of either gender. It just wasn't something he was concerned about. Hence, he wouldn't think such "jokes" were funny. He must have served with gay men during his years in the Army, but he clearly just took it in stride. He would have agreed with Barry Goldwater on inclusion of gays in the military, I believe.

[xmas74]

41. The only joke I can think of him making is that

having gay men around was less competition for the French women.

The more gay men there, the less he had to compete so the larger the pool of women he could choose from.

Makes perfect sense to me.

[IndyOp]

26. Yup. My father served in WWII in the Pacific - he also said that

there were soldiers who were gay and they did not care who knew it and they served just the same as everyone else. No problem. I will admit that given my father's racism and sexism - I was shocked to hear this from him. Really shocked. Impressed. Shocked. No problem.

:shrug:

[xmas74]

39. My grandfather was a Pentecostal.

Of all people I figured he'd be echoing the Dobson crowd.
I was quite shocked when Don't Ask Don't Tell came out and he said that he didn't care. His attitude was that they served just as proudly as everyone else so why should we care what they did in their offtime.

[Nothing Without Hope]

36. More on the dangerous stupidity of expelling gays from the military:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/213588_gaysnew25.html
Friday, February 25, 2005

Pentagon policy on gays forced out skilled troops
About 300 linguists have left because of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' GAO says
By BRYAN BENDER
THE BOSTON GLOBE

WASHINGTON -- More than 300 foreign-language specialists considered critical in the war on terrorism have been forced out of the military in the past decade because of their sexual orientation, according to the first government study to assess both the war-fighting and financial effect of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy prohibiting openly gay service members.

These soldiers had "some skills in an important foreign language, such as Arabic, Farsi and Korean," according to a report by the Government Accountability Office to be published next month. At least 54 of the 322 language specialists spoke Arabic -- more than twice as many as previous estimates. At the same time, more than 400 other soldiers discharged under the policy had what the Pentagon considers "critical occupations," including Navy code breakers, Army intelligence specialists and interrogators, Air Force air traffic controllers and Marine counterintelligence specialists.

(snip)

"The conventional justification for Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been that allowing gays to serve undermines military readiness," Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., and a member of the Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. "Now we have the numbers to prove that the policy itself is undermining our military readiness."

(snip)

The UCSB center was the first to report that nearly 10,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen were ordered out of the military under the ban, taking with them many of the same skills that are now in short supply. The study by the GAO, which is the investigative arm of Congress, is the first detailed examination of the effects of the ban on gays in the military and the related costs.

(snip)

Much more in this excellent, fact-filled article. A good resource to add to the documentation for reframing the national debate on gay rights.

[xmas74]

40. Thank you!

[Taverner]

12. So...sad...and well written

Tears in my eyes - and that NEVER happens!

[suffragette]

13. Feeling hope through my tears

Wonderfully powerful letter.

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. Sharon Underwood also wrote a letter in support of Mark Noel:

Mark Noel's story: an assistant scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America, he was expelled from the organization when he revealed his homosexual orientation. Here's her letter:

http://www.inclusivescouting.org:8000/bsa/cases/noel/sunderwood.html
19 September 2000

Mr. James Roberts
Assistant Regional Director, Northeast Region BSA
10 Centre Drive
PO Box 268
Jamesburg, NJ 08831-0268

Dear Mr. Roberts:

I am writing to you because of concern over the situation of Mark Noel, formerly Assistant Scoutmaster and Merit Badge Councilor with Troop 45 in Hanover, NH. Mark's status of "formerly" is the result of his dismissal for being gay.

I would like to say firstly that, regardless of Mark's particular situation, the stand the BSA has taken on homosexuality is disappointing to the point of being disgusting. For every gay adult there was a gay child, and to tell a child or adolescent already struggling with the awareness of a minority sexual orientation that he is immoral, unclean and not welcome in the ranks of the Boy Scouts is cruel, inhumane and just plain ignorant.

Regarding Mark specifically, what a huge irony that a fine and dedicated young man, held in high esteem by his troop members and their parents, should be banned from further contact with the young people he has done so much for. It would have taken longer for the powers-that-be in the BSA to dismiss him for committing robbery than it took for them to banish him for the crime of being born different.

To meet Mark is to meet a person of intellect, strength of character, and morals the likes of which are all too rare; that he has been banished from scouting by people blinded by their immoral prejudices is pathetic. My image of the Boy Scouts being a good thing for young people has vanished, and I now see it as an organization committed to doing harm, not good.

