When you write a column for a living, you get called lots of names on a regular basis. Moron, liar and sellout, to name a few.
I'm in no position to complain, though, since I occasionally use the same words to describe public officials and captains of industry.
But I've never been called a bigot so many times as I have since I wrote in my Sunday column about the boycott of El Coyote, the Los Angeles cantina whose Mormon manager donated $100 to Proposition 8, the successful November ballot initiative to ban gay marriage.
"Your article defending" the manager "is making the rounds on gay boards, which means that you're becoming notorious for your bigotry," wrote someone named Laight.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," wrote Amy.
About two-thirds of the roughly 400 readers who sent e-mails took similar positions. They said I was too sympathetic to Margie Christoffersen in writing about how business at her mother's margarita mill is way down, thanks in part to an organized boycott, and how Christoffersen is so distraught she has taken a leave of absence.
"Oh, poor Margie," was a popular line among angry readers, as was, "Cry me a river."
So did I get it wrong?
To summarize the column, I said I was opposed to Prop. 8 and to the ugly campaigns against gay marriage by organized religion. I also wrote that Christoffersen is entitled to her views no matter how objectionable they are to me or anyone else, and that 89 El Coyote employees shouldn't be hurt by their manager's politics.
I'm not taking any of it back, and that goes for my comments about organized religion, which ruffled the feathers of another flock of readers. But there's room for honest disagreement on the many issues wrapped into this story, and I thought a lot of responses from readers were worth sharing.
T. Miyashiro-Sonoda wrote: "All couples (of any combination) should apply for a civil union license and have a civil ceremony. This would have all of the legal rights that are now granted by what we recognize as a 'marriage.' If the couple would like this union blessed or recognized by a church, synagogue, temple or any place of worship as a 'marriage,' another ceremony could be performed there. That way, any church, synagogue, temple or place of worship would have the right to recognize the union or not. What do you think?" I think I like it.
