Covering III: Ask Amy

Having written about Kenji Yoshino's book Covering twice, in sympathetic but critical ways, I guess the subject must be on the brain.  I don't know whether Prof. Yoshino reads either this blog or the advice columns, but Monday's Ask Amy had a lovely, textbook example of "covering" demands, if not "passing" demands.  The correspondent writes to Amy as follows:

Dear Amy: . . . About two years ago two young gay men moved in across the street. They've taken the ugliest, most run-down property in the neighborhood and remodeled and transformed it into the pride of the street.  When it snows, they shovel out my car and are friendly. . .  Last month I went out to retrieve my newspaper and watched them kiss each other goodbye and embrace as they each left for work.  I was appalled that they would do something like that in plain view of everyone.

I was so disturbed that I spoke to my pastor. He encouraged me to draft a letter telling them how much we appreciate their help but asking them to refrain from that behavior in our neighborhood. . . . Since I delivered it, I've not been able to get them to even engage me in conversation. . . They have made it so uncomfortable for the other neighbors and me by not even acknowledging our presence.

How would you suggest we open communications with them and explain to them that we value their contributions to the neighborhood but will not tolerate watching unnatural and disturbing behavior. - Wondering

Amy's answer, go figure, is that she is not amused.  I think I don't need to gild the lily by commenting on the letter (although I do like the bit where it turns out the young men have made the correspondents uncomfortable, and not the other way around).  But it is a lovely example in the genre; if Prof. Yoshino is keeping clips of good examples for lectures or other writing, here's one for the files.