As soon as I read the story (BDN, Dec. 7) about the man who beat his son with a crowbar because of the son’s sexual relations with a dog, I knew someone would attempt to lump this in with gay rights. And in her letter of Dec. 9-10, Mary K. Drew has done just that.

She asks if this behavior should be acceptable in the “diversity our society is now encouraged to celebrate.” Of course it shouldn’t. I share her outrage that this was, for whatever reason, allowed to go on so long. But I disagree that it is something tolerated by society. I should hope it isn’t.

Did the father contact the authorities when he first noticed this? If so, why was nothing done? Why didn’t the father at least find a new home for the dog, if nothing else could be done?

Ms. Drew seems to suggest that the father’s reaction was justifiable. Hardly. He attempted to kill his son with a crowbar and should be justly punished for it. Animal abuse, like child abuse, is behavior involving innocent victims and should be treated as such. It is not to be confused with the love shared between two consenting adults, be they straight or gay. Let’s keep things, such as this story, in the right perspective. And yes, celebrate diversity by all means. But not abuse.

Jay Charles

Kennebunkport