Straights should save their shocked and disturbed emotions for their own community's actions. When straights isolate and demean gays and support, or ignore, efforts to legislate against civil rights for gays, they are the ones who demonstrate "an immature teenage mentality."

If gays like Troy wish to draw attention to their moral cause by using language and actions that may "shock and disturb" some straights, that seems like a little thing set against the blatant bigotry of the majority of Fisher's society.

I detect a degree of tolerance for gays in Fisher's words, perhaps even some support for their civil cause; if so, I applaud. Hopefully, Fisher is just as active in removing beams from the eyes of his straight peers as he is in removing offending motes from those of queers.

Gail L. Porritt

Draper