By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

Jim Rickman’s psychedelic(?) Op-Ed (link) had one special point of attraction for me: “Love our Children,” said a sign. But that doesn’t seem to include our LGBTQ or + children. While I respect and understand fear of the unusual, I can attest, in at least one case by personal observation, that these unusual children are God-given. I have seen it manifest in a nephew, at a very early age, and observed its suppression as the world (including me) reacted with surprise that was received as condemnation.’

The nephew’s reaction was to suppress her inclinations and to try to live up to what was expected of him. In high school, he even made the football team. But her true self could not be denied. In a civilized country, gender transformation surgery was even provided and my niece was as happy as she could be — which was not very, as the community fear, disapprobation and implicit and explicit disapproval remained rampant. Although she did find a welcoming community in a major city, she nonetheless did not survive much longer.

The lack of acceptance, and yes, love, was overwhelming, even in a God-fearing society where many love only more usual, more common, more understandable, children. Despite the clear evidence  (backed by science!) that these are also God’s children to be loved. Either you believe God made everything or you don’t. There are no midway points when there is only one deity.