The extremists and fundamentalists of every religious denomination inspire hatred, especially against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, etc. There has been little emphasis in the media on the significance of the symbolism of the target: hatred of those who are different and violate arbitrary religious “laws.”

We know a lot about violence scientifically, the sources and reasons about our innate needs and the reasons why such things exist. But we are naïve politically (and religiously) about what to do about it. We would rather fight with one another for some obscure invented reason.

Those who have opposed equal rights for gay people have something in common with terrorists: hatred in their hearts, disguised as religious conviction.

Unfortunately, a small percentage of us are capable of spontaneous hatred, and many more can be easily influenced and led down that path, as we are now witnessing in the United States.

On Sunday, the Huffington Post and ABC News both quoted the Orlando killer’s father as saying that his son was motivated by hatred of homosexuality, becoming enraged when he saw two gay men kissing in Miami recently.

After I heard the news that morning, I needed to get away from the Old Port Festival noise and crowds that afternoon. I wanted to be alone, so I went where I often go to be alone: I went to the cemetery.

Dead people weren’t supposed to be left alone and forgotten. A century ago, cemeteries used to be places full of people on Sunday family outings. I was alone for a full half hour in Eastern Cemetery on Sunday afternoon.

“Never forget.” But we always do, and far too quickly.

And it’s ironic that the Red Cross still turns away most gay male blood donors, as they lined up Sunday to help.

William Harding

Portland

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