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Friday, August 05, 2005
To the Editors:
Re “Gay bloggers’ dangerous liaisons” (op-ed, July 29):
Why is the Washington Blade publishing a column by Jeff Gannon, putative “journalist” who shills for the Bush administration? The last I heard, Gannon had repudiated any connection to the LGBTQ community through his denial of being gay. Why is the Blade, then, providing this self-loathing man with a forum to address our community as one of us?
What’s less surprising is the tired rhetoric that Gannon uses to dismiss justified criticism of this current homo-hating administration.
In his column, he celebrates the public debate over policy issues that is crucial to a democracy. But in the same breath, he criticizes those who dare to question the ethics of this present administration. For conservatives like Gannon, dissent should not exist when a nation is at war.
Even more flagrant is his conflation of critics of the Bush administration with coup plotters who desire to “topple the government.” Gannon neglects to reckon with the fact that high-ranking officials in this administration — including President Bush himself — have engaged in activities that are potentially illegal and unconstitutional.
Government officials must be held to the same standards as those who elect them, regardless if we are in a state of war.
Gannon’s characterization of liberal blogger criticism of Bush as hatred is a ruse, and a nefarious one, to boot, since he indirectly compares this valid criticism to the kind of extreme emotion that fuels gay bashers.
Criticism is not hatred, especially when it is leveled with the objective to preserve the Constitution and the rule of law.
Takoma Park, Md.
To the Editors:
Re “Santorum defends outed gay staffer” (news, July 22):
I do not know whether to be angry at or feel sorry for Robert Traynham, his chief spokesperson, who has acknowledged he is gay and admires his boss, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.).
Part of the role of a communications director is to make sure that Sen. Santorum’s message is effectively communicated and in a light most favorable to the senator. I would like to know how Traynham went about doing this when Santorum famously compared homosexuality to bigamy, polygamy, adultery, incest and bestiality.
Or how in 2003, when Santorum walked out of a meeting with the mother of a Pennsylvania gay youth who had taken his own life after enduring years of anti-gay harassment.
Contrary to Traynham’s assertion, Santorum is not a man of principle, but a politician who throughout his political career has articulated a virulent prejudice against gays.
Another Senate staffer is quoted in your article as saying, “Traynham does not share all of Santorum’s views on homosexuality or gay rights but prefers to ‘work on the inside’ to present differing viewpoints.”
As a political junkie and Pennsylvania native and someone who knew Traynham, I disagree with that assessment. Both Santorum and Traynham are interested in one thing: getting ahead politically at all costs.
Shame on them both.
Arlington, Va.
To the Editors:
Re “Minister won’t apologize for anti-gay sermon” (news, July 22):
I participated in a panel at Union Temple Baptist Church on sexual diversity in 1999 and then was part of a reconciling program at the church in 2000.
When some members of the audience in the 2000 program became violent because they objected to the message of love and acceptance for gay and lesbian people, the leaders of Union Temple, along with other nationally known church leaders who were present, pleaded for peace and understanding.
Now, I am shocked and dismayed by comments made recently from the pulpit by Union Temple’s pastor, Rev. Willie Wilson, that, “Lesbianism is about to take over our community,” and that this is somehow linked to the fact that some black women earn more money than black men.
The anger and broken-heartedness experienced by both homosexuals and heterosexuals, and particularly black women, as a result of these comments has made me very sad, especially since this message came from the mouth of such a gifted oracle of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.
While behind the pulpit, ministers do not have the liberty of airing out frustrations over personal issues, such as whether one of our children can find a prom date, Wilson’s stated motivation for his sermon on lesbians.
I believe Pastor Wilson owes apologies first to God for abusing his calling, then to the gay community and to women for such an unloving assault on their personhood, to his congregation for poor pastoring, and then to the Christian community worldwide for un-Christlike behavior and for generally being a bad witness for Christ.
Washington
Editors’ note: The letter writer is outreach pastor for Faith Temple Church in Washington.
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