Skip to main content U.S. News  Your e-mails: Homosexuality and
your community  Adjust font size: Decrease fontDecrease font
Enlarge fontEnlarge font  (CNN) -- There was a time when gays
and lesbians had to hide their identities to occupy important
jobs and positions in their community, but many are now open
about their sexuality despite fears of discrimination. asked
readers if it would matter to them if someone in their immediate
community -- a neighbor, boss, pastor, mayor, doctor or child's
teacher -- was gay or lesbian. Here is a selection of e-mails,
some of which have been edited for length and clarity.  Julie
Holmes from Denver, Colorado I certainly hope that gay, lesbian
and transgendered Americans are finding more acceptance in our
communities. I am heterosexual, married for 12 years and have
two children, a boy, 9, and a girl, 10. It wouldn't matter to me
if either of my children is gay. Nor would it concern me if
anyone else happened to be gay, lesbian or transgendered,
including my pastor, boss,