[Bassman18]

I've been following this thread for some time and I've always wanted to contribute, but I didn't know how to get my thoughts together (no, I'm not gay). So I'm just gonna say what's on my mind. As for the whole gay/lesbian thing, I think that it's time that they have their own rights. Sure, I'm just a college freshman, I don't know as much as you guys out there, nor do I have as much experience. But, this summer, unknowingly, really opend up my eyes a lot regarding this matter.

There's a camp for the deaf in northern CT that I've gone to for four years when I was younger. There was one counselor that was there for all four years. He was the waterfront director, and he was the nicest man I've ever met. He taught me how to sail, how to read wind patterns, how to get myself out of trouble on the water. You couldn't not like him; he was funny, he always smiled, he never forgot your name, and he was always there to offer a helping hand. However, as a camper, I always knew there was something "odd" about him, but I never let that come between our friendship. Four years later, senior summer, I had a lot of things planned, but one morning I get a phone call. That call was from the director of that camp, and he offered me a job as a kitchen aide for the whole summer, and that I've been reccomended by a few staff members. When I arrived a few days later, there he was, Mr. Smith (not his real name to protect his identity). He came out and greeted me with a big smile on his face (later I found out that he was the one who reccomended me for the job), despite the fact that I haven't contatcted him in four years. I later found out that I'd be living with him the whole time in a cabin across the lake from the camp. But now that I've grown up considerably since I last saw him, I got a sneaky suspicion that he might have been gay, but I never asked. One night after a joking session between a couple of counselors, things started to come up that proved my suspicions earlier. That night we had a nice little chat as usual, then he came out and told me that he knew I knew that he was gay and that it was true. We had a long talk afterwards, he was very open, and he answered all my questions. Throughout the summer we've always joked around with it with me teasing him and etc... But the thing was, around the kids, he never acted gay, he was just one of us, you would never know, nor did he ever try to "bend the rules" a bit. However, the summer passed and I learned a lot more from him, more to life than I ever knew before. When he first told me, I was nervous because I've always had the negative perspective of gay people, but he helped me change that viewpoint (though he knows that I like girls a whole lot better than guys).

I don't know if this helps at all, but what I'm trying to say is who are we to prohibit people based on what they believe. Doesn't the declaration of independence say "...All men are created equal..." and that our we should support "...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?"

But what do I know? I'm just a kid in college, not a parent.

(I'm also a catholic to boot, but I'm not gonna bring religion to my argument)

Just my two cents.