When I attended Dr. Alveda King’s speech in the Saint Louis Room on Tuesday, Feb. 24, I had an open-mind. I did not expect to agree with many things she said, but I chose to listen because I believe there is value in hearing the perspectives of people I disagree with. I was prepared to hear a rational and ethical argument against abortion. As I listened to the speech, however, I became increasingly disappointed and at times offended by King’s narrow-mindedness, ignorance and intolerance. Particularly offensive were King’s remarks on the homosexual community.

Repeatedly throughout her speech and in her PowerPoint, available at http://www.priestsforlife.org/africanamerican/naacp-presentation.pdf, Dr. King presented homosexuality as a sexual perversion equitable to incest and rape. She categorized “Same Gender Cohabitation” as a part of a “Culture of Death/Genocide.” For Dr. King, homosexuality is disgusting, and can be described in one word: “Yuck!”

This ignorant and small-minded understanding of homosexuality is contagious. By saying these things, Dr. King perpetuates false stereotypes that homosexuality is exclusively sexually motivated and that homosexuals cannot engage in committed relationships. When combined with her intolerant attitude, this contagious ignorance has the ability to produce bigotry and hatred.

As a firm believer in freedom of speech and expression, I am not attempting to protest the invitation for Dr. King to speak. However, I am also a firm believer in the importance of tolerance. I write this letter not to silence Dr. King, but to voice my own message. As Dr. King’s uncle clearly demonstrated, a voice for tolerance is quickly joined, and before long its thunderous crash drowns out the noise of hate.

Thomas Bloom
Sophomore, College of Arts and Sciences