Letters to the editor...Reader's letter shows need for diversity march

Dear editor, Concerning the letter of Matt Penny (October 4, 2006). I would like to take this opportunity to thank Teri Doell, Delta Hillyard and the POSSE organization for their involvement in the Diversity March and their tireless work with our youth concerning issues of addiction, mental health, homelessness, sexual health promotion and crisis intervention. Mr. Penny asserts that the Diversity March is irrelevant in Georgetown. Six percent (about 3,000) members of our community are non-European descendants and about two percent (about 1,000) are homosexual (Statistics Canada, 2001). Mr. Penny has shown with his letter that intolerance and ignorance exists in our community. He demonstrated the need for the promotion of diversity through efforts such as the Diversity March. Mr. Penny refers to our "historic downtown" as a place not for the promotion of social awareness. Does he realize that several alcohol-serving establishments are there? Booze is fine, but social awareness is not? Mr. Penny admits that he is baffled. Surely, I am not the only resident that believes him. Michael Xanthios, Georgetown