Thoughts to consider on inclusiveness

This in response to Mr. Vincent J. Heaton's Dec. 7 letter entitled, "What inclusiveness means to me." I'd like to thank Mr. Heaton for expressing his views and respect that he has a right to do so. I'd like to ask him to consider a few things. I'm not asking him to change his viewpoints. Just listen.

First of all, I'd like to ask why he would couple having an abortion with being gay? What does the choice to terminate a pregnancy have to do with being born with a certain sexual orientation?

A person doesn't wake up one morning and deviously choose to be gay. Sexual orientation is a trait like eye color or skin color. It's not something you get to pick from. If you could really understand that, then you would really see the grave error and wrongfulness in ascribing evil to someone because of how they were born.

As a result of such preconceived notions, irrational fear takes over, assigning sinfulness to people who are otherwise good, faithful, law abiding and yes, Christian citizens. These irrational fears also contribute to an increased rate of homelessness and suicide in young people who are just starting to realize who they are.

Mr. Heaton referred to natural law. Same sex attraction naturally occurs and has been observed in other animal species. Who are we to judge what God had in mind when he created people and creatures of varying sexual orientations?

When one's religious beliefs lead one to exclude, discriminate, stigmatize, bully, harass, beat, kill or contribute to a higher rate of homelessness and suicide to another person for simply living the way she or he is created, is that really what Jesus Christ would do? Thank you for your prayers. I will pray for you as well.

Louis S. Guagenti

Arlington Heights