“Public tolerance" of homosexuality

Press, 17 October 1978, Page 8

“Public tolerance" of homosexuality

Sir, — May I quote William Barclay. "It is altogether significant that Plato, himself a homosexual, writes: ‘Who would ever think of establishing such a practice by law? Certainly no-onv who had in his mind the true image of law.’ It is one of the most significant facts in this whole matter th t the most homosexual society in history regarded it is the act of a madman to legalise homosexuality The Greek was enslaved by homosexuality, but he knew he was a slave.” Our society has not as yet the enslavement of the Greeks, but seems to be developing the madness it did not have. — Yours, etc., B. McCALLUM. October 15, 1978. Sir, —lf it were true that homosexuals are miserable people, as Varian J. Wilson would have us believe, is it any wonder when there are people, such as Varian .1. Wilson, expounding such illinformed and damning views regarding the nature of homosexuality? Homosexuals are no more (or less) "after” young children than heterosexuals are. Any unhappiness they experience can mainly be blamed on loneliness and on the insidious oppression they experience from “normal people.” It is not "parsons, priests, educationists, academic psychologists and do-gooders” who are out of step, but Varian J, Wilson. — Yours, etc., BRANDON HUTCHISON. October 13, 1978. J Sir, — How much longer does the public have to put up with distortions and misinformation about homosexuality from people with no obvious experience of the truth? The gay couple living happily together is not a myth, as claimed by one of your correspondents. Some homosexual relationships have been known to last happily for 20 or 30 years. If society was to remove its artificial pressures against homosexuals, many more would last just as long. Nor is it true to say homosexuals “want our children.” Such scare tactics do not recognise the fact a person is born homosexual and cannot be converted to it because the inclination is already naturally present. Homosexuals want only other homosexuals, they are not interested in wild corruption of non-homosexuals as some people would seem to imagine. — Yours, etc., J. CHETWYND. October 12, 1978. Sir, — I am sorry that Varian J. Wilson (October 12) is so alarmed and miserable at seeing everyone except himself growing up, opening their eyes and facing up to the facts that gay couples can and do live happily together, that they are not all child molesters, and that they do have something to contribute to society. Accepting the realities of life is often frightening, disorienting and difficult, but I would like to offer him some comfort. Those who are striving for a non-sexist. non-judgmental, open, tolerant and caring society will not exclude him from it when they succeed. — Yours, etc., ROY WILSON. October 12, 1978. ' More letters, page 24