. . .and another

In regards to Mr. Alex Toolsie's letter "UW owed an apology" from the July 26th issue of Imprint, I feel it is the GLB (gay, lesbian and bisexual) community (along with Dan) who is owed an apology after the libelous and slanderous accusations made in his letter. Though for the most part it was an incoherent rant, there are several points Mr Toolsie attempts to make which I would like to address.

Mr. Toolsie begins with an attack of Dan's article "The lunacy of prejudice" accusing him of comparing "mainstream heterosexuals with Nazi Germany." Please, Mr. Toolsie, read the article in it's entirety and understand it before you go writing about it. "Assuming this is what you believe, then it is pretty obvious that if you can't see the problem with your line of reasoning, then you are living in the wrong time. Maybe a better setting for you would be medieval Europe or Nazi Germany" is what Dan wrote. I see nowhere in this article where he states all "mainstream heterosexuals" are like Nazi Germany. Those sweeping generalizations are better left to the homophobes out there, ie, "all homosexuals should be murdered as they are evil, etc...." It is obvious that Dan is speaking to those people who believe that homosexuality is "immoral because it departs from our established code of conduct, it's not what the majority of people do," in other words, those who are out to prosecute homosexuals. Not every single heterosexual being in the universe as you believe.

Mr. Toolsie then continues, listing the reasons "anyone with a little common sense knows just how dangerous homosexuality really is." Predictably, out comes the terrible word that makes everyone run with terror: AIDS. you state that "everyone knows gays and lesbians are the primary carriers of this disease." This comment is not only completely false, but a dangerous assumption as well. On a per capita global scale, the heterosexual population has a higher percentage of infection than the homosexual. Of these three groups, (hets, gays, and lesbians) lesbians have the lowest infection rate. If we focus on just North America, lesbians still have the lowest rate. Furthermore, in the last few years, studies have shown that the gay community at large is doing far more to educate and stop the spread of HIV than heterosexuals. As it turns out, it is the heterosexual population right now who are experiencing the highest percentage of new HIV cases.

Mr. Toolsie marches on, stating "gays have a very high suicide rate which further shows their mental instability." Historically yes, it is true that the suicide rate is higher, but the reasons for it have nothing to do with the homosexual per se. In the past (and unfortunately continuing today for some people) homosexuality was considered "sick, perverted, unnatural, unhealthy, abnormal, misguided, freakish, an abomination, deviant, etc." Should someone be found to be homosexual, or even believed to be homosexual, their names, place of employment, practically their whole life was published in the newspaper. In short, their life was destroyed. Everything from employment to housing was denied them, or they were forced to accept the lowest denominator. Even today, especially in high school, if its discovered that you're gay, the harassment that follows from others can be non-stop.

I encourage you to check any decent psychology text book, and you will find that any person living under those conditions has a higher chance of committing suicide than others. These people are desperate for a way out. It is the treatment from others that causes their desire to end it all, not their homosexuality, and it is no different that those who are driven to bulimia, anorexia and even death due to the treatment they receive simply for being obese. Are we to say, Mr. Toolsie, that they should be condemned as well? Please, I urge you to look into the reasons behind the statistics, rather than simply skimming their surface and employing them to make a case. If we were all to do that, I could easily create an argument that contends honour students are mentally unstable, due to their higher suicide rate. Stating, "I have to call it like it is," is usually reserved (for those with honour, anyway) for when people are calling it like it is.

Far from it, Mr. Toolsie is doing anything but. Instead, he is throwing around the propaganda and stereotypes that have survived over the years due to pure ignorance. Ideas that serve no purpose except to further the hatred already in place. "Believe it or not," he continues, "I usually put up with homosexuals without saying a thing. Quite frankly, I tolerate it very well." I'm afraid the very fact that you wrote this letter speaks volumes to the contrary.

What I see in your letter is some of the same prejudicial, ignorant, homophobic and intolerant ideas without any basis in rational thought that you claim to not be victim of.

Speculating on Dan's sexual orientation, Mr. Toolsie throws out the phrase "Unfortunately, I am forced to speculate that Dan himself is a homosexual."

Why? Why should we believe Dan to be a homosexual? Why would you even contemplate this? This kind of conjecture can do no good, and I find it highly offensive that you would simply assume this. You are, in essence, stating that anyone who sympathizes with the plight of the GLB community must be a homosexual, and clearly this is not the case. Should we ourselves speculate that Dan's logic is so much more reasonable than your incoherent attempt, that you resort to this as a means to invalidate Dan?

This paper is one that does a much better job than most in reporting the news and student views than most other university papers, and it should stay right here on Waterloo campus where it has the support of students, the Feds, and yes, even professors and faculty.

I too take pride in the ethical principles and moral integrity of the university, and I am glad that those include practices of non-discrimination. The University of Waterloo offers same-sex benefits to faculty and staff (which is used by some), it houses the office for GLLOW, and as such provides the community with a much needed service.

I am at least glad to see you agree with that (or at least you "tolerate" it, as you do homosexuals). Given this, Dan's article does not conflict with the values of the university, in fact, it is more in line with them than against them.

"Now I don't want to sound mean or anything," is a curious statement. If not, why was this letter written in the first place?

No, Mr. Toolsie, it is not Dan who owes the UW students an apology. You do.

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