Last week, someone posted a news report on Facebook. It was not just any news report. This one actually caught my eye. I make it a point to not care too much about the news, as to me, much of the media has become one big display of 'he-said-she-said'. The report in question involved an 18 year old lesbian who was - and is - fighting for her school's prom.
According to the Huffington Post, Constance McMillen's school will not be hosting their prom this year for the simple reason that she desires to attend prom with her girlfriend and she herself would like to wear a tuxedo to said prom. It would seem that the school simply did not want the teen and her date to be open about their relationship on school property...
This story got me to thinking a great deal more about the controversy in our nation concerning the question of gay rights. I have thought about it a lot throughout the past 2-3 years. I will be totally honest. Being raised and homeschooled for 10 years in a Southern Baptist home, I was taught that having that to have that type of intimacy with another of your own gender was wrong. It was considered an 'abomination' according to what I was taught - according to the Bible.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV): "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Leviticus 18:22 (KJV): "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind it is abomination."
Leviticus 20:13: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
Unfortunately - no, sadly - many Christians have taken verses such as these, among others, to mean that we are to hate homosexuals. For some, it is not a misunderstanding at all. It is a blatant misunderstanding. They do not wish to truly understand it. So they proudly stick by their "God said, and I believe it, and that settles it for me" attitudes. I for one, am sick of it. I have heard or read of many Christians and anti-homosexuals making statements that any discrimination is the fault of the victims for being homosexuals. Is it really? Or did we just take it too far? Were people so against it that we drove them to this? Since when did God hate people? And why must His people hate other people?
Back in 2008-2009, I frequented a local Wendy's for their free internet services. I became a regular, eating lunch and just enjoying my time online. There was a transexual there who was always very kind and polite to me. I spoke with this person a great deal when given the opportunity. I commented a necklace worn each day, and was told their partner had given it to them as a gift. These people truly love one another, with all their hearts. I remember feeling some indignation when people such as my father, or a boyfriend would make derogatory comments. I see some true value in such people...they take it personally when anyone puts down their loved ones. Yet, how rare does it seem for a straight man to stand up for his wife to his in-laws? Even in cases where it's up to the wife to stand up for herself, so many men will not be her moral support.
Janice Langbehn and her partner, Lisa, were on a cruise which welcomed gays and lesbians alike when Lisa collapsed. Upon arrival to Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, Janice nor her three adopted children were allowed to see Lisa again. They were told that they were in an "antigay city and state". Hence they were unable to visit Lisa until after her death a few short hours later.
I will not bore you with the countless other tales similar to and worse than this of gay/lesbian/bi discrimination. Christians... we are a cruel breed, and I personally am grieved to watch it. I do not condone the actions of homosexuals, however, I will love them, befriend them, and do whatever I can to help and support them. For if we show them that we are prejudiced, they will only take the hint that in reality, we hate them. They are 'too different' or 'don't belong'.
Looking back on my own life, I have been confused with lesbians before. When I say 'confused,' I mean that someone decided randomly that I was, in all probability, a lesbian. This led to rumors spreading around school that I and a friend (my partner) had a mattress on school property that we shared regularly. To justify his actions, the instigator of the rumor took time out of his own work day to sexually harass both my friend and myself. We had the campus authorities look into it, and the man was eventually fired. Today, I remember the days when I was the supposed lesbian. I got the tiniest taste of what it is like to be one. I may not have chosen to be homosexual, but even if I had, I would not have wanted to be persecuted for my beliefs to that extent. As it is, Christians are persecuted every day in other nations, and even here in a "In God We Trust" society. There are probably those who would say that if homosexuals did not want to be persecuted, they should not be gay. Yes, well... quit becoming the uproar when people slander your beliefs, and if that's not going to happen, you have two choices. Quit believing whatever you do, or shut up about the gays while you stand up for your own beliefs. I must say that right now, they're doing a better job standing up for their rights than we Christians are.
Does anyone have anything to add or stories to share? Questions?
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