‘Courage’ Is Operative Word for Young Gays

How thoughtful and insightful Leonard Pitts Jr.’s column was (“Are Gays Obliged to Go Public?” Commentary, June 4). Pitts was fair in his assessment of coming out or not.

I work closely with the gay and lesbian community and am asked, “Should I come out and if so, how?” No one can answer those questions for another person. It is one of the most terrifying experiences a man or woman has to go through, but ultimately one of the most rewarding.

How can an adolescent have any courage to come out if he or she sees that an adult cannot or will not take that first major step? ‘Courage’ is the operative word. I am continually humbled and impressed by the courage these men, women, boys and girls show when they are finally able to say: “Mom, Dad; I have something to tell you. I am gay.” I want them to know that this mom will always be there for them in the road they must travel.

Lynette Sperber

Sherman Oaks

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Pitts describes the “Jackie Robinson Effect” and comments that Robinson’s example benefited us all. I think that’s the point. Robinson did absorb a tremendous personal cost. It was probably a living hell for him, and the result is that we all benefited in the “cultural and collective sense.”

Even today, each of us continues to benefit from one good man, who absorbed that pain, in a measure, for people he never knew, for people he never met, for the kid playing stickball in the street, the old man shining shoes at the subway station, for kids all over the world dreaming that they too could succeed and participate in the American dream based not on the color of their skin, but simply on their skills, their merit, their character.

Pitts in some way marginalizes us all by saying that being an inspirational icon is secondary to the trivial “be what you are.” What we are is hopefully a wiser country because of Robinson’s strength, courage and grace under fire. This will last longer than any game or any man.

Thank you, Jackie Robinson.

Joseph C. Prindle

Santa Monica