Letter to the Editor

October 18, 1999 Letter to the Editor

The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY

"National Coming Out Day"

Dear Editor, The Daily Star:

I am writing in response to Na'im Abdurrafi's letter to the editor in the October 13^th issue of The Daily Star dealing with the need for one's sexual preference to remain a private matter.

I must take offense at the claim that "coming out" is a "social crime." The crime as Mr. Abduraffi perceives it is that homosexuality is a sin. My Bible says that God created man in his own image and likeness and that Jesus, his son, loved all humankind. What about those gays and lesbians that have committed themselves to a Christian life, espouse their love of Christ and are living happy productive lives in concert with their higher power? Are they lying about their commitment and love for Jesus? I do not think so. Quite frankly, I think God would consider their love of his Son much more sincere than that of the hypocrites who espouse Christian values but then preach hate and intolerance.

Then what is the crime? The real "social crime" is discrimination based on sexual orientation. What is worse is discrimination based on sexual orientation using religion and the Bible, MY BIBLE, as the basis to deny a gay or lesbian a job, a promotion, or an equal chance at obtaining some other worthwhile goal that is available to everyone else. Just because a man or a woman loves another man or woman should that make them ineligible to obtain professional advancement in their careers or receive the same pay that a heterosexual person receives? In 39 states an employer can legally fire a person solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. Only 11 states prohibit sexual orientation discrimination. Denying a person a job, promotion or equal pay is the social crime Mr. Abdurrafi not "coming out."

National Coming Out Day (October 11) does deserve front page prominence. Why? One reason, among many others is youth suicide. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide found that lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are at a four times higher risk for suicide than their straight peers. Why is this so? I believe it is because these youth do not have enough visible, productive, positive gay and lesbian role models. These role models would allow them to clearly see that they also can live productive, happy and healthy lives as gay and lesbians. This is one reason, if not the primary reason as far as I am concerned, why National Coming Out Day deserves front page prominence!

The day that National Coming Out Day is reported simply because of "journalistic responsibility" is when job discrimination and social injustice due to sexual orientation discrimination is eliminated. Until then I encourage all of those closeted gays and lesbians to find enough strength and courage to come out of that dark, musty closet and live your lives like God meant you to. He did not mean for you to live a life of lies, misery and fear just because of your sexual orientation. Come out, come out wherever you are and be proud and live life the way YOU want to live it and not the way someone thinks you should be living it.