So, after sitting on this nearly a year...

[nbaeker]

I've decided that it's time to post something from an email I sent. The scenario is this: the guy who was our speaker at camp last summer is a friend of mine on facebook. After a particularly intense discussion about GLBT rights, he made a comment that.. well it was too much. I have a large *large* number of friends who are gay and who are

Comments

[mmc12]

That was really well thought out and I admire you for sending it. Our best "couple" friends (the ones we trade babysitting with and spend lots of time with, our kids are the same ages) are two married women. Where we live, they are as legally married as we are, but it takes a lot of courage, even in our relatively tolerant area

[karate0kat]

This is amazing and you should be proud of standing up for what you believe in.

I had a hard time, for a very long time, marrying my religious beliefs and my political beliefs. I dealt with it by not dealing with it. I ignored it.

And then I read a memoir by Mel White. Are you familiar with him at all? He's a gay pastor who spent years in the closet, ghost writing for people like Jerry Falwell. His memoir, Stranger At The Gate: To Be Gay and Chrisitan in America, is a real eye opener. He talks about he struggled with it for years, even as he dedicated his whole life to the study of the bible and the worship of God, got married and had children. How he tried different therapies and nearly killed himself. But in the end he came to terms with who he is.

His interpretation of the bible is very much in line with yours, for the most part. He runs, or helps run, Soulforce, an organization that aims to stop the religious and political persecution of the GLBTQ community. There's a great booklet he wrote called What the Bible

[fiery_flamingo]

This was everything I've ever tried to say and beautifully written. I'm really proud that you took the time to create such a well thought out argument. Hopefully, something in there struck a chord with A.

Same as you, I believe that people are people. Sometimes, I use those words with cynicism but on the whole I believe that all people deserve equal treatment and respect, even those we don't necessarily understand.

While at Cottey (which had a comparatively large gay community) in Missouri, I had the dubious honor of coming in contact with a group of Westboro Baptist Church protesters. And I may be a lapsed Christian but I couldn't see the love of God in any of that. I just feel sorry that they live in such a narrow, hate-filled world.

*hugs*

[eustacia_vye28]

Your letter is well thought out, well researched and respectful. I really appreciate how your reply is in the spirit of debate, while A's statements that are referenced are more ad hominem attacks and opinion.

Honestly? God is supposed to be about love. And that goes for EVERYONE, not just a select few. God made everyone in His image, and IMHO that would include homosexuals.

[magic_at_mungos]

Wow that is very well written.

[nbaeker]

Thanks.