Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Rapid City Journal
August 20, 2003
Benefit eligibility
As a proud liberal, I happen to know actual homosexuals who live and work in the Black Hills. I know of gay hospital personnel, doctors, teachers, actors, chefs, bus drivers, car salesmen, Realtors, accountants, masseurs, shop clerks, cab drivers, security guards, laborers, tourism staff, dancers, singers, grocery store managers, computer repairmen, military officers, telecommunications workers, even Walmart/Sam's Club and Rapid City Journal employees.
The current 'agenda' being fought for is the eligibility for all the benefits that are supported by the taxes they pay. Equal, and in many cases more, taxes than paid by their heterosexual counterparts. (How patriotic is that, they actually financially support the war more than you do?)
When talking about their neighbors, several letter writers have brought up flawed research, proven myths, and pointed to ineffective, repudiated and denounced 'curing' programs that continue to exploit these issues (with a history of program leaders and spokesmen 'failing').
These aren't debates of reason. Acceptance by religions and June's Supreme Court decision reflect growing international opinion instead of the great dark abyss of superstition.
The real fear is that unnecessary bigotry seems to be on the decline.
August 20, 2003
Benefit eligibility
As a proud liberal, I happen to know actual homosexuals who live and work in the Black Hills. I know of gay hospital personnel, doctors, teachers, actors, chefs, bus drivers, car salesmen, Realtors, accountants, masseurs, shop clerks, cab drivers, security guards, laborers, tourism staff, dancers, singers, grocery store managers, computer repairmen, military officers, telecommunications workers, even Walmart/Sam's Club and Rapid City Journal employees.
The current 'agenda' being fought for is the eligibility for all the benefits that are supported by the taxes they pay. Equal, and in many cases more, taxes than paid by their heterosexual counterparts. (How patriotic is that, they actually financially support the war more than you do?)
When talking about their neighbors, several letter writers have brought up flawed research, proven myths, and pointed to ineffective, repudiated and denounced 'curing' programs that continue to exploit these issues (with a history of program leaders and spokesmen 'failing').
These aren't debates of reason. Acceptance by religions and June's Supreme Court decision reflect growing international opinion instead of the great dark abyss of superstition.
The real fear is that unnecessary bigotry seems to be on the decline.
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