A Free Society Also Includes Gays

Re “Capitol Gains for Gay Pols,” Dec. 10: Gov. Gray Davis should be commended for signing AB 25 into law and helping to pave the way for fair and equitable treatment of homosexual partners in California. He has shown what it means to be a true leader, someone who understands that our society is only made stronger when equitable treatment extends to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.

His embrace of AB 25 is in stark contrast to the appalling action of the Rev. Lou Sheldon, who called for withholding charitable donations from the surviving partners of homosexuals who died on Sept. 11. His actions underscore a divisive and inhumane agenda that encourages exclusion and hatred while he professes to preach love. The Rev. Sheldon should be ashamed. Keep up the good work, Gov. Davis, and keep your head high.

Dee Anna S. Behle

Dana Point

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I take serious issue with your article. Most conservatives and/or Republicans are not Bible-thumping homophobes. Yes, the scant minority of conservatives who also happen to be evangelical Christians denounce homosexuality without reservation. But they do so not because of their political beliefs, but because of their religious views.

Let the truth be known: The overwhelming majority of conservatives support the right of two consenting adults to pursue happiness in any manner they choose as long as it is legal and does not infringe on the rights of others. Portraying conservatives as closed-minded and unsympathetic is unfair and just plain wrong. Save your opinions for the editorial page.

Steve Reynolds

Los Angeles

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Full separation of church and state makes this a nonissue. Don’t ask, don’t tell? No, I just don’t care. Gay, straight or bisexual have nothing to do with intelligence, integrity or involvement. Quoting Scripture to justify anti-gay discrimination or gay excommunication certainly finds a parallel in the Taliban citing Scripture to sanction the execution of gays by stoning. Physical death by prejudice or social death by marginalization--it’s time we got past all that.

A gay American is an American gay, and while I don’t mean to bang the drum loudly, I must point out that we’re all in this together. I think that people who are moved to speak out against loving relationships of any kind have some baggage of their own that needs to be dealt with first, after which I suggest that there’s a lot of stuff much more deserving of our time, attention, effort and resources than critiquing somebody else’s pursuit of happiness.

W. Gregory Stewart

Los Angeles