Reader comments
Readers' forum: Families disenfranchised

John C. | 3:26 a.m. July 2, 2009

We are in sad shape as a society if we can no longer tell right from wrong. It’s not bad enough that the family unit is under attack by divorce, adultery and abuse. Now we have a small segment of society who are demanding that we accept unnatural tendencies and now call them natural. Have some gays been treated unfairly? Yes they have, even by family members. And that is most unfortunate. I have a gay aunt and uncle in my family and we have never treated them as less then, because of the way they choose to live their lives. But it is a small percentage that the writer is trying to make it sound as common place, of those who have lost jobs and so forth because of their orientation.
The gay community wants us to accept a notion as ridicules as red is yellow, up is down and forward is backward.

wow.. | 8:00 a.m. July 2, 2009

I agree with the author, many Americans have a very narrow view of what makes a family.

Unfortunately there are too many ppl like John C. who think that their way is best and the only way to be done.

I wonder what the rest of my heterosexual brethren would do if we were all of a sudden called 'unnatural' and were denied the right to marry whom we want.

I tell you what, if the government were putting their noses into the bedroom affairs of straight couples there would be an uprising, and not one set up with peaceful demonstrations and harmless rallies.

There's alot to be said about 'walking a mile in someone elses shoes'.

to john c | 8:31 a.m. July 2, 2009

You do not treat your gay aunt and uncle the same. You are full of it. The gay community doesnt care what you accept, they want equal RIGHTS. Why do you think anyone cares what you think, perhaps its because you think you are the center of the universe.

Comments continue below

Choices | 8:36 a.m. July 2, 2009

Life is full of choices. You know the consequences before you make the choices.
If you don't like the rules, make a different choice, but don't expect me to feel sorry for you when reality sets in.

Clarification | 8:52 a.m. July 2, 2009

To the letter writer: What "basic protections" are you not being afforded as a gay person? If someone is robbing you, do the police not come because you are gay? If your house is on fire, does the fire department not come?

I suspect you are referring to the ability to enter into a gay marriage as the "basic protection" in question......which is, of course, an absurd statement. Marriage is not a right, much less a "basic protection".

Appearances matter | 9:20 a.m. July 2, 2009

Retailers hire based upon appearances and what they believe will bring in more customers. Profits matter more than employee profiles. Someone who is flaming gay, and puts their sexual identity in public like a prostitute might is not entitled to a job. That's not an inborn tendency, but a chosen behavior and if they can't put on a suit and conform to the standards of the workplace they won't get hired. Same thing goes for piercings, tattoos, and other matters of appearance that might intimidate customers and ruin a possible sale.

@John C. | 3:26 a.m. | 9:21 a.m. July 2, 2009

I so agree.

@author: I can assure you that government does not discriminate when it comes to collecting revenue and destroying businesses, families, and lives, in the name of some do good policy.

You do not have a corner on the market of injustice. As a hard working white heterosexual traditional family individual, I can honestly say that I have never had a positive experience with any government agency. Their very existence depends upon them forcibly plundering the resources of those who work.

But I will say that if you by choice make a conscious decision to live contrary to societies norms, and expect others to be forced to accept your version of normal, then I believe you ask that which cannot be.

You ask that society adapt to your norms rather than you adapt to societies.

Thomas Jefferson once said paraphrased, "when I find my view differing from the majority view it is time I reevaluate my view.

false logical leap | 9:34 a.m. July 2, 2009

Apparently the author is trying to make a logical leap from basic legal rights to gay marriage rights. Sorry, but while gays do have basic rights, the right to legally redefine marriage isn't one of them.

Mikey | 11:14 a.m. July 2, 2009

Thank you for your wonderful letter Shannon. This narrow minded view of what makes a family is ridiculous. Families come in all shapes and sizes and all are unique and beautiful in their own way. To sit there and claim (like John C. did) that being gay is unnatural and wrong is just his opinion. To him it is not natural, because he is not gay. To the millions of gays around the world, being gay is perfectly natural, because that is who they are. Best walk in ones shoes before passing judgement. Just because you believe being gay is wrong or immoral doesn't make it so. Many families are made of gay parents and they are just as loving and wonderful as all the other types of families out there. Here is to hope that society can one day leave this disgusting, traditionalistic view of what makes a family and move forward with love and acceptance of all types of a family.

Anonymous | 11:38 a.m. July 2, 2009

I agree with Mikey and Shannon.

lost in DC | 12:01 p.m. July 2, 2009

are gay people barred from voting? That's not right, they should have as much right to vote as anybody. Isn't that was disenfranchised means, not being able to vote?

families, on the other hand, have never had the right to vote, be they traditional or otherwise. It's always been individuals that could vote, so I guess it's the headline over the letter that's confusing.

If I'm misunderstanding the meaning of "disenfranchised", please help me out.

Disenfranchised Voter | 12:25 p.m. July 2, 2009

@lost In DC: Great point. There would no doubt be an entirely different dynamic in the voting booths if suddenly children of ALL FAMILIES could vote. If anything the children of families are disenfranchised, because they must rely upon their parent's vote alone to represent their interests.

Ultra Bob | 1:42 p.m. July 2, 2009

While I support the right for adults to live the life they choose, I am deeply saddened to think about children being brought up in a home of Gay parents.

lost in DC | 2:26 p.m. July 2, 2009

disenfranchised voter 12:25, I don't believe children can vote regardless of what type of household they are raised in. I'm pretty sure once they reach voting age, they can all vote.

Anonymous | 2:29 p.m. July 2, 2009

I am the son of two married men... I turned out just fine, thank you very much, I would even go as far as to say it has made me a better person. I also know a lot of other adults that come from same sex families, that turned out all right as well. So save your self-righteous pity for people who really need it...

jackhp | 4:09 p.m. July 2, 2009

To lost in DC, Disenfranchisement is not only related to the right to vote.

To Clarification, marriage most certainly is a right. And along with that right come over 1100 basic protections and privileges, many of which are otherwise unavailable.

@ Clarification | 4:22 p.m. July 2, 2009

"Basic protection" ought to include having neighbors charged for breaking down your windows and doors and bashing your face in with a television. "Basic protection" ought to include going after those who invade your home, but apparently in South Salt Lake this isn't the case if you're gay.

@Ultra Bob | 4:51 p.m. July 2, 2009

You may not like it, but it is happening regardless of what you like. And based on current studies that have been cited for you time and again, those children come out just fine, well adjusted, and usually a little more open to other peoples differences than you seem to be.

Who Cares? | 5:07 p.m. July 2, 2009

Marriage is so gay now.

Linguist | 7:18 p.m. July 2, 2009

To John C.:

I am curious: In your opinion, how "should" your gay aunt and your gay uncle live their lives? That is, what would you have them do differently, if you had the power to make them live the way you believe would be "right" for them?

And, if you were they, would you believe this alternate life makes more sense and was better than the life that they currently lead?

Thanks.

With respect,
Linguist

To John C. | 8:10 a.m. July 3, 2009

When did YOU decide to be straight? I'm not talking about when you decided with whom, and when, you would have sex. I'm talking about when you chose the gender of the people or person to whom you would be sexually and affectionally attracted.

Why am I asking? I'm a 60-year-old straight woman who's been married almost 40 years to an equally straight 65-year=old man, We've always been straight, and we NEVER chose to be straight -- it's just something we've always been.

Why do you think it's any different to be gay?

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