I am writing this letter after reading Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope’s disgusting comment in The Chronicle. He claims that he is not getting the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious reasons; however, in the next breath he belittles the LGBTQ+ community by saying “or I can identify as a goat.” Last I checked, the Bible commands you to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:35-40) and “do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Therefore, he is quite the hypocrite.
If you are going to take a stand against something because of your “religious” beliefs, it would be wise for you to actually treat people how Jesus would treat them, otherwise you are driving more people away from Christianity and not to it (which is absolutely not what you are called to do).
I went to high school with Swope, and after seeing how he is handling himself and his newfound “power,” I am embarrassed to say that I knew him. There are many people in this community, not just people who think like him.
We have different worldviews, beliefs and views on life. So for someone who represents all of Lewis County, he is doing a terrible job.
I would implore all of the people who represent Lewis County and especially Swope to look in the eyes of a child who identifies as a boy or girl (not the gender they were born in) and tell them how they see themselves is “comparable to identifying as a goat.” I guarantee none of you could do that because you know it is wrong and would do damage to their mental wellbeing.
I teach many children who see themselves as a different gender. How dare you belittle them like that. That makes Swope nothing more than a bully and a bigot.
Comments like the one Swope made are just another reason the LGBTQ+ community has such high suicide rates. You cannot spew hate and then spout your religiosity.
I am disgusted to say that this person represents my community.
He is doing damage to so many and needs to be held accountable for the hate and ignorance he is spreading throughout the community. If you want to see our community come together, start treating people the way you want to be treated, and if you can’t do that you shouldn’t be in office.
If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Clea Johnson
Centralia
