LETTER TO THE EDITOR: We Have Better Choices for Selectmen

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Acton Patch reached out to Margaret Busse about the following letter. She said she plans to write a rebuttal.)

We are writing this letter because we are concerned that the voters of Acton may not be aware of the views on social issues held by a candidate for town selectman.

We have become aware of Margaret Busse's past involvement with an anti-gay organization, United Families International, which has been designated as an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In 2004, Ms. Busse was involved in lobbying Massachusetts legislators on the issue of gay marriage on behalf of this organization, presenting legislators with a United Families International publication entitled: "Guide to Family Issues: Sexual Orientation."  This publication premises its arguments on inflammatory falsehoods such as gay people are diseased, child abusers, violent, and mentally ill.  In addition, in 2006, she spoke out against age-appropriate sex education in the schools.

We are gratified that Ms. Busse has indicated that she now rejects the extreme views contained in the literature she distributed in 2004; however, she has reaffirmed her opposition to gay marriage. We remain disturbed not only by her views on this, and other social issues, but also by her failure to be forthcoming about them. It strains credulity to think that Ms. Busse was unaware her views on social issues, which in our experience are at odds with the views of most Actonians, would not be of interest to the voters of Acton. Whether you agree with Ms. Busse’s views or not, we are all entitled to this information so we can make informed decisions when we vote in the upcoming election.

We hope that the voters of Acton will consider this information when making a decision on whom to support in the contested election for Board of Selectmen.

Dorene and Mary Bowe-Shulman

Hennessey Drive