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Letters To The Editor
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To The Editor
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To The Editor
Re:
Why the Question of Choice Matters
Kudos to Wayne Besen for a well-stated position on an easily overlooked/avoided issue. Grounded within the flurry of idealistic gay activism, realists who understand that change is slow. Do not
confuse pragmatism for defeatism.
Besen is on the ball. Please take him to a really nice restaurant and spend lots of money on him.
Ron Mesa
Brooklyn, NY
I am a psychology graduate student, and I want to address Wayne Besen's incorrect use of "Nature vs. Nurture."
He presents the nature vs. nurture debate regarding homosexuality as a debate about whether homosexuality is a choice or not, and this is simply NOT the case. The nature vs. nurture debate involves whether something is caused by biology or environment, and has nothing to do with choice. It applies to many things, including intelligence, eating habits, and mental disorders.
Nurture (environmental factors) is thought to have a role in many things about which we have NO choice, such as development of schizophrenia and height. If height is shown to be cause more by environment than biology, we aren't about to say that how tall you are is a choice.
That said, most research does indeed point to biology as the cause of sexual orientation, but even if future studies show a significant environmental (nurture) influence, that would not mean sexual orientation is not permanently set at an early age.
The nature/nurture debate is completely separate from the "choice or not" debate, and not understanding that separation can be very harmful to our causes.
William Cox
Madison, WI
Personally, I think the question of "choice" and the disagreements about that term are the result of a failure to communicate.
Those who think homosexuality is a choice do not mean one has the choice of whether to BE a homosexual or not, but that the person has the "choice" of whether to ACT on being a homosexual.
We in the gay community and those that represent us do us no favors in their refusal to acknowledge this fundamental difference in our interpretations of the term "choice" as "they" are using it.
We keep insisting that BEING a homosexual is NOT a choice, which is non-responsive to their use of the assertion regarding "choice.”
They've repeatedly stated they don't care if we ARE homosexuals. It is the "choice" to engage in homosexual activity--as opposed to a religious-based form of imposed same-sex chastity--that they're opposing, and thus, opposing civil equality on that basis.
On that basis, I don't agree with Mr. Besen. Once again, we are playing into the field as "they" have designed it for their own benefit. Under civil law, specifically the 14th Amendment, choice IS irrelevant. As long as we allow ourselves to continue to be locked into this distracting construct of how people feel about other citizens of the US, we miss the opportunity to approach the matter from its only defendable foundation: equal protection under the law.
Randall Brotherton
Lewiston ME
To The Editor
Re: Corvino: Disinvited
I can see John Corvino's disappointment about the Acquinas College speaking engagement and he made some good (and eloquent) points, but I have to disagree about his assumption: "...and (most important) good for the Aquinas students, who presumably attend college in part to learn about diverse perspectives and how to evaluate them."
Many colleges do not present "diverse perspectives" on the grounds that they don't think students really need them. Granted, Aquinas is not a Bible Thumper school, but having been taught by Dominicans, I know that their schools have a target enrollment: perspective alumni who can support the school financially.
Alas, in this day and age, reason and diversity take back seats to the parents and alumni who are shelling out the $. I got a great deal of positive education for my years with Dominican priests (well, not that - I wasn't cute enough), but I will always remember how I and my family were evaluated: poor was fine, but rich was definitely better.
Dan Vojir
San Francisco
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