In Sean Siekkinen's letter ("Being gay still seen as negative attribute," Oct. 17), he says, "Being gay is not a good thing." I don't know how one decides a harmless way of life or a sexual preference is a good or bad thing but apparently it is "not an admirable quality" to be gay according to Siekkinen.

I am not gay but I do have many good friends who are and I would never disrespect them by telling them that they should be ashamed that they are gay. OK, so maybe you can express your disagreement because you don't want to be labeled homophobic, but that doesn't mean that you have to insult people's ways of life in the process. Admit it, you are what you are.

Maybe you should be less concerned about being labeled homophobic and more concerned about respecting people despite their sexual preferences.