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Practicing Love & Equality; A personal reflection on being gay in 2012
Watching a recent Republican Presidential debate got me thinking. What century are we living in? Who are these people and how did they get to where they are with such incredibly xenophobic and discriminatory views? So many years after the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and we still have so much work to do.
I’m not talking about race right now, but about views toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. Some of Dr. King’s biggest supporters and friends were lesbian and gay and they marched beside him time and again, yet we rarely hear about that. As a gay man, on this important day I feel that it’s important to express myself regarding discrimination towards LGBT people.
If someone tells me they have zero tolerance for homosexuality and it’s a ‘sin,’ I say ‘I have zero tolerance for ignorance and bigotry. Now go get a life and stop worrying about who I love.’
If someone tells me being gay is a choice, I say ‘Why would someone choose to be ridiculed, hated, told they’re going to hell, spit on and discriminated against in every way possible.’
How can you tell me it’s a choice when you’re NOT gay? Trust me, I know I never ‘chose’ to be gay. I JUST AM. When did you CHOOSE to be straight?
And don’t try to argue the Bible with me. If you choose to follow every Levitical law including not getting tattoos, not cutting your hair, never masturbating, not get any piercings, not eating any ‘unclean’ foods including pork, and dozens of others, then you can still can’t say anything because Christ came so we wouldn’t have to follow that law. That’s why we no longer sacrifice animals like the ancient Hebrews did.
Christ never spoke once about homosexuality but he did speak about divorce.
I thank God for particular friends in my life who showed me by example how to love and accept myself for me.
I refuse to let anyone keep me from loving me or tell me how to live my life. If I’m not bringing harm to anyone else and I’m treating others the way I want to be treated and doing my best to follow the 10 Commandments, you can’t say anything to me because I’m seeking to live in truth and light and I have God on my side. I know because I talk to Him everyday.
The simple truth is, if we lived according to the teaching of Christ “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and the teaching of Dr. King who reminded us that all men are created equal, our world would be a much better place. Politicians especially would do well to not just remember these axioms, but to practice them daily in both their private and public lives.
