I couldn’t disagree more with Michael Patrick. Not only did he lack logic and facts, he also gave the notion that gay people should stay in the closet rather than come out and just be themselves.

While he blames FOX News and right-wing politicians for all of these suicides, there’s no proof in how they directly contributed to these tragic deaths.  Those accusations are nothing more than someone blowing hot steam just for the hell of it.

When it comes to blaming the gay community for these suicides, he takes a narrow approach to justify this view.  If you ask anyone what “normal” means, you’ll always get a new meaning and view of what “normal” is, since no one person thinks exactly the same as another person.

People such as Ellen DeGeneres, Tim Gunn, Jane Lynch, John Maynard Keynes, and George Washington Carver go beyond the loud, flamboyant stereotypes.  Also, shows like “Modern Family” present a gay couple living their lives without being flashy all the time.  Patrick’s article is a disgrace to everyone who believes in judging people by their character, not their sexuality or anything else.  It’s articles like his that are destructive to society and divide people from respecting each other and accepting each person’s lifestyle.

We must always show respect for others and their lifestyles so long as they show respect back.  As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

Alex Valencia is a senior majoring in operations management.