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Homophobic slur uttered during anti-tourist rant

On Sunday, Aug. 16 I was fuelling my truck and my boat in preparation for a day on the water with my relatives visiting from Vancouver.

Dear Editor:

On Sunday, Aug. 16 I was fuelling my truck and my boat in preparation for a day on the water with my relatives visiting from Vancouver.

Completing filling my truck I moved ahead to gas pump to fuel my boat. I had noticed a gentleman sitting in his truck waiting for me.

Since I was taking a long time I decided to approach him to suggest he either move to another pump or put his truck on an angle so he could access the pump I had vacated.

While suggesting this I also attempted to apologize for taking so long.

What I received in return was totally unexpected. His reply to me was  a derogatory “tourists,” with some obscenities.

This reply, I must confess, brought out the worst possible verbal retaliation from me. For that I am deeply apologetic and somewhat ashamed; however, he was not through.

He then proceeded to call me a “fag.”

The situation then ended after more words were exchanged.

The vulnerability of business and all citizens of Summerland has been exposed by this bigot’s uncontrolled anger and homophobic, poisonous attack on a resident of Summerland who is neither a tourist or gay.

Can you imagine the damage one individual with thoughts like this can have on our wonderful community?

The wineries, fruit stands, campsites, motels, stores, historic train and many other businesses are dependent on tourists and I would think, many of those tourists would be gay, people of colour, special needs, various nationalities with different beliefs and also the young people who migrate here every summer to pick our fruit.

Bigotry has no place in our wonderful community.

My initial reaction to this foul, poison spewing individual does not have a place in Summerland either.

For that I apologize.

Tom Jensen

Summerland