Great strides were made in LGBT rights this year and millions whooped it up at gay pride parades all around the country in celebration. But amid the usual rainbow flags, there was an interesting new wrinkle this year: the emergence of a new Jesus.
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Great strides were made in LGBT rights this year and millions of LGBTers whooped it up at gay pride parades all around the country in celebration. But amid the usual rainbow flags, sequins, dykes on bikes and the like, there was an interesting new wrinkle to this year's events: the emergence of a new Jesus. Not the "You're-Going-to-Hell" Jesus that is represented by the usual protestors. Gays and supporters are re-claiming Jesus as their own and he loves everyone.

At Seattle's pride parade, the fabulously outspoken Mama Tits made headlines when she took to the microphone to denounce a group of disruptive anti-gay activists. One of the group's spokesmen shouted at her, "The only hope for you right now is the Lord Jesus Christ." Without missing a beat, Mama responded, "My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ loves you too and loves me just as much."

There are two Jesuses here: (1) Jesus who hates gays, and (2) "My Jesus," a much more loving Jesus who does not judge.

I kinda like the second one better.

Singer Demi Lovato also spoke of "My Jesus" when she proclaimed at LA Pride, "You don't have to hate because my Jesus loves all." Preach, gurl. We got you.

Jesus himself showed up at Chicago Pride, standing in front of demonstrators who were wielding "Homo Sex Is Sin" signs. This Jesus, wearing a rainbow necklace, waved his own sign that read: "I'm Not With These Guys."

The Marin Foundation's "I'm Sorry" campaign, also at the Chicago parade, pledged: "We are here to join the celebration and affirm God's love for everyone."

Elton John, talking about same-sex marriage in a recent interview with Sky News, also preached about this new, "I-Love-Gays" Jesus:

If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this could not happen. He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together.

Perhaps the kinder, gentler Jesus has been there all along. He got lost. His message got drowned out by the hateful "Christian" protesters at pride parades and rallies with bullhorns and megaphones spewing abhorrent statements.

The re-emergence of "Love your neighbor as yourself" message corresponds to the growing acceptance of the LGBT communities in the United States. If gays can marry and be like everyone else, for example, then maybe loving everyone equally is not so difficult a concept after all.

Hellish Jesus has not disappeared, unfortunately. This past week, Gordon "Chaps" Klingenschmitt, on his "Pray In Jesus Name" web program, denounced same-sex marriage -- in Jesus' name, of course. "These two men will appear before... the Great White Throne of Judgment, where Jesus Christ himself is sitting on the throne and issuing his determination," he declared, "and he will overrule whatever the Supreme Court said. And what will Jesus' determination be? ... Jesus, as the judge, will overrule the Supreme Court, and what will he do with these two men? It'll be printed in Heaven's newspaper in 100 years that God throws them into Hell."

WWJD with LGBT? Who knows?

Perhaps Tyler Perry knows. Tyler Perry just trademarked the phrase, "What Would Jesus Do." OMG! WTF?! The gays wrested Jesus away from the clutches of the haters long enough for Madea snatch him up.

Sigh.

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