On open letter to Emma Teitel concerning Trinity Western's covenant (Maclean's 12th May 2014)

Dear Emma,

Against what I consider my better judgement, I am finding your article on Trinity Western University (TWU) persuasive. I can see clearly, at least from your point of view, why you feel that lawyers graduating from TWU should not be allowed to practice law. The article is well thought out, well written and is perhaps one of the better representatives of your point of view.

On the other hand, I find your rewording of the TWU covenant as “in other words Gays are not welcome,” a bit puzzling. You yourself admit that this covenant has been in place for a long time, long before homosexuality was at the forefront of our thinking in terms of sexuality. Why do you not say heterosexuals are not welcome? Is that not equally logical (illogical)?

While it is certainly true that Gay rights have been trampled and need to be upheld, should we trample the rights of others in an attempt to rectify that? What about the rights of those of us who do not want to be defined by our sexuality, who want to find some shelter from the seductive forces of the current pseudo hyper sexuality of our society? Your article seems to trash any such rights. From the point of view of one who discovered the hard way that promiscuity is destructive in many ways, I also want to promote such rights which are increasingly being trampled.

I did not always felt the way that I feel today. I came to my current position by graduating from the school of hard knocks. I came to see that my self gratification was not about love, but rather selfishness, as I looked back on the trail of destruction and broken hearts (my own and others). Even after I stopped sleeping around, got married and was faithful to my wife, the addictive effects of my former behaviour continued to impact the intimacy in my marriage. I have come to feel that sexuality is a precious gift from God and not to be squandered and devalued outside of a monogamous life long relationship. I want better for my children and grand children, and hope that they can learn from what I now consider to be my wrong moves. Is this not what lies behind the impetus of the non-religious “second virginity” movement? Do not those of us who feel this way have rights too, or must we bow to the god of Political Correctness?

Respectfully Phil Heath