On Saturday morning, as I stood at the back of the room, silent with my hand covering my mouth, I saw the bitterness and hate in the eyes of the woman who turned to look at us. She spoke of Her rights, Her Christian beliefs and Her self-righteous condemnation of all of us. The eyes that looked back at her did not show hate, they showed sadness and fear and yes — Pride! Pride that we are getting stronger every day in fighting back against hate and prejudice and those who would spew venom to our faces and venom in their actions and written words.

All of the things Rick Casemore wrote (Coeur d’Alene Press, Feb. 1) were not only heartfelt and true, but they were also a call to action! A call for the rest of us; especially the supportive so called “straight” community, to stand up, show up, and realize that this new face of hate is just as horrible and degrading in our community as was the Aryan Nations. I was here then. I marched and pledged to make lemonade, and signed petitions and marched again. Many of these positive actions were organized and encouraged by the Human Rights Community and I urge that community to again mobilize to defeat this new hate group among us.

The Human Rights Education Institute also has a role to play in teaching that differences in opinions, and yes even beliefs, do not give one group the power to define which of the Public Body is entitled to treatment equal to all other members and which is not. Finally, the churches in our communities who support and welcome all persons are urged to come out of the sanctuary and carry the message of love and inclusion into the larger community. Let’s more and more of us wear our “Add the Words” buttons proudly, encourage attendance at public meetings, look forward to parades and picnics and increased visibility! We can no longer leave it to our LGBT brothers and sisters to do all the heavy lifting. YES RICK, WE ARE WITH YOU!

DIANE SHRINER

Coeur d’Alene