Focus on our families.

"Family Focus" [June 7] does indeed raise an important question: Moving forward, how do we defend ourselves against the faith fascists like James Dobson and regain the offensive in the struggle for our rights?

After eight years of Bill Clinton and the failed campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry, all replete with disaster for gays, Democratic National Committee shill Josh Earnest has the gall to present the Democrats as the party of "inclusion." The evidence tells a different tale of Democratic Party betrayal of gays, women, people of color, and labor in a rush to pursue a right-wing agenda.

When stripped of its pacifism and "love your enemy" rhetoric, Mel White still identifies the winning strategy: Use the direct action of public protest. "We can't wait for democracy to come," said White. Indeed, we cannot wait if we wish to even hang on to what we have. Casting off the weight of the Democratic Party hacks and betrayers, we should struggle alongside our allies to move toward full equality.

BOB SCHWARTZ Chicago, Ill.

The "Family Focus" piece by Greg Hernandez and Matt Kailey was interesting and illustrative. The imbedded piece "10 Ways to Fight the Right" by Chad Graham and Bruce C. Steele was, in retrospect, frightening. Both pieces represent a naivete that I find more disturbing than nearly anything I have heard about what the Republican/conservative juggernaut is up to. In 2005 do these folks really think that a sign-waving demonstration or having your neighbors in for a get-acquainted drink is going to have any meaningful effect on the actions of DeLay, Santorum, Frist, Dobson, and the like? Are we as a community so out of touch with the meaning and significance of what we are facing that we think these efforts are the answer? If this is our community's answer, then we are in a lot more trouble than I had ever imagined, and I hold The Advocate partly responsible for aiding and abetting such thinking as if it is an answer. This "garage sale mentality" and "once they get to know us they will like us or at least not hate us" mentality belongs in the '70s, where it originated.

DAVID JONSON Burlingame, Calif.

In addition to your checklist, I want to offer some ammunition to counteract the hatemongering bigotry of these homophobic groups. Anytime one of these so-called Christians starts using the Bible to denigrate us, ask them if they have ever worn clothing of mixed fabric (Deuteronomy 22:11). If the answer is yes, then they are hypocrites. If their children misbehave, would they take the child out to the town square and have all of the men stone the child to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)? If the answer is no, then they are hypocrites.

It is interesting to note that the Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision. It's also interesting--and significant--that Jesus himself had nothing whatsoever to say on homosexuality.

JOHN S. GUTHRIE Fort Pierce, Fla.