Letter to the editor

I am writing in response to the commentary printed in Community Forum

on Oct. 14, “Transvestite show not appropriate for homecoming,” by Gil

Hess regarding this year’s Costa Mesa High School Homecoming halftime

show.

Hess states that the show featured and promoted transvestite behavior.

A portion of the show was a dance performed to a song from the movie

“Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a classic of my time, with the dancers

dressed in costumes similar to those featured in the film.

I viewed this show with my 6 and 9-year-old girls. I was not offended

or shocked by the content; to the contrary, I enjoyed it.

My only displeasure was with the sound quality of the Davidson Field

speaker system.

The author’s letter reminded me of another movie I had seen in the

past, a story of a town stricken by a tragedy involving teenagers. The

town’s elders reacted by banning public dances for the youth. In the

film, “Footloose,” the main character, a high school senior, addresses

the town leaders and says, “this is our time to dance.”

In their overzealous effort to protect their children, the town

leaders had stifled creativity, individuality and freedom of expression.

Their concern was real; their fears were imaginary. Costa Mesa High’s

halftime show may not have been the same as they were in Hess’s time, nor

was it the same as we put on at my high school, but this was not our

time.

It’s their time, let them dance.

JEFF GRANT

Costa Mesa