READERS’ FORUM

MARC MURPHY/COURIER JOURNAL CONTRIBUTING CARTOONIST

All in for all students

I am “All in for all students.” Every child, regardless of race/ethnicity, religion, family income, gender or sexual-identity, has the right to quality education.

There is no benefit to society if laws and policies force teachers to treat some students differently. Unfortunately, politics and big money donors are playing dangerous games with our children. Consider SB-150 —- the bill requiring teachers to alert parents if their student wishes to use a pronoun or name different than what is listed on school records.

This policy may seem benign, but it isn’t. In many families, if the teacher calls to say the student is expressing a different gender identity, this will lead to conversation and acceptance. In others, however, this will lead to the student being abused physically and emotionally. Before SB-150, 1 in 5 transgender people attempted or committed suicide. There’s no chance SB-150 reduces this rate.

Gender dysphoria (conflict between sex assigned at birth and the gender with which one identifies) exerts a heavy emotional burden. Society shouldn’t add to this burden.

Kentuckians want our children to be happy, welladjusted and prepared for the future. We are proud of our teachers who provide safe, trusting learning environments. We must oppose any effort that forces schools to treat some kids differently.

Andrew Scott LaJoie, Louisville, 40241

Answer Pope Francis’ call to lead on climate

Pope Francis said in Laudato Si’, “We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all . ... We require a new and universal solidarity.” In that spirit, over 25 denominations and faith organizations have come together to create One Home One Future, a multi-faith campaign to support creation care and climate action in congregations and communities across the U.S.

Our holy Scriptures teach us that Earth is sacred. “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it” (Psalm 24).

People of faith and spiritual people are answering the call to care for creation and ensure our common home is thriving for our children and future generations. Let all Kentuckians answer the pope’s call to act on climate change while there is still time. Join me in taking visible action in our homes, congregations, workplaces and communities, and in helping others to do the same.

Carol Devine, Lexington, 40504

Grill ban

Councilwoman Purvis proposes banning any type of grill within 10 feet of a flammable structure. Does that include my gas stove top and electric oven located in my kitchen? How many incidences of grills causing damage does she cite? I’ll bet stoves have caused lots more damage than grills! You want safer public, remove revolvers, drugs and wealth inequality.

Richard Gasteiner, Louisville, 40204

Louisville can do it!

What a great two weeks for Louisville.

Two amazing concerts with over 300,000 attendees, Churchill Downs night racing, and the high school and college football with no major incidents. Please take that in for a moment.

I hope that this is the beginning of what we all want and pray for our city. Let’s enjoy it while we can.

Thank you to all first responders for being there if we need you, and so glad when we don’t! Steve Bass, Louisville, 40222

Bike lanes again

We get it that Louisville wants to promote bike lanes to “sell” the city and promote safety. In usual fashion, our city gets a vision, constructs the vision, then thinks the vision will take care of itself. Bike lanes are built and added to the amenities of living here, but that seems to be be end of it. Lexington Avenue has a nice bike lane that you would need a dirt bike to navigate. I would venture to guess not once has the bike lane been swept. They don’t sweep themselves.

Frankfort Avenue is about to get the same treatment: Attention, then neglect. We can do better.