To the Editor:

After reading Chris O'Brien's letter this morning on Middletown Patch, I was dismayed that such hate and misinformation was being published. Mr. O'Brien's bigotry towards the transgender community and his twisting of reality is abominable. Mr. O'Brien is more than welcome to his opinion, but he is not entitled to make up his own facts.

What Mr. O'Brien failed to mention was that the American Psychological Association has endorsed non-discrimination bills like the one proposed in Connecticut. The APA has also indicated that the views held by Mr. O'Brien have led to violence toward those in the transgender community.

Mr. O'Brien seems to be quite concerned about what is "normal" and appears to propose that we do everything in our power to "normalize" our transgender brothers and sisters. Treatment, for Mr. O'Brien, does not include transition to another gender as prescribed by medial and psychological professionals, but forcing someone to live in a body that does not match who they really are inside.

Does Mr. O'Brien believe that just because something is outside of what society feels is "normal" that it is immoral as well? Should we all live as carbon copies of each other or do we embrace the diversity of creation?

Leaders from all different faiths, communities and ethnicities have endorsed HB6599 and I encourage my fellow citizens to do the same.

Keith Voets
Middletown