Same-sex B&Bs

Same-sex B&Bs 21/7/11

A letter to Iain X Maciver in response to his criticism on MaciverBlog.co.uk

Sirs,

So what heinous and unforgivable crime did I - your former Gibson Hostel schoolmate - commit to earn such an outburst of your vindictive wrath, Iain?

Are you condemning me for telling the truth when I stated a significant proportion of Western Isles residents - including some B&B owners - wouldn't welcome, with open arms, a bed-sharing homosexual couple into their homes?

You also mistakenly accuse me of encouraging B&B owners to break the law. I simply posed the following question - would any human being be so arrogant as to claim dominion over a B&B owner’s conscience in deciding for them whether to open their homes to sodomy or fob off a gay couple and decline them accommodation, thereby infringing current UK law ?

Are you going to be the first person in history to claim authority over a B&B owner's conscience, Iain?

I stand by the opinions expressed. However, I now realise some of the verbal comparisons in my letter could have been better chosen. So, to anyone who considers themselves vulnerable individuals from a minority group and felt belittled by any comparisons I made, sorry. You are the last person on earth this writer would seek to criticise or hurt.

I only wished to highlight the distorting effects of politically correct inspired laws on B&B owners, revolted by certain practises associated with homosexuality , being turned into criminals for discouraging such practises in their own homes.

Unfortunately, in seeking to highlight this concern, I'm burdened with this unreliable human brain which doesn't always automatically select the right words when prompted. If If only our vocabulary could be selected by a PC [politically correct] computer program?

Although I'm only too well aware of other faults and failings, I'd like to reassure you, Iain, that I haven't "succumbed to religious fervour." I'm an irregular church-goer, as yet undecided about spiritual matters.

So, please stop dragging the church into your personal criticism. You yourself appear to be a confirmed atheist who revels in sneering at the foibles of island church-goers, especially those sitting on the Labour pews. Or am I mistaken in that assumption?

You accuse me of being a ' homophobe.' The definition of a homophobe is a person with an aversion to homosexuality.

"I plead guilty to the charge but there are mitigating circumstances, your honour. "

"Carry on , Mr Macdonald."

"It stands to reason, your honour, that a male must inherit a strong aversion towards homosexuality in order to develop into a heterosexual. "

"Case against the defendant dismissed M'lud."

I don't hate homosexuals, as you imply , but am repelled by certain aspects of their behaviour which I could not tolerate in my home. Does that make me a criminal?

Seeing two men kissing ( a rare occurrence, thankfully ) I'm overcome by a nauseous sensation accompanied by a strong desire to distance myself from the scene of distaste It's an instinctive reflex reaction outwith my control that's shared by many other men. Don't ask me to a gay wedding!

Is this 'aversion to homosexuality syndrome' now to be classed as requiring legal rulings and medical intervention? Perhaps I should consult the doctor. Will he tell me these unpleasant symptoms are caused by a virus and prescribe a course of antibiotics ?

Or, perhaps the answer lies in more traditional remedies. Growing up in Great Bernera, Iain, did you hear any of the village bodachs or cailleachs mention a cure for this condition. I'm willing to try any medicinal compound of plant roots, animal glands or seaweed which was proven to have been an effective treatment for this aversion.

But until a 'cure' is discovered for 'aversion to homosexuality syndrome,' we sufferers are going to have to live with this condition and will have to be tolerated by society . So, don't be surprised if the symptoms recur from time to time - and not just from my direction.

If all the homophobes in the Western Isles "broke cover" (as you term it) you'd have a tantalising array of additional targets from the Butt to Barra on which to initiate a re-run of the Spanish Inquisition from your electronic cathedral in the heart of our island metropolis.

I repeat, Iain - homophobia does not mean a hatred of homosexuals. In my case, it's an inner revulsion and incomprehension to understand their behaviour.

I appreciate our views on this issue are poles apart. However, here's a final question for you. Who is the worthier of scorn - your former Gibson HosteI schoolmate for exercising the precious right of imperfect free speech, or the anonymous objectors who menace and threaten in the shadows to deny that right?

We await your answer, Iain.

Iain M Macdonald

Miavaig

Uig

Isle of Lewis

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