Simi Valley Gay Pride Festival

An open letter to Supervisor Judy Mikels and Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton:

As a member of the clergy, I want to express my profound sense of disappointment with your apparent promotion and involvement with the recent gay and lesbian festival in Simi Valley.

By inviting a large group of mostly Los Angeles-based gays in the Simi Valley area to promote what I and many in the medical, pastoral and educational leadership of Ventura County consider to be a morally and medically dangerous lifestyle, you have ceased to represent most of the families in Simi Valley and Moorpark.

I can say this because I know many of the parents in Simi Valley and Moorpark well. I know their feelings on the issues of education, safety and public health. Seemingly “benign” homosexual square-dancers and cheerleaders--when twinned with the larger radical homosexual organizations Queer Nation and ACT-UP--have consistently targeted conservative communities, individuals and even the church on countless occasions. They have a history of damaging property, of performing various acts of lewd behavior in public and of verbally assaulting those who find organized homosexual activity objectionable.

Let me state this as clearly as I can: In welcoming these groups into Simi Valley, you have welcomed some of the most unsavory and dangerous fringe elements of Los Angeles and Hollywood into one of the safest and most family-friendly communities in Southern California. Drag queens and cheerleader outfits may look harmless to some, but they are a sad prelude to future acts of violence and intolerance by radical homosexuals and the corresponding pro-homosexual legal organizations that will now sue our cities and county to remain in the spotlight and promote “tolerance” of homosexual ideology and activity.

THE REV. JOHN W. LOVE, Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Church, Moorpark

*

Those church and civic leaders who feared that Simi Valley’s Gay Pride Festival could erode the area’s “deep moral values” should reexamine their own value systems.

Is it fair to verbally assault a minority group because of sexual orientation? Is it moral to unjustly accuse that group of having an agenda to recruit into their so-called lifestyle?

This is such an outdated, uneducated viewpoint that it’s difficult to believe that community leaders can be so ignorant of the truth.

Just what is the “lifestyle” they refer to? Is it the life of a doctor, lawyer, educator or business person who is a respected and productive member of society? Because many in these professions and allied fields, as well as in the arts, are, incidentally, also homosexual.

I myself am the parent of a lesbian daughter who is a loving and beloved family member as well as a responsible member of her profession. I attended the Gay Pride Festival in Simi Valley because I am proud of my daughter and the many other gays and lesbians I have come to know in recent years. I had a good time, as I do at other local fun festivals.

ALMA HOFSTADTER, Ventura

*

In your June 1 article on the Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival held in Simi Valley, the authors took appropriate notice of the protesters from “some local churches” and included several quotes from their representatives.

However, no mention was made of the two local congregations that had purchased booths in support of the festival, wishing to advertise their welcome of lesbian and gay persons desiring to explore or continue the practice of the Christian faith.

St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church and its neighbor, the United Church of Christ, both affirm that lesbian and gay persons are no less loved by God than other human beings, and that their sexual orientation is no barrier to full communion with us or with God, all being equally called to responsible enjoyment of their God-given sexuality.

THE REV. GEORGE LUTHRINGER, Assisting Priest, St. Francis of Assisi, Episcopal Church, Simi Valley

*

Hats off and hearty congratulations to Paul Waters and his committee for doing such a wonderful job of organizing the Simi Valley Gay Pride Festival!

Unfortunately, Pastor Dennis Chapman of Calvary Baptist just does not get it. While I can completely understand his archaic thinking, and each of us is entitled to his / her opinions and beliefs, I must comment that the only “recruitment” we saw was by the Los Angeles Police Department, which accepts everyone--gay and straight, men and women.

Bringing children to these events is the single most healing thing one can do because hatred and bias are learned. Exposing children to the reality and normalcy of others is the best way to overcome prejudice.

Fear always stifles rational thinking and I am afraid the protesters have a long way to go to not only understand people different from themselves but to accept everyone as created and loved by their God.

There can be no real peace in this world until we all learn to accept and love one another, just as we are.

CORAL NORTON, Oxnard