A couple of weeks ago we printed a letter from a local pastor in which he declared that homosexuality is "destructive" and against the teachings of God.

Within hours of the paper hitting the newsstands, we got calls from angry readers demanding to know why we "constantly publish" homophobic letters, a call from someone demanding that we cancel their subscription, but in their blind anger, forgetting to tell us who they are before they slammed down the phone and later, a few thoughtful letters countering the original letter from the pastor.

Some people accused us of insisting on "publishing these anti-gay letters." We printed their letters last week.

For those who agreed with the pastor, we do not expect to change their minds. For those who think he is a nutcase, we will also change no minds. Part of our role is to provide in the letters and columns of the paper a forum for dissent. The views of the pastor are not the views of the paper or its editor. The words in your letters are yours and yours alone.

But this is an editorial. This is my opinion.

I have questions for you. What would happen if we kowtowed to the gay and lesbian segment of our community by refusing to print letters from homophobic ministers who assail homosexuality? I will answer for you: It would not stop him. He would simply find another way to spread his poison. We also believe it is better to know from which quarter such beliefs are espoused, for then it is possible to focus our disagreement on the right target.

Conversely, what kind of community would we have if we fell in line with wholesale homophobia and began openly persecuting gay and lesbian members of our community? Would we not become the very type of people we consider to be dangerously myopic, narrow-minded and bigoted? Would we not have to admit to ourselves that we are really placing ourselves above others in the social hierarchy based on (often) religious views?

The fundamental challenge the pastor made in his letter lies in his objection to same-sex couples having the same rights as male-female couples. He calls the bill sponsors "admitted and practicing homosexuals" in such a way as we might say "admitted and practicing pedophiles."

Those who have "admitted" being homosexual have bravely done so because have wearied of being condemned for a biological reality or, simply, they have nothing for which to be ashamed. Those who are 'practicing' homosexuality are not practicing the way attorneys practice. They are simply being gay (and lesbian) the way the rest of us are being straight, Hispanic and Black.

I suspect that these words will bring rednecks, peckerwoods and bigots boiling out of the woods. We know there is free-floating prejudice and racism in this country and the doctrine of free speech permits us all to voice our opinion. We know we cannot eradicate prejudice and bigotry with a few words. We know we cannot counter the deeply-held beliefs of some. But that will not stop us from chipping away at it.