Regarding the letter from Wayne Lela (CVN, June 9), a Downers Grove, Ill., male who identifies as a morally superior heterosexual human being: Contrary to the propaganda of conservative orthodoxy, it is objectively clear that a fully closed mind placed in a self-righteous body is a sure sign that something went wrong somewhere. His intolerance, which he dresses as a sort of erudite prophecy of doom, is symptomatic of what might be labeled “misanthropic human disorder”; a dangerous malady, which sadly appears to be flaring up in these Trumpian times.
This is old stuff. Those seeking to cling to power have often used outdated or misappropriated snippets of pseudo-science and religion to bolster a position which would otherwise be patently indefensible. Heaven help us from the Indians! The Irish! The Jews! The Negros! The women! And now, of course, the Muslims! For each of these one-time scourges of our great American homeland, you can readily find plenty of Wayne Lelas sounding the alarms.
Nothing is sadder and more mean-spirited than the moralistic attacks on gays, lesbians, and transgendered people. As if they simply choose lifestyles designed to rankle the precious sensibilities of prigs and prudes. I marvel at the bravery of people like Ice Wangyot, who dare show their true selves at enormous risk. I have never been more proud of the Haines community than for its embrace of this remarkable young woman. Hold your head high Ice. History is on your side.
Mario Juarez