Published July 5th, 2023
Letters to the editor
Bigotry and hatred in Lafayette

Though one reader has responded to the (June 7) letter, it requires a further response. It's wrong on dates and case law, and very wrong on attributing bigotry across the spectrum on every issue solely to practitioners of one faith.
California decriminalized interracial marriage in 1948, in Perez v Sharp, 19 years before Loving v Virginia. The US Supreme Court protected gay marriage in 2013, two years before Obergfell, in In Re Marriage Cases. The opinion was written by Roberts and joined by Scalia, both Catholic. Sotomayor dissented.
The author is rightly concerned about transgender backlash. However, it's quite clear that the three to five people across the street from Lafayette Elementary are convincing no one, which is exactly as it should be. It's also unclear how many live here and how many may be evangelicals or something else. At least one travels throughout Contra Costa.
The author's anger may be rightly directed at Thomas. I concur. His wish to overturn Obergfell is unconscionable but not even with this Court is it gaining any traction. Thomas is not Catholic.
I doubt the letter writer is aware of what the Catholic Church is for or against but the Black priest in my former parish has full pews, including lesbians and gays.
I can personally attest to the fact that one can attend Mass on Sunday and write a check to get morning afters to women elsewhere on Monday. It happens often.
Bigotry is a two-way street when based on assumptions, gets the facts wrong and worse, lacks nuance. Pedophiles in dresses says more about the author than anything else.

Kate Alderman Ruby
Lafayette
JD, Berkeley Law 1974

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