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The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to Nancy Conway, the executive director at the Oakland Tribune. 

You probably think it’s fun to write “controversial” editorials and then see what kind of division and pain they can cause in the community. When you wrote your vicious homophobic attack on Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, perhaps you forgot your professional responsibilities as a journalist. Maybe you didn’t realize that there is an epidemic of hate crimes against gay and lesbian people going on in this country. Maybe you just missed the story of Matthew Sheppard — it wouldn’t surprise me, given your apparent lack of sensitivity and awareness. Whatever your issues, your editorial fuels hatred against gay people and makes it easier for homophobes to engage in violent physical attacks against them. When you use the words “despicable” and “coward” you might as well have said “punk” and “faggot.” 

I am a straight man with an 11-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter. My partner and I are trying to raise our children in a way that helps them learn respect and kindness toward people who are different from them. We also try to help them understand the importance of taking action against bias and hatred. What kind of example do you think the Oakland Tribune is setting for kids when you attack a person for taking a stand against homophobia? The policy of the Boy Scouts of America against gay scouts is cruel and untenable. The positions of the Mt. Diablo – Silverado Boy Scout Council in defense of the national policy and of the Berkeley Boy Scout Council choosing to remain a part of the national organization are just as horrible. How can you justify spending editorial time spewing hatred at someone who opposes these policies instead of writing your editorials against a group that, on an ongoing basis, is engaging in discrimination? 

I read your newspaper on a regular basis, but I will not do so in the future until I hear that you have issued apologies to Mr. Worthington and to the gay community. 

Jonathon Marley 

East Bay Community Law 

Berkeley