Do your beliefs compel you to humiliate others?

Mark Wynen (‘Speak out against anti-family bills,’ 8/31/06) warns us about our state legislators’ desire to destroy families.

“Lawmakers bent on promoting homosexuality in the public schools... to undermine the foundation of family values.”

Since when is the very foundation of family values based on admonishing homosexuals?

“SB 1437... goes beyond just the normalization of homosexuality – it would teach that people are born gay.”

It should be obvious by now that tendencies toward homosexuality are largely due to genetic predisposition. We should resist attempts to allow religious belief to override science and common sense.

“The bill attempts to enforce the homosexual lifestyle as normal as race or color.”

If it is wrong to denigrate a person of a different race, why would it be OK to denigrate a person with a different sexuality?

“SB 1441 grants special protections to homosexuals.”

Like protections from unlawful discrimination.

“If passed, the law would forbid any organization that receives government funding from portraying homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality in a negative light.”

Nothing more anti-family than not allowing churches to use government funds to portray homosexuality in a negative light, I suppose.

“Experts say it would create conflict between church and the state if churches wish to remain eligible for certain funds.”

Churches already don’t have to pay taxes. Should we be funding them as well?

“AB 1056 bill creates and allocates special funds ($25,000/each for ten schools) for a Tolerance Education Pilot Program to promote learning about tolerance.”

“It teaches tolerance for homosexual lifestyle.”

And tolerance for gender, ethnicity, race, national origin, religion, mental or

physical disability, immigrant status and familial status. In other words, tolerance of “individuals and groups that have been, and continue to be, systematically and historically marginalized.”

Notice they do not use the word “celebrate,” or even “accept,” merely “tolerate.” From the bill: “Tolerance does not mean a passive allowance or indulgence of the beliefs or practices of another individual.”

Are homosexuals so discomforting to our belief systems we cannot even tolerate them, for goodness’ sake?

“AB 606... prohibits discrimination and harassment.”

Why is this considered a subversive threat to family values?

Look, all I am asking is that we all try and be honest about what we want.

If your belief system compels you to denigrate/humiliate people who are different than you, admit to it! Don’t hide behind the excuse that you are worried about the integrity of the family. Heck, if you want to promote families so much, why not lobby for legalization of gay marriage? That would make it easier for gays to adopt and thusly create even more families; a win-win for all!

Michael Kinnaman