Critics of homosexuality cause suffering in at least two ways.

First, they produce guilt, shame and fear in the lives of innocent adolescents who find themselves oriented toward persons of the same gender. This can be so severe as to convince the youngster that the life is just impossible.

The second kind of suffering arises when hoodlums "punish" homosexuals by committing sexual assault or other forms of battery. The more the "sin" of homosexuality is emphasized, the easier it is for the perpetrators to commit such acts.

Granted, the authors of the opinions in the Pantagraph do not wish for such things to take place but nevertheless they do occur.

This "gay-bashing" may be statistically rare by some stretch of the imagination, but it certainly was not rare when it happened to me.

Critics should remember the words of Jesus Christ as they are reported in the Holy Bible: "Judge not, lest you be judged" and "Let he who is without guilt cast the first stone."

Gene Naden

Oak Park

The writer is a former resident of Bloomington.

Do you agree?