This letter is in response to Diana Buzard’s ‘Heading toward gay genocide?’ (Whidbey News-Times, May 11, 2005).

Rejecting the anti-discrimination bill is not the same as advocating discrimination. It is a rejection of special dispensation for a lifestyle choice.

Yes, I am a Christian, but I also have friends involved in the homosexual lifestyle. They know how I feel about it, but they also are aware that I love them regardless. I do not feel they are threat to me, my children or my faith.

I believe that one’s lifestyle choice should not be figured into one’s qualifications for most jobs, any more than one’s race or gender should ever have any bearing on employment. But I do not want to hear the claim of, “I wasn’t hired because I’m gay,” like we currently hear, “I wasn’t hired because I’m black, white, Asian, female, male.” As soon as such a statement is uttered, any possibility that a person was not hired because they were not qualified is ignored and all attention is focused on the one issue.

As far as the potential for “banishment” or loss of jobs, income, etc., the overall standard of living amongst gay middle-class men is higher than that of straight middle-class men.

Maybe an anti-discrimination measure should be passed for white, Christian, heterosexual men?

Jen Osburn

Oak Harbor