Alexandra McKenzie – 6/26/06

This page was last updated on June 28, 2006.

U.S. not a theocracy; Alexandra McKenzie; Beaver County Times; June 26, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In response to Thursday’s letter to the editor ‘It’s not homophobia:’

[RWC] This critique is not to defend the subject letter. It’s to point out problems with Ms. McKenzie’s response. I found Mr. Kisiday’s letter pretty lame and expected his obnoxious letter to generate equally obnoxious responses. Guys like Mr. Kisiday give the rest of us a bad name.

“Christians who claim that same-sex marriages will destroy the ‘sanctity of the sacrament of marriage’ and are ‘unholy unions’ need to remember one thing: our country is not a theocracy.

“If marriage is strictly a religious institution, as letter writer Paul Kisiday’s words implied, then to whom will it be denied next? Non-Christians? Atheists?

“If churches don’t want to marry same-sex couples, fine. There are, however, nonreligious marriages, and the gay community should not be denied the right to join in an institution of love and commitment. How long ago was it that interracial marriages weren’t allowed?”

[RWC] Homosexuals are not denied the right to marry. Only same-sex couples are denied the privilege to marry, and it doesn’t matter if both partners are heterosexual, homosexual, or a combination.

“As for homosexuality not being ‘hardwired,’ I would like to know where he found his ‘facts’ and statistics. How does he know that most of ‘these people’ have had a traumatic experience or are mentally unstable?”

[RWC] I don’t know if homosexuality is “hardwired,” a choice, or a learned behavior. Neither do Ms. McKenzie and Mr. Kisiday. Ms. McKenzie’s problem is that folks on her side of the argument tend to state unequivocally that homosexuality is hardwired.

“I happen to be one of ‘these people.’ I am quite stable, and I have not had any traumatic experiences. The same goes for most of my GLBT friends. Nobody chooses who they love, and it is not Kisiday’s place or anyone else’s to tell someone that their lifestyle is wrong.”

[RWC] I give Ms. McKenzie credit for telling us she is a homosexual. This is the first person who’s written a letter on this subject recently who has told us his/her sexual orientation.

“What disgusted me the most about his letter is that he basically compared the GLBT community to ‘murderers, rapists, and thieves.’ There’s a big difference here: GLBT people do not hurt anyone with our lifestyles. We are only trying to be happy, loved and accepted.”

[RWC] Homosexuals “are only trying to be happy, loved and accepted.” That may be true for some homosexuals, but that’s not the agenda for GLBT “leadership.”

“Perhaps Kisiday should explore more unbiased sources of information because such ‘facts’ and beliefs as he promotes are only promoted by conservative and religious groups that think it’s bad to be gay.”

[RWC] Ms. McKenzie, I’m probably one of the most conservative people in Pennsylvania and I don’t “think it’s bad to be” homosexual. I’m heterosexual, but I’m sure Ms. McKenzie would be surprised to learn there are conservative homosexuals.

“Of course, they won’t say anything that would jeopardize their position on the subject. He might also want to do a little research into the history of marriage and similar institutions.”

[RWC] Ms. McKenzie probably should do some research of her own.