this mother of a gay son couldn't take it anymore . . .

[OneBlueSky]

so she wrote the following in response to a Letter the the Editor printed in the Valley News (White Rive Junction VT/Hanover NH) . . . eloquence, thy name is Mom! . . . :)

A Mother's Plaint
from seablogger's blog
FreshBilge.com
Monday, 24 May 04

http://bilge.seablogger.com/archives/001860.php

(snip)

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.

(snip)

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?

(snip)

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.

- more . . .

http://bilge.seablogger.com/archives/001860.php

[Guy_Montag]

1. Lovely n/t

[redqueen]

2. What a fantastic letter

So well spoken.

Thanks for posting this. :)

[varun]

3. wonderful reply...

...very heartening to see that straight supporters have started voicing their opinions in public. This is a sign of real progress.

[demigoddess]

4. good for her !!!!

there should be more mothers like her !!!!!!

[ronnykmarshall]

5. Fantasitc

Sounds like something my mom would say.

[Lavender Brown]

6. Wonderful

I'm passing this one on.

[linazelle]

7. Beautiful and poignant n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Excellent!

Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[maggrwaggr]

9. nice. Goes along with my theory

that the people who believe you can choose homosexuality MUST be homosexuals, because if they have chosen heterosexuality, they cannot be actual heterosexuals.

Nobody chooses their sexual identity. I sure as hell didn't. I'm male, and I've been fascinated by women ever since I can remember.

[adadem]

10. This sentence

struck me at my core:

"You use religion to abdicate your responsibility to be thinking human beings."

Living in an ultra conservative ultra religious area, where most patrons pray before eating in restaurants, that sentence says it all -
I live among intolerance and hatred - I observe it - my kids hear it on the playground. And every one of those uttering the hatred are so called Christians - a banner they wear proudly. I was raised in ultra-conservative Christendom - I understand it - but far too many stop thinking once the pastor starts preaching.

[Lenape85]

11. I'm Bisexual Myself

...and I haven't been able to bring myself to tell my parents as of yet.

[dsc]

14. I know how tough it is

I would be willing to bet you will feel better when you do but you should do it on your own schedule. Good luck whenever you decide to do it.

[tjwash]

12. Kick

nt

[dsc]

13. Here is another thread on this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1693186&mesg_id=1693186&page=

Evidently this letter was first written in 2000 around the time of the Civil Unions debate in VT. Sadly only the Valley News carried it at the time but clearly it has gotten a life of its own. It can be found, in its entirety, on pages 252 through 254 of David Moats book Civil Wars (a battle for gay marriage).