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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 4, 1993                   TAG: 9301040247
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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FALLACIES ABOUT GAYS

IN RESPONSE to David Hillis' letter to the editor of Dec. 20, 1992, I would be interested to know from what source Mr. Hillis received his information that "a gay individual commonly has hundreds of sexual partners," which I believe to be one of many fallacies manufactured by an ignorant society.

Although I do not claim to be an expert, I do not think that his fear that his sons could be "recruited" into a homosexual relationship is founded.

I must certainly take issue with his comment about prisons being too dangerous because of rape; rape is an act of violence, and not of sex, and on what basis does he draw the conclusion that prison rapists are gay?

The reality is that there have always been and, whether it is acknowledged or not, will always be gays in the military, and in every other facet of our society. But I am one citizen who is grateful to all of the men and women, regardless of their sexual orientation, who serve and are willing to die for this country in the military.

CATHY L. MITCHELL\ ROANOKE

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