Intolerance to different sexual orientation 26/7/11
Sirs,
I would like to respond to the letter from Mr Iain M Macdonald dated 21st July 2011, though pointing out that I did not see the original letter to which he is responding.
I think Mr Macdonald has missed the point. To treat people differently because their inherent beliefs do not concur with one’s own is no less than bigotry. It is discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and it is prejudiced.
We used to throw people in the dungeons for thinking differently. Now we recognise that it is wrong and arrogant to suppose that others should think the way that we do and to rob them of their right to be where anyone else is allowed to be is breaking the law.
The law is written in this country as a result of democracy (albeit not a perfect democracy but our historic culture of government nevertheless).
You use emotive words like sodomy to describe a person’s sexual practice, but you do not actually know what a person who is either homosexual or heterosexual gets up to ( no apologies for the pun) and I am led to believe that this is a practice not exclusively used by gay men (and not by some gay men).
Sleeping in a bed with another person is not just about a sexual act. It is about love and wanting to be with the one you love so much that you want to share your quiet and intimate moments with them. Where is your compassion and understanding about what it is like to love another person with a need to be with them?
You use another emotive term “PC” which is generally used by people who want to carry on with practices which are anachronistically outmoded and use strategies like “humour” to disparage and humiliate others and to treat them like second class citizens. (I won’t labour this point because it takes me onto a completely different debate).
It does not stand to reason that a heterosexual male must be intolerant of another’s homosexuality. A man who is completely sure of his sexuality does not have to feel threatened because someone is different. They can accept them, safe in the knowledge they are who they are.
There will always be people and groups of people who believe they have the monopoly on morals and values or think that their mores and values are worthier than others, but that doesn’t make it right.
“Telling the truth” or free speech does not or should not include the right to inflame bigotry in others.
I might add (if it matters at all) that I am happily heterosexual and I strongly believe in the rights of others not to be treated differently because of who they are.
You have a problem and perhaps you can’t help that, but you are wrong. If B & B owners cannot live by the law then they will have to find another business.
Janine M Mackenzie
Fasgadh
Melbost
Borve
Lewis
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