As I listened to the families, war heros and mainstream politicians during the San Francisco Gay Pride celebration, I am reminded how far the gay rights movement has come in the last 15 years. Yes, the Bush administration and Christian fundamentalists have tried to set the clock back on gay rights, but for the most part acceptance seems to be moving forward. Call me the "glass half full" guy!
But, for people that still hold prejudice close to their heart -- those writing the smattering of posts in the "comments section" of the Huffington Post and other news sources attacking gays, for instance -- I have a three main questions for you. This post is dedicated to you. I truly want to understand...
1. Question: I'd like to know why you think being gay is a choice. Do you think that gays purposely try to throw a wrench into the norms of society, being gay is just some type of counter culture political statement? Do you contend that homosexuality is a choice so that you can condemn gays as "unnatural," suffering from a mental illness and/or consciously "immoral?" Do bisexuals confuse you because they seem to have a choice about who they prefer?
From the American Psychological Association:
Is Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?
No. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem. Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that homosexuality, in and itself,is not associated with mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information. In the past the studies of gay, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue.What Causes a Person To Have a Particular Sexual Orientation?
There are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation; most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality. In summary, it is important to recognize that there are probably many reasons for a person's sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people.Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?
No, human beings can not choose to be either gay or straight. Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed.Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?
No. Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy, sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable.
In addition to what the American Psychological Association says, gays themselves say that they do not choose their orientation. Why would someone choose to be ostracized from their family, friends, work, church and society? Are they just confused?
The vast majority of "conversion" therapies have been failures. Those that have been "successful" have been on bisexuals being able to suppress their similar attraction to the same sex. Covering up ones true sexuality never "solves" anything and the poor children and wives that end up being hurt in the process is no trade off for someone trying to suppress their true nature. Good luck Pastor Ted Haggard!
There is no one social or family thread (IE: distant father and/or dominant mother) amongst all the cultures through the ages that defines homosexuality. Homosexuality has been found in every culture, tribe and social group throughout human history.
When analyzing families where gays grew up, social scientists have found their families mirror the general population. Some have one parent (mother or father), some have dominant fathers and weak mothers, some have dominant mothers and weak fathers, some come from completely loving and balanced households, some come from abusive backgrounds, etc. There are no common social threads amongst gay people. If you know any gay people, ask them about their families... you will hear a variety of backgrounds, simple as that!
And, what about all the new biological and genetic evidence that is currently being discovered (The Biological Basis of Homosexuality)? If a clear biological cause is found (IE: the "gay gene"), will you apologize and take back the hate?
2. Question: Why do you think being gay is unnatural?
It is an undisputed fact that homosexuality is found in thousands of other species (two of many scientific sources include: Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity and The Natural "Crime Against Nature"). If homosexuality is found throughout nature then doesn't that make it natural for humans too? Doesn't that mean that God makes gay people just as he made gay animals? Or, did the homosexual baboon have a distant mother causing him to be gay?
It's not natural for all of a species to be strictly gay, of course. It is natural for some of a species to be gay, otherwise the world would be overrun with them. "All mammals instinctively form a natural bond with their surrounding environment. you humans do not." (agent Smith, in the Matrix). Has anyone thought that since this planet is so dangerously overpopulated that homosexuality is part of natural selection. If population rates increase like they have been, we're all in big trouble. What we need is more people not reproducing. No one is logically going to be able to tell me that we are in danger of dying off as a species because homosexual couples are getting together, therefore not reproducing.
3. Question: I still don't understand why so many Christians are against gays. Did Jesus say anything against homosexuals? And, what's up with Sodom? Rev. Michael S. Piazza has an answer, here it is:
"A chief text for condemnation of homosexuality has been the Sodom story. This story has often been interpreted as showing God's abhorrence of homosexuality. In the story, two angels in the form of men were sent to Sodom to the home of Lot. While they were there, all the men of the city, "both young and old, surrounded the house -- everyone without exception," and demanded that the visitors be brought out, "so that we might know them" (verse 5). Lot begged the men to leave his guests alone and take his daughters instead. The men of the city became angry and stormed the door. As a result, they were all struck blind by the angels.
There are several problems with the traditional interpretation of this passage. Whether or not the intent of the men of Sodom was sexual, the inhospitality and injustice coming from the mob and generally characterizing the community were "the sin of Sodom". Jesus himself refers to the inhospitality of Sodom. If, indeed, the men were homosexuals, then why would Lot offer them his daughters? What is threatened here is rape. The significant point then is that all rape is considered horrible by God. The story deserves another reading by all of us.
It should be noted that all of the men of Sodom could not have been homosexual or there would have been no need to destroy them since they would have all died off with no heirs. Quite likely they were a mixed group of evil men attempting to be abusive to people who were different. Ironically, lesbian and gay people are often the victim of that sin.
Although the traditional interpretation of the Sodom story fails as an argument against homosexuality, there are several other Old Testament passages which do condemn homosexual acts. Again, it should be noted that these passages do not deal with same-sex orientation, nor is there any references to genital love between lesbian or gay persons."
And, let me also point out that the God of the Bible also condemns people who eat crustaceans and people who wear clothes made of more than one fabric. Who's more likely to have worn dacron-polyester? A gay man or a Christian fundamentalist? This same God seems to have absolutely no problems with lesbians. Why is that? Are they not threatening enough to the power structure?
Another question, I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as it suggests in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
Wow! I guess I have way more questions for people against gays then I thought... I'm running out of space. The arguments against gays seem so illogical that they confuse me. Maybe someone can convince me with a logical argument as to why gays are bad. Until then, Happy Pride!