Trent Lott

Re “GOP Wins, Loses Votes With Its Comments on Gays,” June 17:

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) should retire from the Senate and assume the position of propaganda minister for the Southern Baptists. His recent comments comparing gay men and women to alcoholics, sex addicts and kleptomaniacs, and his further insinuation that these people are sick and in need of treatment, are as ridiculous and devoid of common decency as the Southern Baptists’ dictum that women should be submissive to their husbands.

What century is this? This display of ignorance and intolerance clearly demonstrates the stranglehold that religion has on our government, and serves as a reminder of how dangerous religion, or any other superstition, can be to our civil liberties. The wall of separation between church and state must be kept high in order to ensure that even Lott and his ilk will be free to practice bigotry, racism, hatred and intolerance within the confines of their own churches.

JOHN J. PALAZZINI

West Hollywood

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Several passages in the New Testament, such as Matthew 5:32 and Luke 16:18, make clear that remarriage after divorce is “adultery.” Would Lott also characterize Newt Gingrich, Gov. Pete Wilson and former President Ronald Reagan as “sinful”?

DAVID B. BOCKOFF

Los Angeles

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Perhaps after Lott is successful in getting rid of the gays, he could get prayer in schools, obtain assault weapons for teachers and require every school kid to spell Mississippi.

JEROLD DRUCKER

Tarzana