Public Display Of Affection Was Inappropriate

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | 13 Jult 2006 | Marie LeDuc

[buccaneer81]

Public display of affection was inappropriate Thursday, July 13, 2006

My family enjoyed our first visit to your clean and beautiful city on June 24 and 25, as we arrived to deliver our daughter to a summer camp. After a much longer than anticipated drive, we arrived at our destination at 10:30 p.m., unloading our bags at the only possible spot at the hotel: curbside at the Courtyard Marriott on Spring Street.

My three children were treated to an eyeful of amorous behavior by the lesbians seated on a public bench, not 10 feet away from us and directly in front of the doors to the hotel.

How could I have known in advance that our hotel was in the midst of Gay Pride Weekend or that there would be such public sexual demonstrations?

I have thought about our being in the midst of Pride Weekend and have gleaned the following: Regardless of sexual orientation, out of basic respect for humanity, amorous behavior does not belong on a public bench. Respect is the foundation for our society, for civil conduct and for courtesy.

Rodney Dangerfield might have said his famous line to that couple, "Get a room!"

I did not plan to take my kids into the environment of a gay bar, so please have enough respect for others around you not to bring that atmosphere into the public realm.

I know that gay people want approval and respect, in addition to tolerance for their lifestyles. But respect needs to run both ways. Without common courtesy and the decency to reserve amorous behavior for a private setting, the gay-pride movement would appear to be less about seeking acceptance and more about provoking friction in society.

This experience, along with our visit this year to Disney World (also during Pride Day) did not endear the movement to me. Quite the contrary. My conclusion has been that the gay objective has been to be "in your face," and with respect to pride gatherings in the public realm, that respect is a one-way street.

If what the gay community truly desires is acceptance, I humbly suggest to gay and lesbian readers that next time there is a pride assembly, they consider reserving their intimate behavior for behind closed doors, as is also expected of well-mannered heterosexuals.

MARIE LEDUC

Silver Spring, Md.

[MikefromOhio]

well that or I take them up to Polaris.

Depends on which side of the family is in town.

[buccaneer81]

the last thing I'd wanna do is mess around with a hotel in the downtown

One exception to that rule. If you're ever in Nashville, the Downtown Hilton is awesome. Worth the trip downtown. Stayed there last December. The Eddie George Bar is worth it alone.

[MikefromOhio]

If I'm ever in Tennessee, it's down by Bristol anyway :)

[CompSciGuy]

Once again I stress the "really pathetic" aspect of that sentence. The lady lives in an area of Washington D.C. that is heavily liberal (most of Montgomery County is very liberal, except my apartment ;-) ) and has plenty of gay people. Put in the context of where she lives, the letter sounds like she is complaining about the speck in her neighbor's eye, rather than the plank in her own. She's never seen that in her own hometown? Please! This entire letter seems like a fake or written by someone who lives in a fishbowl.

Cheers,
CSG

[buccaneer81]

along with that huge HOliday Inn in Whitehall....

That's the Fort Rapids water park now. Just like Great Wolf in Sandusky.

[wouldntbprudent]

Yeah, but people don't know these things. Just don't stay in any downtown with kids, that's all I can see to do.

[buccaneer81]

That's one track I want see a race at. A night race.

[MikefromOhio]

I think the Holiday Inn is still next to it though....

[wouldntbprudent]

However, if you're from outta state, you've never heard of Easton. Columbus, yes.

[xzins]

Public display of Unnatural affection.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah I don't think this is just a Columbus problem either.....

[buccaneer81]

I think the Holiday Inn is still next to it though....

It is, but I think the water park people bought it. Not sure if they changed the name.

[MikefromOhio]

I don't know. It's been a while since I've really paid any attention to it as I'm driving out to Pataskala :)

[buccaneer81]

as I'm driving out to Pataskala :)

I was out there on the Fourth. Growth is nuts. WalMart opening soon.

[rwfromkansas]

why would they make it up?

[MikefromOhio]

yep...

I remember when all those houses weren't there either :)

Hell I remember when that housing development next to the highschool was still a forest :)

[WhiteGuy]

Heck, whenever I've entertained guests from out of town, the first place I take them is Easton. So much to see & do, without the hassle or costs associated with downtown.


Hey Tony,

Heads up on Easton - Be careful after dark on the weekends - the place turns into Bangerville -

The thug behavior toward young females borders on stalking and there is always the macho BS toward the boys.

A number of the parents in our parkish have communicated this to the management at Easton so hopefully the situation will improve but I'm not planning on letting my kid go there fro shopping and a movie without parental supervision.

Just though you might want to know.