Self-Control

According to a letter (Jan. 19), homosexuals would have to be saints to be able to take a communal shower with attractive people of the same sex. Give me a break! I’m no saint but I’ve been taking communal showers with attractive men since junior high gym class, in locker rooms, my college fraternity house. In 20 years I haven’t groped or approached another man, or even had an uncontrollable physiological response in such a setting, even in instances where many of the men may have also been gay. Such a statement reflects ignorance of homosexuality.

Please give us a little more credit. Using a men’s communal shower for a gay man is not the same as it would be for a straight man in a woman’s communal shower. Whereas that might be an unrealistic fantasy (that in reality a straight man would not be able to handle, according to the letter), the other is a reality for most gay men who have been doing it and have some control over the situation. Self-control can be exercised by, or imposed upon, anyone, including straight men.

CARL D. RYKACZEWSKI

Redlands