Editor, Commonwealth:
I am submitting this letter about my opinions and concerns about the new bill that was passed, House Bill 1523. This is one of the most absurd bills to be passed in all my years.
This bill is presented as another law set to discriminate against people who consider themselves to be a part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. I am not for the laws that have legalized same-sex marriage or other things dealing with the LGBTQ community; however, I do not agree with casting them away as if they are not regular human beings just like you and I. In a sense, this bill is similar to the segregation that happened between blacks and whites, only this time it will be gay and straight.
Another problem with this bill is that it is trying to use religion to cover what it is saying. I, being a firm believer of the Holy Bible, see that they are trying to say that the Bible says it’s wrong to have LGBTQ communities, so there is nothing wrong with passing a law to get rid of them. In all actuality, the Bible speaks nothing of that in the New Testament. For all the Bible scholars who may read this, they may agree when I say that Jesus came in the New Testament to cast all those old rules away so that we may have a chance to enjoy life.
The one golden rule that Jesus had was that we “love our neighbors as ourself and treat others the way you would want to be treated.” It is safe to conclude that House Bill 1523 is in contradiction with that one rule from the Bible. I have come to learn in my years that people take religion and change things to make it fit with their lifestyle so they will not feel as if it is wrong.
My final point is that this bill is causing more demolition to the state than reconstruction. Many people and businesses have decided to leave the state due to this bill. That is money leaving the state, the state that many people claim is so poor.
I feel as if the people of the LGBTQ community deserve an equal chance and opportunity to prosper, just as everyone else. Just because I do not agree with same-sex marriage does not mean that I have to treat them any differently. It also doesn’t mean that I can’t have them as a friend. People want to speak religion; well, it says to love all people and treat them accordingly in spite of your personal opinion about them.
It is amazing to me how the country’s slogan, “America is the land of free and the home of the brave,” is slowly disintegrating into thin air.
Charity L. Cotten
Itta Bena
