To the Anglican Catholic Church of Ohio, USA...

By Meghan McCullough, Age 16

Inspired by the April '10 Journalism Workshop, "Across My Country"

The misuse of the word "gay" is prevalent in the vocabularies of teens across America. In your church, people are at a young age taught that being gay is wrong, and that it goes against nature and the Bible. They are taught that if they are gay, God will not love them. So early on, they are made to think that the word "gay" has a built in negative connotation. 

I am not here to tell you to stop thinking the way you do, or that you are wrong for living this way. Enough people have done that. I am here to request that you give the next generation a chance to have open minds by presenting them with all the facts, along with your opinion on them. Do not simply preach your opinion to the young and feeble minds of children who will automatically accept what they hear. Educate them. Give them options. Give them a chance to understand the world of gay rights and all of the different opinions and takes on it. Let them learn what the word "gay" really means before they misuse it. Who knows? Maybe they'll side with you. But at least give them a chance to do so.