Gay teacher deplores a dual life

This week's "Reader Exchange" opens with a letter in which the writer identifies himself as a homosexual employed as a Cleveland high school teacher.

The unsigned letter praises a recent series on the gay community by reporter Jane Scott in The Plain Dealer. A second letter offers 'similar praise. Another writer, however, has a different opinion.

Plain Dealer readers are invited to respond to the letter writers by sending their ideas to "Reader Exchange."

From a nine-year-old girl, we learn Cleveland has its share of "Good Samaritans."

Gay life portrait

I would like to thank The Plain Dealer for its recent series on the gay life in Cleveland.

I am gay and am employed as a high school teacher in the Cleveland area. I am quite wellliked and respected by students, parents and colleagues. However, I do find it necessary to remain "in the closet."

I consider myself to be a highly principled person as well as deeply compassionate, and I am especially concerned about the discrimination and harassment which gay people continue to suffer. From my own experience, I know how demanding it is to have to lead a dual life.

As I look around the gay community and the many people I know and am fond of, I can't say that I am always pleased with what I find there. I am convinced that some of the discrimination and

R

Reader Exchange

harassment gays resent is brought about by themselves and their behavior.

On the other hand, most of my friends are people all of us would like to know quiet, lawabiding, tax-paying, responsible and Christian.

Articles on gay life usually tend to be critical and judgmental and prejudiced. They usually focus on the negative attitudes and customs of the gay community. The series in The Plain Dealer presented honestly and fairly a look at gay life. It focused on areas of mutual concern to both gays and straights areas in which mutual understanding can lead to Christian acceptance and, truly, liberty and justice for all. Thanks for giving the gay community a fair chance.

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Unfortunately Anonymous

As a human being who happens to be gay, I want to thank The Plain Dealer for the sensitive and objective series by Jane Scott.

Her reporting painted a picture I could be proud of a group of people trying to live a fully human existence in spite of society's misunderstandings and discrimination.

I feel I have talents and gifts I contribute daily to our America. I do not hurt our country because of the accident of being born homosexual not my choice but a God-given reality.

There are times I resent the bigotry of some. One example is Mayor Perk's poll asking about "homosexuals and sadists." But love will someday enlighten such ignorance.

My job and my family would be adversely affected by the revelation of my homosexuality. I cannot give you permission to use my name. I am sorry, but that is the America we now live in.

T.G./City

Jane Scott's article, comparing a group of people whose life-style is so against the laws of God and nature to the persecuted Christians, was absolutely revolting!

Homosexuals are an aberration of nature. When the day comes that men can breed together and have babies, that is the day I will accept homosexuality as normal. Until then, I wish the media would stop trying to shove them down my throat as a group to be pitied and accepted.

Mrs. M.V./Zanesville