I am a Christian in support of equal rights for homosexuals. Almost. You'll have a hard time convincing me that homosexuals may marry. In my thinking, marriage is religious. Without going out on a tangent, I also think people who aren't religious should not be allowed to marry either. Rather there should be a state-sanctioned "civil union", or whatever you want to call it, that affords homosexuals and those who choose to become life partners in an unreligious ceremony the same economic benefits of marriage.
What sort of economic benefits? Taxes, insurance, and the ability to leave assets to a life partner are the big ones that come to mind right now. While I might enjoy living in a nation that is governed by biblical principles, and well it is now to an extent, we live in a nation that is supposed to seperate governing and churching. This is what the first amendment says (in part): "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." Also from the 14th Amendment: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Equal protection. What is marriage? A legal union of two people? That should do for definitional purposes. Is not letting two people enter into a legal union, buy denying another two people the right to enter into a legal union, unequal protection?
I have a real problem with the right wing conservatives who are hugely anti-gay. "The Bible says God hates homosexuality." As if that proves their point. The bible says a lot more than that. You cannot use the bible as the basis of your argument against homosexuality if you are attacking the person instead of the action. That is hypocritical because you are then violating many biblical principles. Such as do not judge others or love they neighbor or one where you are supposed to take your sinning neighbor aside privately and confront them with their sin. Did Jesus not spend time with and love sinners? Didn't he spend time with thieves and sluts and liars? Didn't he accost the pharisees for their hypocracy?
What about homosexuals raising children? It is difficult if not impossible for homosexual couples to adopt children if I'm not mistaken. Yet it is ok for heterosexual men to abandon their children and not support them? (Yes I know about child support laws, but that doesn't always work.) Shouldn't the goal be to raise children in a loving and supportive environment?
I'm not convinced of this yet, but shouldn't homosexuals be allowed to be a priest or pastor? Homosexuality is a sin the same as pride is a sin. Homosexuals are no more sinful than heterosexuals.
I haven't always held these opinions. And I do think homosexuality is a sin. But I don't think we should discriminate against that.
This may not have been the most coherent, or best organized support of homosexual rights, but it's all I have for now. Think about it, would you?
"Half of the American people have never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half." -- Gore Vidal
"Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them." -- Lily Tomlin
"Beauty is only skin deep. Stupidity, however, goes all the way through." - Unknown