Sincerely,

Sharon Underwood
Mother of three grown children

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. How I wish that ALL young gay people had parents so loving and so fierce

in their defense. I have no doubt that her son would be dead now if he hadn't had it.

It's so true, when she shows how the bigots' "protection of the family" actually tears families apart and is deadly cruel to children.

[bobbieinok]

22. have you read Suzanne Brockman's dedication to her gay son in book

Hot Target??

She's a romance novelist who hit it big with her series about SEALs. One of the on-going characters is Jules, an in-your-face gay FBI man. In Hot Target, his search for love is the major sub-plot. The dedication partly explains why she writes so caringly about gays.

When I posted this at GD, zbird found the dedication on a fan site.

Link inside.
http://indeath.net/index.php?showtopic=4841&pid=74403&m ...

To my fabulous son, Jason:

Even as a tiny child, your smile could outshine the sun, and your cheerful disposition and kind nature made you countless friends. Everyone who met you loved you!

At three, walking became too mundane for you. Instead, wherever you went, you danced. And occasionally you swished! One of the first times you did that, your dad looked at me. “Where did he learn that?” I shrugged. We didn't let you watch TV. “Got me. It’s just... Jason being Jason.” I said, and went off to play with you and your vast collection of cars and action figures.

At eight, you discovered musical theater. You wanted to sing and dance onstage, so you auditioned for a semipro production. You were just a little too young, but you charmed the director and became the tiniest pickpocket in an eight-week run of Oliver.

Your dad loved Stevie Wonder, and I, a former rock-and-roller, was in my country music phase. “What’s with all the show tunes?” your grandmother asked me when you played the soundtrack to Secret Garden over and over again. I smiled. “It’s just Jason being Jason.”

At nine, you had a class project—write a letter to someone you admire. “Why Bette Midler?” I asked when you told me your choice. “She's my favorite actor in the world,” you proclaimed after watching Ruthless People thirty times in a row. She wrote back, and you framed her signed picture, putting it in a place of honor on your dresser.

“Wow, that's interesting,” I said to your dad, after we once again agreed that Jason was truly unique. “I wonder if he likes Cher, too?”

(You did! Along with Bernadette Peters and Debbie Reynolds and . . .)

At ten, you went to see a show that featured an actor friend you'd made while appearing as Winthrop Paroo in The Music Man. On the ride home, you asked me, “Did you know Charley Dude is gay?” “Yeah” I said. “Wasn't his performance excellent tonight?” You agreed, but were unusually quiet for the rest of the drive.

A few days later, we had friends over to watch a movie, and as Eric and Bill sat together on the couch, they started their usual banter. “Raising the homo-shield!” Bill announced, invoking the invisible force field that would supposedly allow him to sit so close to Eric without anyone making gay comments.

It was all supposed to be funny, but how, I wondered, would those jokes sound to someone who was gay?

That night, after everyone went home and you were in bed, your dad and I discussed it, and we agreed. We gathered all of our friends together and announced that from this moment on, there would be no more gay jokes in our house. No more inadvertent gay bashing.

Because if you were gay—and I was pretty sure even then that this was, indeed, the way God made you—you were not going to grow up thinking there was anything wrong with you.

Years later, when you were fifteen, you still wanted me to tuck you in at night. So I'd stand by your bunk bed and we'd talk a bit about the day. I'd also gather up your dirty clothes. You were supposed to put them in a laundry basket, but sometimes your aim was off.

One night, you took a deep breath and said to me, “Mom, I think I'm gay.”

“I know that,” I told you, giving you a hug and a kiss. “I love you. I'll always love you. Where did you put your dirty socks?”

A day or two later we sat down and talked about safe sex and personal safety. I have to confess that it made my heart ache to have to tell you that there were people out there, people who didn't even know you but who hated you anyway—people who might try to hurt you because you were gay. Because you were simply being you. And it was your turn to give me a hug and say, “I know that. But, Mom, the world is changing.”

Today, as I write this, you are eighteen. You are a grown man, and I am so proud of you.

Yes, the world is changing, but it's not happening quickly enough for me. I was outraged when we went to the Gay Pride parade last June and you saw that hateful, ignorant sign that read, “God hates you.”

I wish the person carrying that sign had seen you at three, at eight, at nine, at ten. If he had, then he would know that you are a true child of God. If he had, then he would know that by being gay, you are just being Jason.

God loves you, I love you, Dad loves you. Unconditionally. You know that.

And I know that you love and accept yourself. You are confident and strong. Just like when you were three years old, you allow Jason to be Jason.

