Larry Michael Summers <lsummers13@gmail.

com>

Tribune 2
1 message DaveWeb1@aol.com <DaveWeb1@aol.com> Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 8:20 PM To: JennLittleOne@yahoo.com, missyh5261@yahoo.com, jillwarner1968@gmail.com, lsummers13@gmail.com, tim@thekoettergroup.com, bobsnook@insightbb.com, m.bullerdick@insightbb.com, babahoward@insightbb.com, rjbergman@yahoo.com, creolegirl83@yahoo.com, jennifer.mayfield@live.com, cardfans@att.net, JGGoad@sbcglobal.net, popndaisy@aol.com, jporearz@aol.com, terry.kendall@insightbb.com, sherian5472@yahoo.com, Read6667fox@yahoo.com, jimwathen@insightbb.com, marylou.heinz@insightbb.com, bill@wmfenderassociates.com, wpeay@hotmail.com The second set of articles (yes, there are two of them) establish the agenda. As a society, it is not enough that the homosexual lifestyle is legislatively accepted. Now, the demand is that all in society must accept this type of lifestyle as just as normal and moral as the heterosexual lifestyle. A Biblical understanding of what God says about this particular immorality is not only criticized but is also called hateful, demeaning and socially unacceptable. Our beliefs and values are under attack. These articles are perfect examples to look at on the website and see the long list of back and forth comments from the readers. I strongly encourage you to join in and make your opinions known. The "Left" is certainly screaming their opinions from the rooftops. Dave

GESENHUES: Being gay isnt wrong

Anonymous Local Columnist The News and Tribune Tue Jul 19, 2011, 11:31 PM EDT > SOUTHERN INDIANA One of my dearest friends is gay. So is one of my favorite cousins. And an aunt. Actually, two aunts. They are a couple; my daughter knows she has two aunts who are married to each other and she loves them both equally and in the same way she loves all of her other aunts and uncles. Our kids will grow up knowing that there is nothing wrong with loving someone. They will understand that a mature love between two consenting adults regardless if the two adults are both female or both male is human nature. If my kids follow what their parents believe, they will know that love is the reason we are all here. They will understand that the real foundation of a healthy relationship is not about whom you love, but the ability to love openly and wholeheartedly. Obviously, theres much debate around this issue and many people who would disagree with what I am teaching my children. A certain presidential candidates spouse comes to mind. He has not only made anti-gay comments, but is connected to programs that try to teach the very opposite of what I am instilling in my children. Whether or not you support gay and lesbian rights is most definitely your prerogative. But, to believe you can teach someone how not to be gay is hateful in the most literal interpretation of the word. How could teaching someone to be different from their true nature when their true nature is in no way harmful to themselves or others be acceptable? It is the same as teaching someone how not to be compassionate. Or inquisitive. Or a brunette. I realize that I will not change anyones mind who believes differently than I do. I debated even turning this column over to

I realize that I will not change anyones mind who believes differently than I do. I debated even turning this column over to my editor. After starting it two weeks ago, I avoided finishing it. Whats the point? I thought. Im not going to change anyones mind, and worse, I may be opening the door for nasty and hurtful comments about the lifestyles of people who I love and adore. But then I thought about the people who are gay but dont talk about it because they fear there may be something wrong with them. My friend, cousin and aunts know that I love them because of who they are and not in spite of it. They know there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. They live authentically and truthfully. They do not hide, ignore or avoid their true nature. It occurred to me that I have an intrinsic urge to love anyone who has the ability to do this to love themselves and live authentically, no matter if they are gay, or have a wicked sense of humor, or can sing like a bird or run like the wind. Im attracted to people who are at ease in their own skin and let their true selves shine. I cant imagine living in a world where I was confronted daily with strangers telling me that I was wrong for loving my spouse. Or that anyone would be so presumptuous as to assume I would want to be taught how not to love someone. What I can imagine is the day I get to tell my children how antiquated our laws once were in the same way I learned of suffragettes and those who fought segregation. I will explain the ridiculous and hypocritical nature of the Dont Ask-Dont Tell legislation. I will sigh in disbelief along with my children when they find out that there was once a time when not everyone could marry the person they loved. I wanted to write this column should my children ever ask if I did anything to stand against the unfair and unjust laws around gay and lesbian rights. I wanted to write it to stand in opposition of any ideology or educational programs that teach hate. Shouldnt we be teaching tolerance? And the importance of loving one another? With the many economic and environmental struggles we must overcome as a nation, how could devoting energy to telling people who they should and shouldnt love be an effective use of our governments time? Mostly, I wanted to write this column to show how much I love my friend, my cousin (and her partner) and my aunts. I decided to finish this column for anyone who feels that they must hide who they love or pretend they are someone theyre not. You will never be wrong for being who you are. http://newsandtribune.com/opinion/x202399687/GESENHUES-Being-gay-isn-t-wrong

