What’s so scary about being tolerant of sexual minorities?
I was concerned by a recent letter to the editor shaming fellow students for not walking out of a presentation on being “tolerant of those [with] different sexual preferences and orientations.” I understand that LGBTQA issues can be divisive and emotional, and I wholeheartedly respect the right of students to have differing opinions. However, a couple of problems stand out in this letter to the editor.
First of all, what’s so scary about being tolerant of sexual minorities? While I wasn’t present during the presentation mentioned in the letter, but I doubt students were being forced to condone behavior they feel uncomfortable with (if they were, that would be a different matter). LGBTQA people often face issues of bullying and not feeling accepted. Suicide is also a real problem in the LGBTQA community, especially in Utah. While you may not agree with the way LGBTQA people live, you can give them your empathy and compassion. You can maintain your personal values while also acknowledging the validity of other people’s desire for respect and understanding.
Part of the university experience is encountering new perspectives and ways of life, some of which you may not support. But living with people you disagree with is part of life. The author of the letter is right—you should voice your opinion politely, but you should also listen and realize that self-righteousness won’t get you very far. Walking out of the room every time you hear something you disagree with or that makes you uncomfortable will only polarize our community. Let’s listen to each other instead.
— Anders Hart