Objectionable. (reader forum).

I understand that one of the purposes of journalism is to give a platform to all voices regardless of whether you agree with them. Stephen Funk, the gay conscientious objector ["I Object," May 13], is a case in point.

At first I was sorry you gave him any space to air his views. Then, after reading the interview, I was somewhat glad. The story underscored everything I've thought about him since first hearing his story.

The first day his story hit the news about being a marine objecting to the war, I thought how odd for this to happen in an all-volunteer military. Didn't he know going in this could possibly happen? He joined the Marines, for crying out loud, not the Coast Guard. When a few days later he dropped the bomb about being gay, I became furious. He used his status as a gay man and the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy to his own advantage in getting out of serving. In doing so, he's set back any progress that gays and lesbians who truly want to serve in the military may have made. He's given the military establishment someone to point at and say, "See, they don't belong here." And that someone they'll be pointing at is all of us.

Let him go back in his closet. He's the last person we need as the next "poster boy" for gay rights.

Victor Martorano, Stafford, Pa.

Stephen Funk hid behind the badge of homosexuality because he knew that would get him out of the service. For Christ's sake, he couldn't even decide if he was in or out of the closet. To all the unknown men and women in the military who are gay, thank you for your sacrifice. You are my heroes.

Jacob Streeter, Winters, Calif.