Backers of Deputy’s View of Gays, Columnist’s View of Deputy

The editorial in the deputy sheriffs’ newsletter that crossed Dana Parsons’ desk also came into my hands as president of Integrity/Southland, the Episcopal gay and lesbian ministry. The blatant bigotry in the editorial is offensive enough, but when the general manager of the deputies’ association tries to justify it by claiming that Mr. Alvarez is “an individual of strong and sincerely held Christian beliefs” I cannot remain silent.

There was nothing remotely resembling the example of Christ in that piece. If Mr. Alvarez were a truly sincere Christian, he would learn from Jesus’ example: Jesus was notorious for having dinner with the disreputable and outcast, he healed the untouchables by touch ing them, he spoke with women as his equals, he challenged the well-off to share their riches. He treated each individual as if they mattered. The only harsh words he had were for those who thought proclaiming their piety excused them from acting on it.

By contrast, Mr. Alvarez thinks all gay men are molesters and murderers because a few notorious criminals have been males who assaulted other males. What disturbs me even more is that Mr. Alvarez apparently thought that the other deputies would enjoy his heterosexual tirade. As a straight woman who has been arrested twice for gay rights civil disobedience, I shudder at the thought of meeting such deputies. Who needs a video camera or a log of computerized messages when it’s spelled out in black and white on the printed page?

Jesus talked about “whitewashed sepulchers” beautifully kept on the outside but full of corruption on the inside. Alvarez concludes his editorial, “If you dress up a pig in all the fancy clothes and perfumes and bring him inside, despite all your good intentions, you still have a pig.” To me, if you dress up a bigot in the First Amendment and put a Christian halo on his head, you still have a, er. . . . Well, I guess I’ve got a problem with intolerance, too. May God grant us both repentance and amendment of heart. But meanwhile, I pray that the angels will watch between my gay brothers and the good deputies.

LARKETTE LEIN, Convenor, Integrity/Southland, Laguna Beach