THE EDITOR, Sir:
MELVILLE COOKE'S article on 'Gay Rights vs. His Rights' has generated a lot of interest. I would like to make two points on the matter.
First, not every heterosexual is homophobic. It appears that more often than not, anyone who does not support homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle is automatically labelled homophobic. I do not have an unjustified or irrational fear of homosexuals, and I have no desire to beat, maim or kill any person who tells me they are homosexual.
A few persons have told me personally that they have experienced homosexual thoughts and feelings. These persons have chosen to live heterosexual lifestyles, but were concerned by the homosexual thoughts and feelings. All of them have been in counselling to identify the root/base of these thoughts and feelings, and to address all the issues involved. Other persons have told me that they have experienced the desire to steal things, to lie, to have promiscuous sex, or to kill. They too have been in counselling to identify the root/base of these thoughts and feelings, and to address all the issues involved.
The basis of my second point is that not every thought that comes into the human mind is beneficial to the thinker, or to persons around them. You think you should take my car since you don't have one, but then you stop and evaluate the situation, and realise it is in your (and my) best interest to leave my car alone.
So you think you should become a homosexual. You stop and think it isn't beneficial to you because of the feelings of guilt other homosexuals have confessed to enduring, because the social stigma attached to homosexuality means you will have to consider keeping it secret, or endure disapproval from friends and family, you wonder how to explain it to your children (if you have any) and the list goes on.
I would like to skip the benefit to others to address a more important issue for you to consider: identifying the root/base of the homosexual thoughts and feelings and addressing the issues. Some of the persons I know were abused as children (not always by same-sex offenders), were exposed to pornographic material at a tender age, grew up in severely dysfunctional homes, or were in abusive relationships as teenagers. These situations sometimes led to feelings of distrust and disgust for the gender who offended them, with the abused turning to the gender that did not offend. After identifying and addressing these issues effectively, the persons no longer experienced homosexual feelings.
So some heterosexuals don't agree with homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle, but we don't agree with 'boom-bye-bye' either. Some of us advocate addressing the issue of 'why' you have these thoughts/feelings/tendencies.
I am etc.,
A. BROWN
flamico_106@yahoo.com
Kingston
