Editor,
Ah, the ongoing paradox of certain people's Christian beliefs - do unto others as you would have them do unto you, unless they happen to be gay or otherwise disagree with your views.
A local news organization recently reported that the Joy Junction homeless shelter refused a $1,200 donation because it came from a gay organization, even though the shelter has stepped up its requests for assistance and donations. This group had heard of the shelter's needs and organized a fund raiser specifically to help meet them.
Jeremy Reynalds was quoted on KOB-TV's Web site as saying that "We love homosexuals, but we do not condone the homosexual lifestyle ....We felt by taking the money, we would in essence, be condoning what they preach."
A problem exists with the logic to his reaction. To extend his reasoning, anyone who is homosexual or who condones homosexual lifestyles should immediately cease all donations to Joy Junction because we would be - in essence - condoning the homophobia that Reynolds preaches.
The issue here is the needs of Albuquerque's homeless rather than the ideologies of the folks running the shelters. Certainly, Reynolds has the right to do what he wants; it's his shelter and he can promote whatever type of lifestyle he wants, which is Christian and heterosexual, for the most part.
However, in this specific situation, it certainly seems to me that the group who raised $1,200 for the shelter demonstrated far more Christian compassion than Reynolds did in his response; he merely demonstrated his small-mindedness.
Kristen Hague
Graduate student
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