Kingston, Ont., lesbian couple threatened, told to move out of town

Two hurtful, hateful letters delivered to a lesbian couple in Kingston, Ont., have underlined two points. One, there are still people in this world who are rotten. And two, there are people in this world who are not.

The story of the letters – threatening to hurt and terrorize the couple – has been making its way around town since they were posted outside the couple's home last week.

The letters were later posted online, the first of which was addressed to "Lesbian bitches."

It reads in part:

It gets worse, and more graphic. It cites the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage as a trigger for their anger and warns that if the couple goes to the police, "our efforts to relocate you will escalate."

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A follow-up letter warns the couple that the group has provided BB guns for its younger members "so that they can hunt you down."

Needless to say, the couple did not go quietly into the night. They did alert police, who launched an investigation. And the attention the letters have received sparked an outcry at city hall.

Mayor Mark Gerretsen told the Kingston Whig-Standard the letters were cowardly and immature.

“To think their actions are appropriate by writing those words just shows they are not willing to evolve with the changing time which, I feel, is extremely unfortunate and disrespectful,” he told the newspaper.

“I don’t think anybody should be swayed by it and I hope people should continue to push forward and ensure equality is established for all members of the community."

The Whig reports that same-sex couples in the city have been targeted in the past. Last year, a male couple had their home and car repeatedly vandalized. Three years ago it was a female couple that was targeted. One person was charged for mischief in the case. And earlier this year, anti-gay posters were placed in a downtown park ahead of the city's pride flag-raising event.

It is a rare handful of occurrences, sure. But they reminders that rotten, evil people still exist. People who still believe they are justified, in the name of society and in the name of God, to threaten and intimidate and terrorize people who are different, because they are different.

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But the threatened couple says there is another side to that coin. In a letter published by Huffington Post, Susan Belyea and Karen Dubinsky say they reached out to the community, posting the letter on Facebook and calling neighbours, and have received an outpouring of support.

"We've moved quickly from being people who are hated by those who don't know us, to people who are also loved by others who don't know us," they wrote. "We're overwhelmed but not surprised, because these are violent times. Yes, Jack Layton, love is certainly better than hate."

They finish their letter by stating they will stay in their home, “take cover” and peacefully stand their ground.

See, some people are rotten. But give a community a chance and the good apples will always rise to the top.

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