Gay Clubs

The high school students who wrote essays about gay-straight clubs (Voices, Jan. 8) several times reveal the very prejudices and stereotypes that these clubs are designed to address. One writer says gay clubs should not be part of high school because they make some people “uncomfortable.” She says clubs should have some purpose, like community service, as though helping people get rid of ignorance and fear is not purpose enough.

Another writer says that gays are OK if they are “respectful” (didn’t we used to say that about blacks and other minorities?). He also says the gay clubs are problematic because they might “offend” some students and that their presence might produce “chaos” (although they haven’t so far).

So I guess if any club or any school activity offends or makes someone uncomfortable, it should not be allowed. That, of course, would eliminate almost everything that goes on in school. These students could learn a lot by joining a gay-straight school alliance.

ROGER WINTER

Pasadena