All adults influence children bullying gays

To the editor:

Ron Stearns (?Homosexuality shouldn?t be condoned,? Dec. 22) is not describing how the world really works. He claims ?it is the parents who teach their children prejudice.? No, you cannot evade responsibility that easily. It is ALL adult authority figures who teach children by words and example to despise, mock and bully: teachers, coaches, shopkeepers, clerics, politicians, TV personalities etc. When you tell children ?homosexual behavior is bad behavior? you are licensing any kid to bully another child that he just thinks might be gay or different. And in the real world, Mr. Stearns, bullies are not ?gentle and kind? and don?t show ?great patience? either! If your belief is that gay people should deny their nature, pretend to be straight, go through a sham marriage and live a lie ? now that?s encouraging bad behavior with destructive consequences. Gay people don?t choose their nature ? any more than you choose your height or hair color, or to be heterosexual. Gay children know they are different at an early age ? long before they are sexually aware. The difference is immensely more than sexuality. Being gay or transgender is not ?behavior? ? it is their very essence, their fundamental reality, just as much as for a heterosexual person. How about if a Taliban baker refused to bake a cake for two Christians, because he didn?t condone ?infidels?? He is being true to his beliefs. Just being true to your beliefs doesn?t make an action right either.

? Andrew Edlin, Fairfield