When I was growing up, I heard words like "queer," "fag," and the like with regard to gays and lesbians.
I heard them, but I didn't listen.
Do you know what I mean? There are things that children hear growing up that they know deep in their hearts is wrong.
Around the internet this week, there has been a lot of talk about discrimination, intolerance and hatred towards the gay community. It seems that Kirk Cameron, among others, felt it necessary to speak out against the evils of homosexuality.
He said something to the effect that homosexuality was unnatural. He went on to say that gay marriage was detrimental to society.
Well...my personal opinion?
Firstly, the sexuality of others is none of his damn business.
Secondly, the last time I checked, I've never heard of anyone choosing to be gay. (Regardless of what some right-wing crazies may think)
I have gay friends and family members. In Miami, being gay doesn't have the attached social stigma that it has in some other places. It's still there, but it's not as strong or as frightening as it is in other places in the United States, or the world. I've grown up with gay and lesbian classmates, coworkers, bosses, etc. I have very dear friends who are gay, and we've talked about this subject at length. While it may be frowned upon by some, the general census is that if you are in gay in Miami, you don't have to fear for your life.
A family member of mine is gay and last year, he came to my home with his partner for a party. His partner, from an older generation that did not have as much of an open mind as my own, wanted to stay in the car during the party.
I was like, WHAT?! Seriously...it broke my heart that he felt that he needed to stay in his car because he was the gay boyfriend of my family member. I promptly told my family member to go get his ass in the house.
I had to explain to him that WE ARE NOT LIKE THAT.
Which led to a conversation with my family member about his sexuality. He commented that he wished he could be normal. He wished that he could be accepted by his family - because different parts of the family, from different areas of the country not as forward thinking as my own, are not as accepting, apparently. He told me that his own parent, while loving him dearly, told him time and time again that he was going to burn in hell for his sexual perversion. I let him know that the entire family didn't share that sentiment - that as far as I was concerned, homosexuality was as normal as heterosexuality.
I'm going to get real here for a minute. I don't normally like to talk about sex on this blog, because I try to keep it as family-friendly as possible. But let's be honest; the things that gay men and women do when they are being intimate - straight people do them too.
When a man performs oral on a woman, I don't see churches picketing their homes. They aren't accused of defying nature and God and a moral code. Yet, when a woman does it to another woman, she's going to burn in hell? That doesn't make sense to me.
I don't want to get graphic, but the intimate way that men are together - straight men do that to straight women too. We all know this. The pornography industry has made millions of dollars off showcasing this act.
I am not going to get into a religious discussion because while I am not religious, I once was very involved in the church and I've read the Bible. Yes, I read about Sodom and Gomorra. I know that Christians cling to this story as evidence that God doesn't like gays - but you know what I remember most about that biblical story?
A father tried to throw his virgin daughters to rapists.
I have found nowhere in the new testament where it says that homosexuality is a sin. If someone claims to be a Christian, then they should be well aware that part of the Christian faith is to believe that the life and death of Jesus Christ - and the salvation you ask for when becoming a Christian - was a new covenant between God and man - and the teachings of Jesus were supposed to replace the rules and regulations of the previous religion. This is why it really irritates me to hear people say that God hates gays - I haven't found that anywhere in the new testament, which Christians are supposed to use as a guideline for their faith.
Plain and simple, gay-bashing and intolerance makes me sick. If you personally feel that homosexuality is wrong, then that is your personal opinion, it is NOT FACT.
I see no difference between discrimination against gays and discrimination against Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc.
Hate is hate and it's time that this nonsense be put to rest.
Marianna
100% agree with you Jenn.
Sky
I've always believed that love is love. I parent the same way.
Kir Komrik
yep
Maggie Hames
It breaks my heart to hear the story of the older man who wished he could be "normal." He IS normal.
Bullgrit
In most cases of gay hating that I've seen, the problem is not so much that someone is gay as that someone is a jerk. You get a non-jerk in a room with a gay, and no problem. But you get a jerk in a room with just about anyone not exactly like them, and there's a problem.
