As a lifelong member of the LDS Church — and Utah transplant — I want to state plainly that the religion I have been taught tells me love, tolerance and patience are the most important virtues we can give, and they are to be extended to every person we meet. Tolerance is not concession, condescension or indulgence. It is the very act of adhering to one's own convictions while accepting that others adhere to theirs.
A Gay-Straight Alliance Club should be encouraged in every high school. The purpose of the club is clear in its name. Homosexual teens and straight teens align together to promote tolerance. The Gay-Straight Alliance does not promote any kind of sexual activity. (We have the prom for that.)
Would it be an issue if students wanted to begin a Jew-Gentile Alliance Club? How about an African-American/White Anglo-Saxon Protestant Alliance Club? Adolescent students are notoriously cruel and hateful toward each other for a vast number of reasons. Any club that promotes understanding between people with different views or appearances is a valuable addition to our educational system.
Heidi Bates
Sandy