Today's Letters: Gay pride events are still needed in today's America
By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published June 28, 2007
For a few years recently I questioned the need for the "gay pride" parades. I felt the gay community had come a long way since the 1970s and it would just be a matter of time before gays had achieved full integration into society.
I was wrong. During the past few years I have seen the increase in violent and deadly attacks against people for no other reason except their orientation. I thought in the time since the Matthew Shepard murder that America had begun to grow up. I was wrong.
The discussion concerning the legal rights of gays must be conducted without biblical reference for two reasons. First, the Bible has been used to justify slavery, sexism, war and murder. The people who focus on the issue of gays and the Bible are all to eager to ignore God's abomination of shrimp, pork, shopping on Sundays and women speaking in church. Second and more important, we do not live in a theocracy and therefore the Bible should not determine the interpretation of laws in a civil government.
The state of Florida does not recognize marriage as a sacred bond. No state or government can issue a sacred anything! They are civil institutions. The state issues a license to enter into a contract for mutual support between two people. That contract has certain obligations and benefits. When people tire of that contractual relationship they petition the government to dissolve that contract. As a community, gays and lesbians deserve the right to take part as full members of society. They deserve to be judged on their abilities and not by what may take place in the bedroom.
Most important, they deserve to be able to live without constant fear of violence or attack. It is for all these reasons that I believe that "pride" events are still important and necessary.
David Schauer, board member, St. Pete Pride, St. Petersburg
Whole lotta St. Pete Pride June 27, story
Take a new tack
I wonder if it would be possible for you to modify the overall thrust of your newspaper a little. I'm not getting up every morning and looking forward to reading more large articles on the lives and times of the homosexual community.
It seems that every day you find new gay stories to write about. Wednesday, we found a large headline about Susan Stanton leading the St. Petersburg gay pride festival parade. Oh, wow! Please give us a break. Let it rest! I know there must be some interesting news stories out there. Please see what you can do.
Bill French, St. Petersburg
One God, two takes on gay pride fest June 24, story
Rising above the hate
As president of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender Persons) in Pinellas County, I was most interested in your article on the gay pride festival.
I have attended the festival since its start in 2003. What a wonderful and affirming experience it is to walk in the promenade and celebrate the diversity in our community.
I heard Larry Keffer's disrupting and hateful remarks as he bellowed through his bullhorn last year. He hated everyone associated with the pride festival and was adamant in disrupting the festivities through his hate and homophobia. The patience and restraint shown by the pride participants were truly admirable.
I don't know anything about his so-called ministry, other than the hate and hurtful remarks he spews out. Our community has suffered through the death of Ryan Skipper, a young man who will not be forgotten. He was stabbed 14 times, his throat was cut and he died a horrendous death.
People such as Keffer can accept their responsibility in hate crimes such as this. By preaching hate rather than love, condemnation rather than embracing those who are different from ourselves, he encourages despicable and horrendous acts against people we care about and love at PFLAG Pinellas.
As hard as he will try, Keffer will not dampen the spirits of those attending the pride festival. We will once again rise above his hate and misconceptions about our gay, lesbian, bisexual and trangender community, and ignore his bully tactics and provoking remarks. We will celebrate our diversity and the love and support in our community.
Kathleen Miller, St. Petersburg
Free speech first
I was not pleased to read in the St. Petersburg Times that there would be a place set aside for protesters at this year's St. Pete Pride event.
That's what happens to citizens who also try to make themselves heard by the present administration wherever the president speaks. It also happens to those who want to be heard by the Republican Party when the Republicans have their get-togethers. It is so un-gay.
Our Constitution should come first, and the First Amendment has been taking a beating for the past six years.
We deserve respect as gay citizens of this country because our Constitution says so, and there is no way we can reconcile insisting on our rights while infringing on the rights of others.
Over the past 60 years I have seen the rights of so many people trampled in this country. The blacks who simply asked to be treated with humanity were beaten and murdered. Many of my friends were arrested for congregating in social groups to share the company of other gay people and were herded off in paddy wagons and thrown into jail cells.
We never asked for more than that which is promised in our Constitution, and I'll be damned if I'll stand for that promise being denied any to group of people no matter their reason for congregating, no matter what cause they feel they need to speak to.
I won't agree with them, but I will never ask that they be denied their right to speak.
Frank Donnellan, St. Petersburg
An abuse of power deepens June 25, editorial
A nation at risk
Thanks for a fine editorial.
On page 225 of his book An Assault on Reason, Al Gore quotes Bruce Fein, who served as deputy attorney general in the Reagan administration when Ed Meese and Samuel Alito began this practice of issuing signing statements, as now saying it "eliminates the checks and balances that keep the country a democracy ... this is moving us toward an unlimited executive power."
It is frightening that the separation of powers can so easily be shunted aside by an arrogant headstrong president. There is also cause to wonder how the Supreme Court would rule in such a case if the justices were asked to validate all those laws George W. Bush chose to ignore. It would seem to be a slam-dunk in favor of the Constitution, but then Justice Samuel Alito was one of those who helped bring the signing statement into existence. How extreme are his views on this matter? Would he support Bush's extreme interpretation of presidential power and authority or would he stand by the literal intent of the Constitution that provides for sharing power with the Congress?
Remember, it was Bush who appointed Alito to the court. One also wonders how much influence he would have on the other members of the court. So much of the future of our nation depends upon the integrity and patriotism of so few.
This nation is in the midst of a leadership crisis. Let's hope we get it right next time. Our democracy depends upon it.
Merrill Friend, Tampa
Older houses are fine
Why must affordable housing and/or workforce housing be new construction? Why is affordable housing and/or workforce housing the responsibility of the development and construction industry?
My wife and I have lived comfortably in our house for more than 20 years; the house and neighborhood are both still very nice. We do not plan to buy new. When the upwardly mobile buy newly constructed houses, they leave behind a home like ours for entry level purchase by those seeking affordable and/or workforce housing.
Older housing stock with considerable useful life remaining has historically been available for those seeking more modest pricing and entry-level housing.
Is new housing another new "entitlement"?
Ben Murphey, Tampa
The reluctant budget cutter June 24, story
It looks wasteful
Your article says St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker must "reluctantly" cut funding to organizations like Planned Parenthood.
If property tax dollars are being passed to Planned Parenthood, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that governments, especially local ones, are wasting tax money.
I hope the voters are watching.
Andy Durey, Gulfport