Regarding the Letters to the Editor in last week’s paper concerning LGBT rights, supporters of a nondiscrimination Unity Statement merely wanted to add sexual orientation to the list of already protected classes in employment, housing and public accommodations. They definitely weren’t proposing something special for LBGT folks--just equal treatment.

It was disturbing to read those letters in which the writers implied they did not want anyone to interfere with their constitutional right to view members of the LGBT community as something less than the rest of us. Outsiders. Eligible to be ostracized. Pastor Tony Pierce could very well serve as the poster child for this position.

According to Pastor Pierce, if a person is supportive of equal rights for members of the LBGT community, that individual condones “sexual perversion” and is an “apostate” showing a “disdain for biblical truth.” Further, there are godly consequences for such advocacy though I have yet to see the heavens part and lightning strike.

If the pastor had been serving a southern church 150 years ago he probably would have been in the vanguard of those many religious leaders who used “biblical truth” to support the institution of slavery. As for being labeled an “apostate,” I and others will wear this title proudly as it means we do not think like Pastor Pierce. For that I will ever be thankful.

I know Ann and I will never find the right words to convince “those people” of the wrong-ness of their very thoughts. They proudly wear the arrogance of certainty like a badge which says: “My mind is a closed thing.” Too bad. They are missing out on knowing a lot of wonderful, kind, caring people to whom Jesus, were he here, would have surely said: “I’d enjoy sharing dinner with you.”