The Gay Debate

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you." Jesus speaks in Luke 6:31. In Matthew 7:12 he says that this sums up the Law and the Prophets. So the way that I understand it, we should always treat others the way that we would want to be treated in a similar situation. What if this is all there was to it? No "Thou Shalt Nots" to keep people in line. Simply love others and treat them with the same courtesy and respect that you would want for yourself. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if everybody followed this simple philosophy?

Sadly, we are seeing much anger and hostility from the pulpits when it comes to the acceptance of Gays and Lesbians. Several extreme groups from the Religious Right are doing everything they can to ensure that these people do not have the right to marry the person they love. "Love the Sinner but hate the Sin." as the old cliche goes. But when it comes to Gays and Lesbians, that's not possible. This is who they are.

I was taught from a very early age that there was something wrong with those who followed an alternative lifestyle. They were perverted and sinful people, bound for Hell. The names Gay, Queer and Fag were tossed around the school playground at anybody who didn't fit the "Norm". Me, being a geeky skinny little guy with glasses who was more into comic books than sports usually got the brunt of the teasing in gradeschool.



Up until my thirties, I lived with the beliefs that I was raised with. I really didn't question what I was taught when it camed to Gays and Lesbians. I didn't know anybody who was Gay (at least so far as I knew) and their issues were no concern of mine.

It wasn't until I began working for Sykes in Pikeville, Ky that I left my little bubble of only surrounding myself with Christian people who held similar beliefs to my own. At Sykes, I was forced into a situation where I worked right alongside people from many different walks of life. Up to this point I had never really known any Gays, Lesbians, Pagans or Agnostics. I soon found myself making close friendships with people who weren't like me. And this is one of the best things that could ever have happened to me. I began to put myself in the shoes of other people and to understand what made them who they were. When it came right down to it, they really weren't all that different from me. They just wanted to be treated with the same courtesy and respect as everyone else.



I no longer agree with or even understand the arguments that the Far Right has against Same Sex Marriage. They claim that this will undermine traditional marriage and will cause the family to fall apart. First of all, with over 50% of marriages ending in divorce, it's kind of unfair to place the blame on an entire group of people who aren't even a part of that problem. There is also a danger with holding so rigidly to tradition. What if this same concept had been used in arguments against equal rights for women and minorities? We don't want to give equal rights to "Those" people, we've always done it this way! Tradition is good, but when others are not treated with dignity and respect, it's about time to change those traditions.

For those of you who are against Same Sex Marriage, I want for you to stop and think for just a minute. Is there somebody that you love, somebody you can't imagine living your life without? Now go a step further and imagine yourself being told that you can't marry this person. There are groups of angry people who will do everything in their power to prevent your marriage to the one you love. How would that make you feel?

Oh, but Homosexuality is a sin! It says so in the Bible. But wait just a minute... have you read ALL of your Bible? Leviticus 21:5 says that Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards. How many clean shaven red faced ministers have I seen on TV spouting about the sinful Gay lifestyle? How about this one... Leviticus 19:19 "Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material." Hmmm, might have some problems there. And Leviticus 19:26 states "Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it." So no more of those rare steaks!

You see what I'm trying to say? There are hundreds and hundreds of laws in the Old Testament. But do modern Christians actually follow all of them? No, it's impossible. To them, the above rules no longer apply. So why do they still continue to have a hangup over Gays and Lesbians?


I can understand that some people may not agree with this lifestyle, especially those who were raised with a strict understanding of the Bible. What I can't understand is that people would get so angry about somebody else's life and do everything in their power to not let the other person have an equal opportunity at love and happiness. To me, this goes against everything that Jesus stood for.

So what I would like to say to those extreme Right Wing Gay bashers: Leave these poor people the Hell alone! Clean up the mess in your own yard before you go poking your nose into somebody else's business. Put yourself in the shoes of another person before you pick up that stone.



Sadly, some people will never change. They will continue to hate, as that is what they were taught and they know no other way.

I am glad that I moved out of my comfort zone years ago. I now count many Gays and Lesbians among my friends. I want you to know that I admire your courage in standing strong against a backlash of hate from the very people who say they follow the Prince of Peace. I believe that you have just as much right as I do to be married to the one you love. I am thankful that Patti and I never had to face what you are going through, and I look towards a brighter future when people will finally accept others for who they are, not who they choose to love.