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Highlands Today

Views On Homosexuality Show Ignorance

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Darryl C. Armstrong

Published: June 28, 2008

In response to the "Homosexuality is not inborn" letter: One of the main reasons for debate is to raise an issue and determine whether it is fair. I will say that when reading your paper I was amazed to see the enormous effort of misdirection. I have not had to try that hard since English 101, my freshmen year of college.

I have only one reason writing this letter and that's to deal with the issue of blinding people from the truth. The writer gave the reader what you called three assumptions about homosexuality: 1. That it is an inborn tendency. 2. That it is harmless. 3. That homosexuals are being persecuted.

You refuted all three of these by the end of your letter. The only thing that I hope is that the readers of this guest column are able to see through the insignificant half-truths you did state and see the real truth.

Before I give you my reasons that these assumptions are true I would like to explain to you a little about my own experiences.

I'm a homosexual and unlike the stereotypes you are creating in your mind right now, I'm completely different. I can only speak for myself and not for the so-called community I've been listed in. When people imagine a homosexual they immediately picture a acting flamboyant and harassing heterosexual male. I, on the other hand, have none of these characteristics. I'm not skinny, I do not wear women's clothing, I do not speak with a high-pitched voice, I do not act flamboyant, and I do not harass heterosexual men. I have never engaged in a sex act for money. Every time I have had sex I have been in a relationship that was a committed one and I always wore protection. I agree completely with you that no matter what sexuality you are that promiscuity is bad. But I do not see what is wrong with a loving committed homosexual relationship.

Is homosexuality in-born? From personal experience I will have to answer, yes. From puberty and on I never once wanted to have thoughts about members of the same gender. From my upbringing I was taught that such a thought was a sin. I never had any prior experiences with homosexuals and was quite sheltered at younger ages. I was actually confused on why I was having thoughts of this nature. Nothing was ever wrong with me and these thoughts were completely natural, but unfortunately at that time I didn't believe that. The internal conflict was more than any child should have to bear, especially when he or she can't tell anyone about it, which brings me to my next point.

Are homosexuals persecuted? I honestly have never been hurt, but what is worse than being hurt is the fear of it. I have been tormented and humiliated by insensitive jokes and stereotypes. At certain points I have had to excuse myself from public property due to threats of violence.

Most heterosexuals don't view public displays of affection as wrong, but God forbid homosexual couples display their affection toward each other. In 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard met two guys posing as gay men. They offered him a ride in their car and around a rural area near Laramie, Wyo., they robbed, pistol-whipped, tortured, tied him to a fence and left him to die.

Is homosexuality harmless? Heterosexuality is not at a risk from homosexuals. Pointing out the story about Freddy is one example of bad judgment, not sexuality. When it comes down to truth people are not perfect, sexuality does not deem a person bad or good. Heterosexual relationships have problems same as homosexuals. How you come to the point that sexuality brings immoral behavior is an absurd idea.

I have many friends that have been together for years that are in committed relationships that do not sleep around and are looked down upon because of negative ignorant ideas that a few bad examples make up the whole population. If the point of your letter was to tell me that all gays are immoral and promiscuous, I'm here to tell you that you're extremely wrong.

My personal view on why homosexuals get a lot of negative attention is because of being afraid to admit it when they find out. In a county such as Highlands County if you as much as hold the hand of someone of the same gender the stares come from everywhere. With some much insecurity and not having the ability to talk about it because of persecution cause people to hide who they really are and somewhere along the line it will resurface because it is natural. Natural urges are never dangerous unless they are repressed, which is why there is a moral decay in our country.

For the average homosexual, however, being gay can be very harmful. You would be able to ask Matthew Shepard — if the two guys hadn't let him die. HIPPA laws may protect the individual from embarrassment, but it does not protect gays from violence. There are few to no laws helping out anyone claiming to be a homosexual. Check your sources before you preach.

Darryl C. Armstrong lives in Sebring.

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