During the past few weeks,

a culture clash has erupted on The Citizen's editorial pages.

From columnists criticizing

gay adoption, to letter writers accusing the paper of having an "anti-gay"

agenda, we've had a little bit of everything in the discussion of gay

rights in 2002.

And that, to me is the core

issue ... rights.

It always amuses me when I

hear somebody talk about an "agenda."

Folks, we all have agendas

every day of our life. If I walk into a fast-food restaurant, my agenda

is getting served quick and courteously, which is turning into a rarity

these days.

Letter writers to this paper

have an agenda. Far left liberals and right wing Christian Coalition folks

have an agenda that we encounter every day.

What's wrong if the gay rights

folks have an agenda? Nothing.

And their agenda is pretty

simple ... equality.

Of all the folks who work at

this newspaper, I would be willing to bet I come into contact with more

gay people on a daily basis than anyone else. My facts come from conversations,

and not from propaganda put out by both sides trying to scare people.

All most gay people want is

a chance to do the same things that heterosexuals take for granted every

day.

Say you want to go to a romantic

movie and snuggle with your sweetie on a Saturday night. You can. If two

men or women would try to do that at Tinseltown, you can probably imagine

the catcalls that would ensue.

Imagine your husband or wife

is seriously injured in a car wreck in Fayette's crazy traffic. You rush

to the hospital to nurture your soulmate, and are led