Letters
continued from page 5
while some of it was inherent in contents. I am
inspired to share my feelings.
First, your open apology for errors (on the
Little River Story) in the previous edition is
admirable. Most papers merely insert a few
lines on some obscure page. Your sheet
insertion indicates your professionalism. I
consider this “good news” that gay people can
need, demand, and have a quality paper.
Second, the Little River death is a tragedy
for everyone. However, the guilty verdict is
good news for the gay population. This is one
small step forward in our quest for liberation,
equality, and acceptance.
Chris Richardson, who was found guilty in
the Little River murder, rationalizes some of
his actions: “We decided we hadn’t done
anything wrong to anyone and that it wasn’t
right for them to run us off.” These are my
exact feelings about gay people. We have
been denied, ostracized, ridiculed, and run off
from jobs, families, military service, churches,
recreational areas, and even from our own
gay bars. No one person can surmise how
much harm (physical, mental, and emotional)
has been inflicted upon gays by non-gay
people when WE HADN’T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG. We don’t go to a
river, a restaurant, or anywhere looking for
trouble. We’ve had trouble given to us all our
lives. What most of us want is to live our lives
free from fear and openly, not ostentatiously.
Neither do we want to be considered
ostentatious by paranoid or “closet” gay
people. Hopefully, one day gay people will be
able to say “We have a magnificent history.” I
am living for the day when there won’t be any
paranoid gay people.
The letters to the editor were outstanding in
this issue. The letter from the gay Jew is an
example of the type of spirituality that gay
people are capable of possessing.
Disregarding religion, spirituality is far more
important than religion. Although I am a Free
Will Baptist, 1 can closely identify with the
Jew. 1 have had almost identical problems
with social situations involving non gay
people. Fortunately, I have found some
answers and I am willing to*share these with
anyone who is interested.
Finally, I am compelled to mention Jerry
Falwell and other hypocrites who preach from
their tongues and not from their hearts. They
don’t like our Gay Pride Parade, for example,
or any other display of self-esteem. He thinks
our “perverted act” should not be alluded to in
the streets. If our rights in the bedroom (and
at Little River) were not violated, we wouldn’t
have to march. I would much rather be at
home making love, or baking a pound cake for
that matter, than to be out marching. I just
hope gay people will continue to do what we
have to do until the day arrives when we can
do what we want to do. I have confidence that
we will.
Thank you again for helping me feel better
about myself.
In brotherly love,
Doug in Kinston
You’re certainly/ welcome. And thank you
— y/our letter certainly/ made us feel better,
too!
A New Methodist
Publication
Greetings:
I submitted two ads for friends and received
over fifty letters from your readers. I have met
and made friends with some who answered
my ads. I am grateful for your classified
section. Thank you.
Enclosed is a newspaper article about a new
book the Methodists are publishing on
homosexuality. 1 thought your readers might
be interested in the article.
Continued best wishes,
Harold
Winston-Salem
The clipping, from the Winston-Salem
Journal of 8/21/81, concerns a new book
released this fall by the United Methodist
Board of Discipleship, Homosexuality: In
Search of a Christian Perspective. The
continued on page 10
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