Bias Against Gays and Human Rights

In a meeting Aug. 20, co-sponsored by the Log Cabin Club (an organization of gay and lesbian Republicans) and the Elections Committee of the County of Orange, Sen. Pete Wilson said he approves of local anti-discrimination legislation that includes gays and lesbians among its protected categories, such as the human rights ordinance recently passed in Irvine. He said that lesbians and gays want nothing special and that they are entitled to equal rights just like everyone else.

Unfortunately, there are extremists in Irvine who disagree with Wilson’s viewpoint. These people believe that they have the right to decide who should and who should not be protected from discrimination. These individuals have recently formed an organization whose primary goal is to deny gays and lesbians protection under the new Irvine ordinance.

Surely Scott Peotter and Eleanor Moore, the chairman and vice chairwoman of Irvine Values Coalition, have the right to their opinion even though they are outside the mainstream of political and religious thought in Irvine and Orange County. That is the American way. I believe, however, that most residents of Irvine will agree with Wilson and will see Peotter and Moore for what they are, extremists who think that they alone have the right to decide who should and who should not be afforded equal protection under the law.

JAMES L. BOONE

Irvine