DEAR ABBY: "Ed in Long Island" sent you a list of reasons why gay people need to talk about being gay.
I would like to add some thoughts because people need to talk about problems if we are ever going to put an end to discrimination.
1. Women had to talk about their right to vote before it became a reality.
2. Black people had to talk about discrimination against them before they secured civil rights.
3. Workers had to talk about their problems before they secured decent pay and other benefits.
4. Jewish people had to keep talking about the terrible crimes of the Holocaust to make sure it never happens again (and don't forget, gay people were killed along with the Jews in the Holocaust).
I'm sure others can think of other examples of the need to talk to put a check on discrimination, prejudice, bigotry and hate. -- DORTHA HARNED, TERRE HAUTE, IND.
DEAR DORTHA: Indeed they can -- and I hope they do. Unless people talk about discrimination, there is a tendency to sweep it under the carpet and ignore its presence.