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We have been delighted by the support from the community, the town of St Marys, and our St Marys Public Library for the Pride celebrations held over this past summer. We are a diverse community and that should be celebrated. We are saddened that, yet again, a single individual feels it's right, just and even required that he should "peacefully protest" at the Drag King and Queen Story Time (July 30 and see Ted Fuller letter of August 11). Perhaps he missed the mayor, fire chief and others at the Legion fundraiser in June?
In his letter to the editor, Mr. Fuller asks for a respectful conversation. Apparently he cares deeply about how one should dress, who one should love, and how that love should be intimately expressed, or he would not be there to protest the innocent act of reading children's books. So clearly he does not respect the LGBTQ+ community which makes a respectful conversation difficult. But here goes anyway.
We understand that Jesus said the first command is to love your god and the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:35-40). I'd encourage Mr. Fuller to spend more time loving his neighbor and less time judging them (Matthew 7:1). He might check first for the plank in his own eye. There is nothing wrong or "sinful" here to condemn; there's just diversity.
We cannot understand or accept any religion that condemns people who love one another. We cannot see how or why anyone should care how one dresses or how that love is expressed. In 1967 Pierre Elliot Trudeau famously said “There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation”. In the many years since we as a country and a community have moved beyond the narrow minds and harsh judgements of people like Mr. Fuller.
Finally, at his protest I quietly gave Mr. Fuller a card saying "We're not trying to turn straight kids into queer kids. We're trying to make sure you don't turn queer kids into dead kids." Sadly that is the reality for some and, for us, it's personal.
Reg Quinton & Kate Graham
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