What in Gay-Hell?!!!!

As an individual that only judges people based on their character (and more often than not- their physical attributes) I have many friends from all walks of life.


My favorite friends are my gay boys!


All through high school I watched as they were judged, mistreated and teased. Listened to my authority figures talk about God and how homosexuality is unnatural and an abomination before God- to which I always replied:

"Are you God? No? Ok then, its NOT your place to judge."

Oh how my daddy loved that comment! ;) But its a good point. Its so sad to watch our neighbors and friends who are genuinely all around good people and respected members of the community and religious congregations until they come out as gay. Then suddenly they end up marked with the scarlet letter branded into their foreheads. I could never understand how people's opinions change so quickly about a person after finding out their sexual preference went against the norm. The person themselves didn't change... other than they may have felt mildly more liberated after letting out one of the deepest secrets of their life!


As i've continually stood up for my friends the self-righteous and judgmental members of my community would quote me 2 scriptures:

^{Leviticus 18:22:" (22)} Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."

Leviticus 20:13: "(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."

I even had a former bishop tell me once that as a culture and as a church of God, "we are becoming too tolerant and too accepting of the gay lifestyle." I'm sorry, but when as a human race are we ever TOO tolerant and accepting of anyone? Especially in an organization that preaches acceptance, love one another, thou shalt not judge and so on and so forth. Christ himself was constantly seen with the lepers, the rejects and the sinners- without casting judgement or doubt, he loved each and everyone of them completely, no questions asked- so why is it a double standard for us when we're taught from a young age to try to be like Jesus.


One of my favorite songs growing up in church was this:

"I'm trying to be like Jesus;

I'm following in his ways.

I'm trying to love as he did,

In all that i do and say.

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,

But i try to listen as the still small voice whispers:

Love one another as Jesus loves you

Try to show kindness in all that you do

Be gently and loving in deed and in thought

For these are the things Jesus taught.

I'm trying to love my neighbor

I'm learning to serve my friends

I watch for the day of gladness

When Jesus will come again

I try to remember the lessons he taught

Then the Holy Spirit enters my thoughts, saying:

Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought

For these are the things Jesus taught."

Its a sad day when your faith, spirituality and trust in the members and leaders of religion start becoming questioned in your mind because of the contrasting principles found throughout the scriptures and talks. 

'Leviticus 18:29-- says regarding all offenders: "Whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people"

Yet both Matthew and John say something else entirely:

John 13:34- " (34)A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Mathew 22:37-39- "(37)Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38)This is the first and great commandment. (39)And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

I personally prefer the last 2... be a good person, dont rape or kill or steal... work hard and dont live off of my taxes... dont cheat... and we'll get along fine, no matter if you believe in God, dont believe in God, are LGTBQQI, straight, rich, poor, whatever.

While going through my sexual assault counseling training we covered this very topic. My very favorite exercise is included below. This questionnaire written by Martin Rochmlin, Ph.D ©1972 was asked to each of us individually and puts the entire gay and lesbian lifestyle into a better perspective.

Read each question asked incessantly to the gay members of our community and consider how asinine each inquiry really is when switched around to fit the 'norm' lifestyle:

1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?

2. When and how did you first decide you were a heterosexual?

3. Is it possible your heterosexuality is just a phase you may grow out of?

4. Could it be that your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?

5. If you’ve never slept with a person of the same sex, how can you be sure you wouldn’t prefer that?

6. To whom have you disclosed your heterosexual tendencies? How did they react?

7. Why do heterosexuals feel compelled to seduce others into their lifestyle?

8. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality? Can’t you just be what you are and keep it quiet?

9. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual men. Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual male teachers, pediatricians, priests, or scoutmasters?

10. With all the societal support for marriage, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?

11. Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?

12. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don’t you fear s/he might be

inclined to influence you in the direction of her/his own leanings?

13. With the sexually segregated living conditions of military life, isn’t heterosexuality

incompatible with military service?

14. How can you enjoy an emotionally fulfilling experience with a person of the other sex when there are such vast differences between you? How can a man know what pleases a woman sexually or vice-versa?

15. Shouldn’t you ask your far-out straight cohorts, like skinheads and born-agains, to keep

quiet? Wouldn’t that improve your image?

16. Why are heterosexuals so promiscuous?

17. There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to. After all, you never deliberately chose to be a heterosexual, did you? Have you considered aversion therapy or Heterosexuals Anonymous?

I hope you enjoyed that little exercise!

Xo

-Reesa