I Apologize to the LBGTQ+ Community

Last week I published the column They’re Queer, They’re Coming for Your Children,” and for the first time in the 30 years I have penned my column, I sincerely feel the need to apologize to the LBGTQ+ community and their supporters.

My harsh prospective was rooted in anger. Anger at being freely accused by public officials of being a homophobe; by people who never bothered to read my columns on the subject. As I expressed in other columns, I have grown up in a family that has LBGTQ+ members; had a gay cousin who died of AIDS. I have known, lived, and worked around LBGTQ+ people my entire life, and never had a negative thought about anyone. The idea I am homophobic (whatever that means) never occurred to me.

However, after some self-examination, I had to conclude maybe I am a little homophobic in the same way all people are a little bit racist against me. Because of that self-realization, I decided to resign from the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees after 25 years of service to the city libraries. I would also like to extend my sincere apology to the B&ECPL Library Director, the entire Board of Trustees and staff for bringing a negative light to the greatest library system in the country. I was wrong for that.

The greatest irony in my mind is that in the twenty five years I have served on the board, nobody ever listened to a word I said, until now. I will miss serving, but will be eternally grateful for being given the honor for so long.

Again to the LBGTQ+ community, I do humbly apologize if I caused any pain to anyone.

~ Frank Gist