I believe Miss California-USA (Carrie Prejean) is entitled to her opinion on gay marriage. I also feel she was given unfair treatment from Perez Hilton on his website and has been attacked unfairly by some of the media. She answered Hilton's controversial question with her honest belief on the subject. I don't judge her for that or for her breast implants or her racy photos. In fact, I applaud Donald Trump for his decision to allow her to keep her crown. She should not be punished for expressing her true feelings.
However, then I read about her statement on James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio show: "I felt as though Satan was trying to tempt me in asking me this question (about gay marriage). And then God was in my head and in my heart, saying, 'Do not compromise this. You need to stand up for me.' And I knew...that it wasn't about winning. It was about being true to my convictions."
As a lesbian who was raised Baptist and was told by my church that homosexuals were ill and likened to drug addicts and criminals, I can understand where Miss Prejean is coming from. However, I had an epiphany a few years ago. I discovered Imago Dei MCC, which is a church for GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexuals, & transgendered) and their heterosexual allies. The Metropolitan Community Church was founded by Rev. Troy Perry, a gay man. What I learned from Imago Dei is that God loves me for who I am (gay) and I am not alone. So, Miss Prejean, what I say to you is God has also spoken to me and told me that He created me "Just As I Am" and He loves me and all GLBT people. I know I was born gay and therefore to call me an abomination (as some Christians do) is an insult to God.
I believe that heterosexual men wrote the Bible and to them it was a sin to sleep with someone of the same sex. For me and other gays it is a sin to sleep with someone of the opposite sex. It feels wrong, unnatural and a lie. Let me clear up one thing. I am not a man hater. I love my father, brother, nephews, and men friends. I just am not romantically attracted to the male sex.
For most of my life I tried to be straight. I was miserable. Now I feel free, empowered, and happy to be who I am. I am now being true to my convictions to express God's Will for my life. So, Miss Prejean, please don't presume to tell me that you are speaking for God when you condemn gay marriage. Maybe you dialed up an old frequency of intolerance that you were taught by heterosexual clergy or Priests that may not be God's thoughts at all.