That's all Susan Knight was doing when she wrote the following letter to the editor:
Dear Editor,
On Nov. 5, the Telluride Daily Planet announced the Town of Mountain Village would be hosting a gay and lesbian ski week this winter in the Telluride area. The article stated, "Mountain Village Metro Services is really putting a lot of money into marketing the event." I think I speak for many homeowners in our community when I tell you how unspeakably offensive this decision is.
I don't understand why a resort community like Telluride would choose to encourage this type of behavior here in our town. The 2004 polls revealed that more then 70 percent of the American population voted based on the need to return to traditional family values. According to the U.S. health authorities the U.S. saw an alarming jump in the number of new HIV/AIDS cases among homosexual men. The Center For Disease Control reported that the number for new infections rose 17 percent for gays in 29 states and reported this figure did not include the most severely hit states such as California, New York, Washington and Illinois.
Why would a resort community choose to spend their valuable advertising dollars on this type of event? Telluride's reputation as a prominent gay and lesbian resort destination is not an option. With the moral crisis in our country, I believe this is an opportunity to stand up and let your voice be heard. I challenge you to identify your own position on this issue. There is a difference between tolerance and promotion. If you do not want this behavior encouraged in our town, contact us at
telluridespeaks@aol.com.
Let it start here, and let it start with me.
Susan Knight
Now, people are calling her a homophobe simply because she doesn't want homosexuals in her town. Thank God, she's not alone. Conservative talk show host Al Heirich has come to her rescue by publishing the following message in his Cyber Guide to Telluride:
As many of you know from the contentious letters published in the local newspapers responding to and attacking Susan Knight's concerns over the promotion of homosexuality ,
during the Mountain Village's Gay Ski Week - February 26, 2005 - March 6, 2005, this has become a controversial issue in Telluride.
In response to the e-mails and telephone calls we have received from concerned parents regarding the appropriateness of bringing families to Telluride during this week, we are posting our suggestion on this matter.
Although this week should be fun for those not offended by alternative lifestyles; with scheduled events including: The Pleasure Hunt, The Blue Ball Dance, Drag Races and more,
we are strongly suggesting that families concerned with exposing their children to the homosexual lifestyle and homosexual behavior schedule their vacations another time.
Events are planned throughout the week in both towns celebrating and promoting the homosexual lifestyle.
Due to the intense controversy this year in regards to this week, the public display of homosexual pride and behavior will most likely be greater than last year. If this offends you, this is not the time to visit Telluride.
The combining of Gay Ski Week with the sexually oriented Aids Benefit Fashion Show (although very entertaining for adults) is not generally an event for the family. To determine if this event coincides with your own family's standards (click here for photos of past years event).
I did as Al requested and clicked on the link and was shocked when I saw pictures like this:
Am I a homophobe simply because I'm disgusted and outraged by this picture? I think not and neither is Al.
Update: My buddy Al says I should link to his explanation.
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We'll try dumping haloscan and see how it works.