To the editor,
I just published an online housing ad on your website. As a gay man I was offended by the “gay-friendly option” in the details section.
Since it is illegal to discriminate against an individual based on sexual orientation for housing, why do you present “gay-friendly” as an option? By doing so aren’t you suggesting that not being “gay-friendly” is an option?
As well, if for whatever justification you think this is a necessary option to provide to your potentially “non gay-friendly” readers/advertisers, it is offensive to find “gay-friendly” grouped in the same category with “dog-friendly” and “drummer-friendly,” etc. It is really not the same thing at all, and gay people do not deserve to be grouped in the same category as animals.
By Barry Roode
This article appears in Feb 8-14, 2007.