BYU paper pulls letter to editor on gay adoption, but student defends it

A BYU student says he doesn't regret writing a controversial letter to the editor about gay parenting.

The campus student newspaper the Daily Universe published Taylor Petty's letter Thursday, but removed it later that day from the paper's website after fielding complaints.

Petty doesn't believe a gay parental model should be acceptable. "Just as if we wouldn't want a child to grow up with a prostitute for a mother or a serial killer for a father," he wrote, "we shouldn't accept a lesbian, gay or transgender parental model for young people."

BYU journalism professor Joel Campbell, who doubles as the Daily Universe's editor-in-chief, pulled the letter off the paper's website.

"The Daily Universe has removed the letter originally published here after several readers complained about its tone and approach to homosexuality," Campbell wrote in a statement on the paper's website. "The letter published in the Daily Universe did not represent the kind of understanding and respect that should accompany dialogue on this issue. We regret that the letter was ever published."

Petty wrote his letter in response to other letters the paper had published on the subject of whether society should or should not accept gay adoption.Petty defended his position after his letter was taken down, saying he didn't regret what he wrote.

"No. I definitely agree with what I said. I think a lot of people misunderstood what I was saying. When I said the word homosexuality, I was not referring to people who felt temptations inside but hid them. I was referring to homosexual acts or acting homosexuals as the sin."

Petty said he was disappointed his side was removed from the site.

"Either leave both up or leave both down," he said. "I don't think it was entirely fair to take mine down when (the other) was still up there."

Campbell said once he reviewed the letter more thoroughly, he didn't think it agreed with what the Daily Universe wanted to express.

"We've taken down what we're going to take down," Campbell said. "I just don't agree that it should be in a public forum with our name on it. He has the right to free speech, but we have the venue, and we will agree to disagree."