PRIDE: No rights were infringed upon

One of the main reasons that I subscribe to the Coeur d’Alene Press is that it has the liveliest letters section of any of the five newspapers I subscribe to. Wednesday, June 5 did not disappoint. In particular, The Press devoted an entire extra page of letters expressing dismay about an article “Coeur d’Alene Celebrates Pride Month” that appeared a few days earlier.

Many of these letters based their complaint upon a (selective) interpretation of the Christian Bible. This is not an acceptable basis for objection. To prove my point, I will quote from another document:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” — The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

No aspect of the Pride in the Park infringed upon anyone’s ability to exercise their religion. And in fact (as one writer pointed out) two Coeur d’Alene churches actively participated in that celebration. It’s clear that practicing Christians are not united in their opinion of the LGBTQ community.  

Additionally, the freedom of speech was not abridged — as evidenced by the Coeur d’Alene Press devoting more than one entire page to handle the deluge of letters from annoyed readers. In other words, the First Amendment has been rigidly adhered to, with the explicit and generous cooperation of the Coeur d’Alene Press.

Some people adamantly cling to the Christian Bible (especially the Old Testament) to condemn Coeur d’Alene’s public embrace of the LGBTQ community. I would simply remind these people of the two stories of Lot and his two daughters found in Genesis 19. In deference to a recent court case in New York, Genesis 19 speaks for itself.  

JOHN D. SAHR

Otis Orchards, Wash.