| Show Guest Editorial Myth I dont don't know any r who attend J J Phil Full Katich Contributing Writer it t has appeared R RECENTLY that a n number umber of s students ts were disturbed by the amount of coverage the school newspaper has given to gay and lesbian issues I for one would like thank the Horizon staff for having the courage to print articles dealing with this part of our campus com com- The few articles printed have been fair and unbiased unbiased unbiased un un- un- un biased stating the facts of gay and lesbian events events especially especially incidences of persecution persecution-on on national campuses and here at I understand that there are students on campus who feel these few articles are just too much For what ever reasons reasons- personal beliefs homophobia or religious values values they they would prefer never to see an article based on what they consider a perverse or evil lifestyle The fact that weekly posters announcing announcing announcing an an- the Gay and Le Lesbian bian Student Association meetings are removed shortly after being posted shows that there are people on campus who are in in- tolerant Why these students feel it their personal duty to cleanse the campus of all information information information mation regarding homosexuals is beyond me In light of this outbreak of intolerance I I. I would like to offer some basic facts theories and philosophies to promote education of this sensitive sensitive sensitive sen sen- topic on this campus campus' Homosexuality has existed in all cul cultures ur s in every nation since the beginning of time It Itis Itis is estimated that 10 percent of ofa a population in any given society are exclusively attracted to same sex partners This mea means s that with a a of approximately at there are 1 1700 students on our campus who are gay and lesbian This means we encounter encounter encounter en en- counter gays and lesbian students students students stu stu- dents everyday although we may not realize it In passing sitting net to us in class as we eat lunch there lunch there are gay students around us The old myth that one has never met a gay person just cannot be betrue betrue betrue true Some of us just didn't know The fact is that gay and lesbian students are abundant here on campus while not easily easily easily easi easi- ly recognized by stereotyped characteristics because ch characteristics a ris tics tics-beca because use stereotypes do not fit Gay and lesbian students are not going to go away because because because be be- cause the meeting signs are taken down or because someone prefers not to read about them in the sch school ol newspaper Considering the percentage of gay and lesbian stude students ts on campus it is logical to to assume they are an important part of our campus community and probably make equal contributions contributions contributions to this college They deserve the same rights and respect that other students and clubs on campus deserve No special rights just equal rights The fact is is that in Utah homosexuals are not protected in employment or housing housing un un unless less employed by Salt Lake County Gays and lesbians have little rights or recourse if they are fired or denied housing housing housing hous hous- ing because of their sexuality Ive I've never heard of a cowboy being fired from a job for being a cowboy or being denied insurance insurance in in- benefi benefits ts I have never heard of or cowboy bashing Yet these are daily occurrences for homosexuals Whether we agree or disagree disagree disagree dis dis- agree with the morality of homosexual conduct it is not the issue The issue is that homo homosexuals are people who deserve love and acceptance They deserve to tobe tobe be protected from tion Gays and lesbians will continue to tomake tomake tomake make significant contributions to our school and society and they arent aren't going to Jus t go away t Gays and les lesbians les- les are among some of the most creative athletic and educated people Nationally statistics show that 62 percent of gay households have at least one college graduate and earn a median yearly income of Fifty- Fifty nine nin percent t of all lesbian households have at least one college graduate and earn median yearly income Thirty percent of all gays and lesbians have post bac degrees They are not the low-life low sex-crazed sex derelicts as they have been portrayed to be What each of us on campus must decide is how we will treat each other as students Will we educate ourselves Will we show understanding Will we be tolerant Or will we show intolerance intolerance intolerance in in- tolerance and bigotry We may think that our outward outward outward out out- ward or inward feelings of hatred toward this group are justified because of an interpretation interpretation interpretation inter inter- of scripture that makes homosexuality unnatural unnatural unnatural un natural or sinful Yet I challenge challenge challenge chal chal- lenge you yO yOto to find anywhere in sacred scripture where bigotry and intolerance were taught as asa asa asa a way to heaven Jesus Christ taught compassion love tolerance and understanding under under- standing standing not not in intolerance tolerance h hatred tred arid and bigotry Through education education and and p practiced tolerance tolerance we we can accept others for who they are and not who they may choose to love We may not always understand the dynamics of why homosexuality ty exists but we can learn to be tolerant and accept each other as equals |
