T. J. Brown, sir, after reading your July 14 letter, I realized there are some misconceptions about the Gay in Federal Way group.

Firstly, I am not asking for the city to spend extra money on Gay in Federal Way. I’m only asking that a small amount of the money already planned on being spent for diversity funding to go toward causes that help gays and lesbians. So the city wont pay extra money — it will simply divide the

amount it already plans to spend more fairly.

Secondly, I am not asking for money for gay dating. The Gay in Federal Way group has social meetups for friendship, dating and business networking. But I pay for them. The funding I am asking for would not go toward gay dating. Instead, it could include awareness about AIDS/HIV (something that

benefits everyone) or paying for teacher workshops that help teachers deal with gay and lesbian issues (such as bullying). As a gay American paying taxes, this seems fair.

And T.J., I understand why you hate me. You come from a time when misunderstandings about gay people were everywhere. And I doubt you know any real gay people. But I’m not at all like what you assume I’m like. I don’t wear a dress. I’m in a monogamous long-term relationship with the only person I’ve ever been with. I’m against bathhouses, and I feel they hurt the gay community because they spread disease and the idea that being gay is just about sex. It isn’t just about who you have

sex with. More importantly, it’s about who you love.

I hope you come to a meeting, or get in contact with me. I feel like if you meet me, you’ll realize you’re wrong about gays and lesbians. Me and you aren’t so different. I hope we meet, I hope you’ll learn to see the humanity in me, and I hope someday you’ll be ready to shake my hand. It will

always be there for you.

Tyler Young, Gay in Federal Way founder/organizer