Finds situation "unfortunate"
Letter to the editor, Manchester Cricket | March 2, 2006
To the editor:
The sources of my earlier statement regarding Mrs. Moore allegedly having taken part in the distribution of or signature gathering for the anti-gay petition at Brookwood School, were two people. One, was a very close friend of Mrs. Moore who also is a Brookwood parent and the other was a Brookwood trustee who not only stated that the alleged incident did occur but that Brookwood would be tightening its "solicitation policy" because of it. This person also told me that a meeting was being held that Thursday to discuss the policy change.
Mrs. Moore stated in her clarifying letter as to Brookwood's position that she finds it "unfortunate" that she needed to write her letter to the Cricket. I find many things "unfortunate" also...
I find it "unfortunate" that Kris Mineau, the head of an anti-gay, anti-family organization joined Mrs. Moore in response letters to the Cricket. It is "unfortunate" that in the three letters (Mineau, Burgess and Moore) that the writers hid behind lies, false accusations, mis-information, religion, and well-intentioned yet not fully implemented school policies, respectively, and not one addressed the harm that Mr. Mineau's anti-gay, discriminatory petition would have on individuals, children and families--some of whom live in Manchester. It is also "unfortunate" that I had to find out through the State's Office of Campaign and Political Finance website that Mrs. Moore's husband is the third largest individual contributor to Mineau's VoteOnMarriage.org--an organization which on its website referred to gay people as "the forces of evil."
It is "unfortunate" that when I immigrated to America that I was required to sign a document which stated that I was not "a Communist, Mentally Insane, a Convicted Criminal or a Homosexual." It is "unfortunate" that I can't turn on the television set without hearing some anti-gay rhetoric coming from the White House, the Statehouse or various religious institutions with no hope of it getting better anytime soon . It is "unfortunate" that when I lived in the town center before I became politically active that a group of Manchester 12 year olds walking from the Harbor Street area found it appropriate to shout out and call me an anti-gay slur and proceded to describe in detail a disgusting scenario that they "suggested" gay people do. It is "unfortunate" that my new house was stalked by a car full of local Manchester teenagers, who waited with their car lights out until my partner walked in front of a window and then shot at him. It is also "unfortunate" that Officer Aiello had to ask the perpetrator if there was a reason why he singled us out. Though his answer was, "no, I only shot at them because I was bored," it was "unfortunate" that I found out later that this same young man had, on a prior occasion, thrown bricks at another youth whom he assumed to be gay.
It is "unfortunate" that my marriage to the man I love may be taken away in the near future. It is "unfortunate" that in modern times, bigotry, prejudice, political or social gain and ignorance may force a change in the Constitution to discriminate against a valuable group of people. It is "unfortunate" that these hate groups prey on voter apathy and mis-information to promote their ugly, mean-spirited agenda. And it is MOST "unfortunate," that in the town that I love, there actually are people who would consider me not to be an equal human being and would go to great lengths to make sure that I won't be.
Alex Westerhoff
Colburn Rd
Manchester-by-the-Sea
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