Katie
Normal is being a good person. Normal is not calling others out or hating based on sexuality, color, religion, etc.
vicaro
i dnt hate gays nd i'll never say or do anything to hurt anyone based on their sexual dispositions but when ever d issue of being gay comes up, i have a deep rooted feelin (witout any spiritual or moral backing of course) dat this is wrong. it just doesnt sound right. my nature, my spirit will never b convinced to see homosexuality as normal bt i'm never goin to hate som1 for bein homosexual.
Sharon
100% agree. You said it all perfectly. Why can't we just love everybody regardless of race, religion and sexuality?
Not So Average Mama
Kirk Cameron stated what he believes as it is stated in the bible. He has every right to feel that way, just as you have a right to feel the opposite. I get angry when I see people getting mad because someone else has a different belief than them. He never said he hated anyone.
Shasta
My thoughts exactly! It's okay to bash Kirk for being a Christian...
Jenn
With all due respect, I did not "bash" Kirk or the fact that he is a Christian.
Shasta
Oh no Jenn, I wasn't saying you did! I am so sorry if that's what you thought. I meant the media. Please forgive me for not making that clear!!
Jenn
LOL I was like where did I bash him? 🙂 I'm glad you commented back because I don't want people to think I'm bashing Christianity! 🙂
Rachel
I'm going to play devils advocate here. If someone thinks that homosexuality is a sin and that makes it their opinion, not fact. Then how is it that your entire post reads like they are wrong for sharing their opinion?
Agree or not, Kirk Cameron has just as much right to express his beliefs and views as you do.
RJ
I am a Christian and while I do not agree with homosexuality, gays are people too. God loves everyone. And personally I believe that we are called to love everyone too.
Don't hate me for saying this, but God DOES NOT hate gays. He hates their lifestyle. I believe that a man and a woman were meant to be together. I won't quote Bible verses at ya, but if someone chooses to be gay then that is their choice.
Everyone has to choose their own path and who are we to judge them? Just because someone is gay doesn't mean that we need to stuff religion down their throats. For crying out loud Adam Lambert is gay, but I l.o.v.e his music.
Everyone is going to believe what they want to believe. And while I go on, on my blog I am actually a very open-minded person. 😀 I actually have friends who some people would consider "the most un-holy of sinners". I still love them though. Why? Because they are my friends. I'm not about to kick someone out of my life just because they do certain things.
What I find sick is that gay teenagers are killing themselves because of the bullies. I have been in their shoes and I don't care what sexual orientation they are, it is wrong. And I just want to go scream at these kids who are pushing them to the point that they believe suicide is the only option!! Lady Gaga might have some dirty lyrics, but I love how she tells everyone to be themselves. 🙂 Her music actually brought me through a very rough time in my life......
I don't think that Kirk Cameron was wrong in what he said. They asked his opinion and he gave it. Just like we are doing here. 🙂
That is just my very long take. lol
Paula
First off let me state that I am a Christian and that I agree with RJ when he stated God does not hate gays. God loves everyone no matter what. That's the whole point in Jesus dying for your sins. I may not understand the gay lifestyle because I'm straight and I'm not attracted to females but I do understand that you can't always control who you love. Anways I do think that Kirk Cameron has a right to express his opinion just like we all do. And I don't think he should apologize for his opinions because after all they are his opinions they are not proven facts. We know have the choice to either continue to listen to him or not.
Liz
It makes me a little crazy when people say that gay people "choose" to be gay. Did you choose to be straight? No. You just naturally feel attracted to the opposite sex, the same way that a gay person feels naturally attracted to the same sex.
Beth Larrabee
I agree with you Jenn 100%. Love is love... I really hate the cherry picking that goes on with religion, particularly with Christianity. How come a lot of Christians have a problem with remembering that Jesus said -"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)
RJ
Exactly Beth! 🙂
Nolie
Well now I know why my gay posts have been getting a lot of attention. I'll just sum up my view by saying I am very proud to be Canadian.