Gay Rights and the Bible

One of the most contentious issues of our present day is gay rights. Certain people are of the opinion that the union of same sex couples is immoral and sinful. The question then becomes a matter of why they see it that way. Based on my observations and experiences it seems that religious institutions create moral barriers between the gay community and the rest of society. Although religion is not solely responsible for homophobic attitudes that are pervasive in society, many of the church's traditions and Biblical scriptures are the basis of the unequal treatment of homosexuals. Specifically, the problem stems from the fact that many passages in the Bible can be interpreted as condemning homosexuality. My qualm is that condemning homosexuality contradicts the principle Biblical message that God's love is ever-forgiving and accepting.

This journal was inspired by a conversation I had with the wife of a minister who feels that the union of same sex couples and equal rights for homosexuals are both unacceptable in the eyes of God. I find myself strongly opposed to her views and believe that she does not comprehend the love that can exist between two people of the same gender. Nor does she understand the added struggles that same sex couples face on a daily basis, due to the prejudiced society in which they live. Her ignorance did not anger me, because I was once like her.

My opinion changed the day that my mother, who was a devoted Roman Catholic announced to me that she was leaving my father for another woman. After twenty five years of marriage to my father and what felt like a complete divergence from the mother I had grown up with throughout my childhood existence, I found myself in a state of shock. Many things changed for me from that moment on. I began to question everything. I came to realize the ignorance of certain people who, despite having known my mother for even longer than I have, disrespectfully turned their back on her. However, there were others who were not at all bothered by the change in my mother's lifestyle. These people know my mother for the beautiful person that she is and embrace her ability to be true to herself. I believe that she has changed the opinions of many people who are involved in her life, including my own. I believe God wanted her to convey an important message of love to the world.

I consider myself a Christian, but the God or Jesus I believe in loves all the wonderful creatures of the world. Love is not a crime or a sin. If God were as mighty as some perceive him to be and did not want homosexuality to exist, God would not let it happen. If a person were to analyze the role of homosexuality on a global scale they would realize that it is a way to slow down exponential population growth, because procreation presents added challenges for homosexuals. If we were to grant them permission to adopt, we could solve a lot of social problems involving children who are being raised by unfit parents. Acknowledging these realities is the first step towards rectifying social problems by allowing love to flourish. My mother did an excellent job raising me and I believe that her partner would have raised me as well as did my father.

I believe the Bible needs to be revised to preclude any interpretation that homosexuality is sinful. An epiphany of understanding needs to occur first among our religious institutions and second among society as a whole. The church is currently losing followers. It must change some of its views to adapt to our changing times and should become more accepting. A belief is a powerful thing and it takes a great deal of energy to change one. As a society we need to start building the momentum towards creating a more understanding, compassionate, egalitarian society.