Dear Editor,

While it’s tragic and reprehensible that gay teens are being bullied and driven to suicide, Ms. Tina Phillips’ arguments fell rather flat when she asked “Would you choose to be ridiculed, isolated, called names, teased, bullied, beat up, hated, made to feel disgusting, kicked out of your house and rejected by your own parents and family? Would you choose to be a target of hate crimes, sexual assault, and murder?” I believe that Ms. Phillips needs to read more history about other victimized groups besides gays.

Many people, teens included, who convert to another religion from the one they were raised with have to face the above mentioned problems, knowing that they will be confronted with these issues.

But many convert anyway because they believe that this is the right way of life for them. It is a choice that they are willing to take despite the risks. Activists also know that they will have to face the aforementioned consequences because they choose to fix an injustice in society that’s more important than their personal safety and happiness. People of mixed-race descent (like me) have for years had to face the risk of criticism and ridicule for choosing to identify themselves as bi or multiracial (we still have to fight for this right) and we know what we’re up against but we make this identification choice anyway.

Whether we are what we are as a result of nature or nurture, we always have a choice, we always have to make decisions regarding how we live our lives.

Sincerely,
Misty Marshall