I am shocked and dispirited by the people’s petition to deny equal rights to homosexuals. This is not a matter of religion or personal beliefs. It is a straightforward matter of human rights.

Regardless of sexual orientation, a human being is a human being, and must be afforded the same rights that we so adamantly demand. One may let his religious beliefs govern personal choice, but one cannot impose them as far as to deny basic rights to anyone.

A separation of church and state was written into our Constitution so as to prevent any one system of belief from taking hold in our society. Our Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Sexual orientation has no place in government; it is not fodder for discrimination. Sexual orientation, like gender and race, is not a choice and, therefore, should not be the subject of discrimination.

In a letter printed Aug. 11 titled “Response,” Elaine Graham implied that because homosexuals make more money and are better educated, they do not need the same rights as everyone else. If that were the case, then we had better start discriminating against all those wealthy, well-educated white men who run our government. It appears unlikely they have put their education to good use.

Hilary Anne Walker, Auburn

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