I was listening to the rebroadcast of yesterday's show on the way to work this morning. I feel compelled to share my perspective on the issue of racial discrimination. Gail had said to a caller that was expressing her opinion about the movie The Hangover and the offense she took in the use of the word Fa***t in reference to a character. She felt that it was shocking that they would use that word and compared its use to that of calling and African American person a Ni***r. Gail did not agree that a comparison could be made in the offense between the two words.

After the California vote againgst legalizing gay marriage last year, Gail was in a discussion with her coworkers on a broadcast and the comparison was made between the Gay struggle and African American struggle. Again Gail insisted that there was no comparison in the suffering between the two groups of people.

The question that I would like Gail to poder is this: In an African American family, are members discriminated against by their own families for the color of their skin? I think it is very important to give weight to the pain and suffering that is endured by people that find themselves comfortable in same sex relationships and do not recieve the support of their own family members. Take a look at the suicide rates in young people that have found themselves in this predicament. Look at violence acts toward the Gay community. To wake up and discover the truth of who you are and then turn your head away from your authentic self because your family will no longer love you. Not until very recently have we made progress in our acceptance of Gay Americans.

It is not my intention to say that one person suffers more than another. My statement is not to say that as American's we don't have a shameful historical past of mistreatment of African Americans. I think the injustice that has been done, in countless ways, can never be accounted for. It is only my desire to have one voice heard that acknowledges the suffering of a group of people that I do not believe should be so readily discarded.

I am a straight white female who married a man that, unbeknownst to me, was closeting his true self to meet the expectations of his family. We are no longer married, but co-parent two wonderful boys. It was a terrifically painful uncovering for both of us. The pain of what we went through and the struggle my children will endure as this truth becomes clear to them could have been avoided had he lived in a family that could have accepted him for who he was. Chidren will do miraculous things in order to preserve the love of their parents. Isn't it also shameful for a culture to show children it is not okay to be who you are?