Knight Initiative on Marriage

Re “My Father Is Wrong on Gays,” by David Knight, Commentary, Oct. 14: How tragic it is when a father rejects his own flesh and blood, as state Sen. William “Pete” Knight (R-Palmdale) has done with David because he is gay. As a mother and grandmother, I’ve always believed the essence of parental love to be, “I love you just as you are.” The Knight initiative suggests an emotionally based personal vendetta meant to retaliate against the son who has failed to live up to a father’s masculine expectations.

Knight appears to be woefully ignorant of what modern psychology and sociology have deduced about homosexuality, as well as what enlightened religious thought expresses about supportive love and acceptance. True family values are about open communication and commitment, not cold rejection.

BETTE-JEAN BLACK

Long Beach

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Knight alleges that his father is wrong and that he is right about his homosexual lifestyle choice. I say David Knight is wrong. I have two grown sons. If either of them did what David Knight is doing, I would say they are wrong. I would do everything in my power stop them from this wrong choice.

David Knight dishonors his father. That is also his choice. This is a tragedy of his own making and not his father’s.

OTIS PAGE

Arroyo Grande

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The leadership of the Mormon Church is mistaken in urging members to donate their “means and time to assure a successful vote” on a California ballot measure that limits the recognition of marriage (Oct. 9). The Knight initiative will be before us in March 2000. It will certainly be a painfully divisive measure, because it will pit people of conscience against one another.

Some argue that this measure will protect marriage and the family. Marriage and family are threatened by many things, including minimum wages that make it impossible to support a family, consumer pressures that turn our “wants” into “needs,” lack of parental attention to children, lack of health care, inadequate housing and attitudes of judgment and hate toward differences. But money and time donated to support the Knight initiative only distracts us from the real challenges we face.

People in the congregation I serve will experience this initiative as unfair and intrusive into their lives. It singles out people who don’t fit the usual pattern of marriage and says there is no place for them. It denies them rights as individuals, couples and families and diminishes their value in our society. It is tragic that this initiative is being brought before the voters.

THE REV. EDWARD HANSEN

Pastor, Hollywood United

Methodist Church