NASH: Tolerance and understanding is common sense

By MATT NASH Local Columnist The News and Tribune Fri Aug 12, 2011, 12:54 AM EDT JEFFERSONVILLE In 1977, the ABC television network introduced us to the television show Soap as part of its prime time lineup. The show, which was a parody of daytime dramas, featured comedian Billy Crystal as Jodie Dallas, who was one of the first gay characters on television. Right wing and religious groups mounted a letter-writing campaign to complain about the character, reportedly generating up to 30,000 pieces of mail before the show even aired. A few weeks ago, one of my fellow guest columnist wrote a column entitled Being gay isnt wrong. Amy Gesenhues wrote a sincere and honest story of love for her friends and family that happen to be homosexual.

Almost immediately after the column was published online, she began being attacked by those with different opinions. I believe that a dialogue between the opinions columnists that appear on this page and the reader is important, but after reading some of the comments, they were anything but constructive. The first comment from Randy which was time-stamped at 12:33 am said Being gay is not flowers and sunshine ... In fact its disgusting and goes against nature. From there, they didnt get much better. While some of the comments were supportive and simply thanked Amy for writing the column, many were judgmental and cited their moral and religious beliefs as their reasoning for speaking out against homosexuality. While I am not a biblical scholar, I do consider myself a fairly religious person. I went to Sunday School as a child, and I am pretty familiar with the teachings of Jesus Christ. If a Bible category comes up on Jeopardy, I can usually answer four out of the five questions correctly. Many people invoke the name of Jesus when they use religion as their justification against homosexual behavior. If you ask them, sometimes they use the always popular God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. Many times they site Leviticus 20:13, which states, If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. These two examples are from the Old Testament. Christianity is a religion that is rooted in the New Testament. Jesus spoke often of tolerance and acceptance and I am pretty sure there was something in there about judging others. It is interesting to point out that over the years we have become more accepting of what exactly is considered a sin. I would venture that adultery is more prevalent in our society than homosexual behavior, but it is tolerated much more readily. I think that heterosexual promiscuity is more of an attack on our family and values than homosexual behavior. Why has no one come forward to ban that? The Indiana legislature is working on having a ban on gay marriage added to the Indiana Constitution. Most of the Republican presidential candidates have signed a pledge to amend the U.S. Constitution to include a ban on gay marriage. Why are our leaders spending their time trying to deny citizens rights that others are guaranteed? I believe that there are far more important issues to deal with. Not only were there many comments posted on the online version: Two readers took the time to write an actual letter to the editor. I do respect someone who would take the time to actually send a letter to the editor and at least they have a little more conviction than those who post anonymously on the Internet. I just feel that they missed the point of Amys column. Betty Robertson, of Jeffersonville, stated that the simple facts are man and woman are made for one reason to have sex and produce children. Personally, I believe that life is a little more complex than that. She went on to say ... in the way that you are teaching your children, you are almost telling them to be gay. Teaching children that being gay isnt wrong is not telling them to be gay, just that they will be loved without judgment, whatever they choose. It took great courage for Amy to write her column. I applaud her for telling the world her opinion that she believed that Being gay isnt wrong. It is that type of unconditional love that will keep us moving forward as a society. Keeping a closed mind and judging others will only hold us back.

If more people had the tolerance and understanding that Amy discussed, our world would be a better place. http://newsandtribune.com/opinion/x1533027359/NASH-Tolerance-and-understanding-is-common-sense