A few weeks ago, a newsletter happened to cross my desk. It was one of many unsolicited pieces of mail that I normally send straight to “File 13”, but for some reason I glanced at this one and within minutes my blood was at a full, raging boil. A bit of background … this newsletter is published by a summer camp for under-privileged children in the Appalachian Mountains. The camp provides opportunities to kids that they would not otherwise have, and for this I applaud the churches that support this camp. I am not sure, since I have no affiliation with any of the churches nor with the camp, why I periodically receive their newsletter, other than that several years ago a friend asked me for a small donation for this camp and I happily complied. Ever since, I have received a newsletter once or twice a year, perhaps in hopes that I will be moved to donate to their cause again. Not gonna happen ….

Over half of this most recent edition is a letter by the director of the camp. The letter is long, tedious and repetitious, so I will not include the entire text. The gist of it is that the camp has, in the past, received government assistance in the form of a “USDA Summer Feeding Program”, which provides “assistance with food costs”. A government representative informed the camp director that the camp would no longer be eligible for this assistance because of his unwillingness to hire homosexuals. He was told that in order to continue receiving money, he must agree to be willing to hire homosexuals. This director was “shocked” and “heartbroken” to think this could happen. He told the USDA rep that this was “… a Christian camp” and furthermore that “… such hiring practices would not make common sense even if [they] were a secular camp.” So, tell me, Mr. Director, do you honestly believe that your blatantly homophobic ideas trump the Law of the Land, as administered by the Federal Government and upheld by the Supreme Court? He goes on to ask why non-governmental agencies such as his camp should be forced to comply with the law. Seriously? He goes on for another page and a half to rant about government mandates and public education, tossing in a few biblical quotes along the way. My points are as follows:

• This camp, if listed as a religious organization, should not have been receiving government assistance to begin with, under the principle  of separation of church and state;

• He seemed to have no problem accepting monies that were provided by tax money, some percentage of which was paid by the very people he believes too “sinful” to hire.

This reminds me of the concept, abolished more than fifty years ago, of “go to the back of the bus, but pay your full fare first”. The wheels of justice sometimes turn very slowly, but once mandated, it is expected that citizens and organizations in the nation will comply. There are some instances whereby people may make choices based on their religious beliefs, such as homeschooling a child for religious reasons, but this is NOT one of those situations. My concern is not as much the fact that this individual thinks as he does, since we are all entitled to think, feel and believe as we wish, however we are NOT free to act on those thoughts, feelings and beliefs if those actions would bring or cause harm to others. My concern, however, is that this individual is in a position to have significant influence over many, mainly young people who are still formulating and developing the ideas that will stay with them a lifetime and influence the adults they have yet to become. Frankly, I would have no problem with my child going to a camp with staff who were gay, but I would not even consider sending my child to a camp run by a narrow-minded, bigoted, inflexible homophobe such as this director. His attitude has nothing to do with God and everything to do with “man’s inhumanity to man”. Segregation and discrimination are wrong, not just morally reprehensible, but illegal in the United States. My own thoughts are that I would like to see this director relieved of his position, but I’m sure that, considering the venue, that will not happen.

I am blessed every day by my family and friends, some of whom are Christian, some Jews, and some are Muslim. I have friends who are African-American, Asian, Middle Eastern and Caucasian. I have friends who are heterosexual and homosexual. I do not have friends who are bigots or racists or homophobes. Part of the lyrics of one of my favorite songs, Ebony and Ivory by Stevie Wonder/Paul McCartney, “… people are the same wherever you go; there is good and bad in everyone …” says it all.