Strib readers respond to Pritchard's bile

In today's letters to the editor:

"Prichard's concerns

Specifically, what religion is Tom Prichard claiming would be harmed by allowing gay couples to have civil protections such as next-of-kin status in medical decisions and hospital visitation, the filing of joint tax returns or access to family health insurance (Counterpoint, July 30)?

He does not speak for all religions. Both the religion of my upbringing, the United Church of Christ, and that of my faith community, Twin Cities Friends Meeting (Quaker), recognize and celebrate God's love as it is lived in a faithful, lifelong relationship between two adults, be they of the same gender or different genders.

Besides, Minnesota is a long way from the civil marriage equality recently granted in Canada. The constitutional amendment Prichard and others wish to place before Minnesota voters would forever ban a gay couple or a family that has two moms or two dads from having basic legal protections.

People of faith from many religions are increasingly standing up for the dignity of gay people as beloved children of God and as Americans deserving of basic legal protections for themselves and their families.

Heather Ferguson, Minneapolis.

Free to love whomever

Like civil rights opponents 40 years ago, Tom Prichard's column ("Reject Canada's same-sex marriage error," July 30) spews bigotry and fear to justify discrimination.

Shame on Prichard for equating loving, committed relationships between same-sex partners with degrading practices of polygamy. Friends of ours who are gay -- and caring, faithful partners for 30 years -- deserve only our society's full respect and affirmation.

Prichard next tries to scare Minnesotans into thinking that same-sex marriage will harm children. Really? He should ask our neighbor, a talented and self-confident girl from China. Would she have been better off if her lesbian parents had not adopted her from the orphanage? A loving, stable home helps children become responsible adults, whether the parents are gay, lesbian or heterosexual.

Finally, Prichard invokes unnamed African-Americans to his side. But civil-rights hero Rep. John Lewis wrote this: "I've heard the reasons for opposing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry."

Marriage recognizes the highest possible commitment that can be made between two adults. Gay or straight, each of us should be free to marry the person we love.

Jeremy Edes Pierotti, Minneapolis."

Keep the letters coming!