I was stunned to see that your article in the Aug. 31 issue, “College students survey LGBTQ+ community,” used the term “queer” no fewer than 20 times. Are you really unaware that many gay people, and particularly older gays, find the term “queer” extremely offensive? When I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, the term “queer” was — and was intended to be — nasty and insulting, and the person using it risked a swift punch in the mouth. 

There may be a generational divide here, and perhaps the students named in the article can be excused for being naive and immature, but the Addison Independent should know better.

Ed Rybka

Weybridge