The members of the UF Pride Student Union have read the Rev. Terry Jones' column yesterday, but few of us were terribly shocked.
This isn't the first time our community has been the target of hate mongering, and we're well aware that it won't be the last.
We understand that religious and social intolerance is part of our society for a variety of reasons: history, psychology and sociology to name a few. However, the existence of hatred and bigotry doesn't demand that we accept them.
Our community has been under attack for some time now, but the past year has been especially remarkable. Proposition 8 in California, Amendment 2 in our state, Charter Amendment 1 in our own city and continued attempts by individuals such as Jones and his church to reduce our community and send us back into the closet cannot be sustained forever. Progress is as much a part of the human condition as are hatred and fear.
Homophobia is only part of this debate-the religious intolerance promoted by the Dove World Outreach Center is equally pitiable. No person is an island, and prejudice against one is prejudice against all.
The Pride Student Union will be holding a rally this Friday on Turlington Plaza from 1:40 to 1:55 p.m. against religious intolerance, and everyone is encouraged to come.
With that, we ask our family, friends, co-workers, peers, teachers, administrators, mentors and anyone who considers themselves allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trangender community to join us on Saturday in our march for pride-pride not only for our community, but pride in humanity.
Donnie Fields is the vice president of programming for Pride Student Union.
