I am the pastor of The Jesus Party, and it just so happens that my assistant pastor is an African-American. Together, we work diligently to promote racial unity in our community.

We are aware of homosexual activists and their agenda to redefine marriage here in America. It is my opinion that these activists are attempting to hijack the civil rights movement.

We take great offense to this, and encourage people to distance the civil rights struggle from the radical gay rights movement. There is no comparison of the two experiences.

The gay community, as a whole, does not know what suffering is. Never, in the history of this country, have homosexuals had to ride in the back of a bus, use separate restrooms or water fountains, or attend different schools than heterosexuals.

They have never been denied the right to vote, or been grouped up, chained together and forced to work a job against their will.

Gays in this country are able to obtain higher education, own businesses, hold jobs, rent apartments, own homes and hold public offices.

I am not ignorant of the fact that discrimination exists. Everyone on the planet Earth has dealt with it.

However, no one group of people should be given special rights because of a few isolated incidents.

The laws of this land are sufficient to protect us all.

The Rev. Douglas Taylor, Lewiston