Shine on, my son!

This story is for you.

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. This is lovely. Thanks for passing it on to us. I know the author would

be pleased with its reception here.

[Nothing Without Hope]

24. Another classic: "An Open Letter To Dr.Laura" - for bible-quoting

homophobes

NOTE: THE ORIGINAL LINKS TO THE BIBLE VERSES.

http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/joke/laura.htm

I got the following letter off the Net, but without an attribution. After a few false starts, I eventually discovered the author.

I have annotated the letter with the actual verses quoted, towards the end.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


For those of you that are not following the recent controversy that has to do with Laura Schlessinger: she is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Paramount Television Group is currently producing a "Dr. Laura" television show. Recently she has become a convert to Judaism, and now she is Ba'al T'shuvah. Recently, she has made some statements about homosexuals that has caused the Canadian anti-hate laws to censure her... The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura which was posted on the internet...

An open letter to Dr. Laura

J. Kent Ashcraft

May 2000

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.


------------------------------------------------------------------------

These are the Biblical verses refered to above, in two different translations: the King James Version , and New International Version


Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Lev 1:9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

Exodus 21:7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.

Lev 15:19-24 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. 20 Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 22 Whoever touches anything she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 23 Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, he will be unclean till evening. 24 If a man lies with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean.

Lev 25:44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.

Lev 11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales --- whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water --- you are to detest.

Lev 21:20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.

Lev 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

Lev 11:6-8 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. 7 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divied, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcases; they are unclean for you.

Lev 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. Keep my decrees. Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

Lev 24:10-16 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) 12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. 13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the name of the LORD with a curse; so they brough him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) 12 They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them. 13 Then the LORD said to Moses: 14 Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. 15 Say to the Israelites: If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.

Lev 20:14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you.


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Establishing the author


I got the letter off the Net, but without an attribution. Some Web versions have the sig "Carole M. Cusack, Lecturer, School of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney" attached, but do not make it clear if this refers to the original author, or to the poster. So I requested clarification in an earlier version of this page.

Someone emailed me in September 2000, saying that the UK Guardian newspaper of 16 Sept 2000 had an article claiming the author was Steve Turner.

Someone else emailed me on 1 April 2001 saying "In the May 2001 edition of Playboy, they have a letter from a reader on page 62 in which a 'Kent Ashcraft' states that he originally wrote the letter."

Then in July 2001 Kent Ashcraft emailed me, saying he is indeed the author (except of the last three questions, which are additions to his original).

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[ComerPerro]

28. That is a fantastic piece of writing

[Nothing Without Hope]

33. Yes, isn't it? Its great and continuing impact shows how just one person

of great heart and will can contribute to real change for the better. I mean, for pete's sake, this was "just" a letter to an editor in a small local Vermont newspaper, and it is STILL resounding around the world!

[Placebo]

30. I think, over time, this is the view that will prevail in America.

You just can't turn back the clock on progress. It's only a matter of time before all Americans are given the rights they deserve.

[karlrschneider]

34. Still a bittersweet, 'everyone should read' letter.

kick

edit: This is the crux of the message:

"For those of you who reduce sexual orientation to a simple choice, a character issue, a bad habit or something that can be changed by a 10-step program, I'm puzzled. Are you saying that your own sexual orientation is nothing more than something you have chosen, that you could change it at will? If that's not the case, then why would you suggest that someone else can?"
=======================================================================

I've never met a bigot who could give a er, 'straight' answer to that question: "Could you DECIDE to become gay...under any circumstances?"

[calimary]

35. Sigh... WONDERFUL letter. And so poignant.

File that under "let he who is without sin among you castthe first stone."

Truly a beautiful and heart-felt letter.

K&R!

[Cha]

42. Poignant letter..I'm

hoping by now that she and her son have found Peace!

[Jacobin]

43. Best. LTTE. Ever.

Awesome and awe inspiring.

I love this woman.

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. That's my response too: best LTTE ever. Shows what a strong LTTE,

even just in a local paper, can accomplish. It's now worldwide and translated into other languages to reach and convince even more people of what is RIGHT.

[Nothing Without Hope]

45. one last kick for the night n/t

[SeattleGirl]

47. Damn! What an EXCELLENT letter!

I am definitely bookmarking this one, and "sharing" it with the homophobes I know.

[Nothing Without Hope]

48. If the homophobes are the bible-quoting hypocritical variety,

you might also "share" the piece linked to in Reply #24. Using the criterion that "it's in the bible" to justify cruelty to gay people is wrong on so many levels.