In the column, "Homophobia more than just spouting remarks," Oct. 26, Thomas Mei made the fallacious assertion that homosexuality is "something akin to skin color." He also implied similarities existed between homophobia and slavery.

What a gratifying day it will be when people who are not of African descent finally realize how insulting and outlandish it is to imply parallels between racism and the disapproval of homosexuality. Why is it that every group, particularly homosexuals, imagines it is somehow oppressed and feels the need to ride on the coattails of people who really did endure bitter and arduous struggles? Why is it so easy for such individuals to jump at any opportunity to compare racism to homophobia? Is this because arguments advocating homosexuality are so weak that they cannot stand on their own merit without this unfounded comparison, or are these just attempts to trivialize the atrocious reality of racism throughout the world? My guess is both.

Furthermore, homosexuality is not "akin to skin color" because unlike being born a certain race, no one is born gay, nor is anyone born straight.

Contrary to Mei's false and ridiculous claim, homosexuality, unlike race, is not "something they are born with," and it is not "inherently natural."

Therefore, to state that homosexuals are suffering an injustice similar to other oppressed groups is an insult to people who have suffered real injustices as well as trivialization of what real injustice is.