This includes extended family, current friends, or even people you liked in high school that you never knew were gay but have "since come out." (the correct term is LGBT but we'll keep it simple with "gay"). The people who I found out were gay in the past ten years is at least 20 or 30. So when people (ministers and bigots) speak against "them"... do they realize that most of us don't identify our friends/families as "them" but rather as "us?"
Sadly, some have committed suicide like my fraternity brother at Wake Forest. Robert Taylor. I also met and had a conversation with the mother of the Rutgers student who jumped off the GW bridge in New York when his roomate secretly filmed him with a friend in their dorm room (national story). This conversation occurred at a national conference I attended on this issue in DC.
Question: Do you feel like it is right to discriminate against these people any more than any other minority? (Would you want for your gay friends the same avenues of happiness that you can pursue?)
Question: Do you feel that pastors should be discriminating against this minority? (telling them that they won't enter the "Kingdom of God" when there is at least 28 verses that say the opposite... link HERE for web site.
Question: Who do many gays fear the most? Answer: Conservative Christians (ie; Jerry Falwell blaming gays for 9/11 attacks).
LET ME TELL YOU THIS... the teen suicide rate among gays is 8.5 times the average. Gays in less developed countries (like Uganda) are killed on the spot. I met two of the Ugandans that fled to the U.S. at the DC conference. Other countries imprison gays.
Time is of the essence as gays (LGBT's) around the world are dying in one form or another. A local Christian pastor, Jack Munley, had a book signing at Barnes and Noble. His book begins gay bashing seven pages in. Here is my facebook message to him:
Hi I purchased your book.
What would you tell an 18 year old who is gay?
Do you consider it a choice or a born predisposition that is
What would you tell an 18 year old who is gay?
Do you consider it a choice or a born predisposition that is
not sublect to change (Please google "Alan Chambers"
and "Exodus International.")
If not a choice... is it God's cruel joke? What exactly is it besides something you can hate?
MOST IMPORTANTLY - PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE HOMOSEXUALITY IS REFERRED TO IN THE BIBLE AS AN ORIENTATION.
In our few on line dialogues...
You mentioned slavery was permitted given Biblical context.
You mentioned women had fewer rights in biblical context.
Why then do you NOT view the homosexual "behaviors"
in Biblical context. Pope Frances sees the context when he
says "Who am I to judge?" At worst, can't you take his lead?
I will not mince words... it is unsubstantiated... out of context... non-researched... and bigoted comments from pastors like you that has our teenaged kids hanging from trees.
There is nothing courageous in finger wagging.. "Tough talk" would include fully loving gays AND including them fully in society. You take the coward's way out. Hate is easy.
I have relied on the research of many for my web site. Are you going to read it with open eyes or pretend "that ship has sailed" since your book is now published?
START OF MY WEB SITE:
CLOSING THE MISINFORMATION GAP
BRINGING TOGETHER LGBT’S AND THE CHURCH
A SIMPLE BUT CRITICAL SCRIPTURAL EXPLANATION
SUMMARY
(1) THE KEY: Gay orientation was not known in biblical times. Therefore bible references regarding homosexuality have routinely been taken out of context for years. Given the cultural context of the bible – only heterosexual people were being addressed.
(2) LGBT’s do not choose their orientation. This is confirmed by the closing of the “standard bearer” of reparative therapy ministries – Exodus International (They shut down without helping one person. Google it… or simply ask an LGBT that you know if they chose their orientation).
(3) Death spiral: Ministers who believe the orientation IS a choice and adhere to bad scripture are contributing to the wildly high teen suicide rates (8.5 time the avg). They are forcing people to change what can’t be changed and discriminating against LGBT’s
as a result.
(4) “You are a mistake” This perhaps the worst message. Ministers that DON’T see LGBT as a choice but hang on to bad scripture are giving a catastrophic message. The “You are a mistake” message pigeon-holes gays into a solitary life where they are mandated to be celibate (supposed to be a gift and not a punishment) and where they are to live a lonely life without a partner. Even if they are not directly addressed, these LGBT’s can be expected to be discriminated by the church and be forced to live as 2nd class citizens.
PLEASE DO NOT STAND FOR BIGOTRY!
THE NEXT GAY PERSON YOU KNOW COULD BE A FAMILY MEMBER OR A GOOD FRIEND.
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