Religious intolerance?

Bible thumpers hold Leviticus, Romans, Corinthians, and The story of sodom and gommorah as evidence that God hates homosexuality. The problem is that they are horribly misinformed, and they haven't taken the verses in context. This is because most of them depend on a pastor to decipher the verses for them. This is also because they cannot get out of their comfort zone. I have always believed that homosexuality is inate. It's inborn; hardwired, like being left or right handed. Sure, if I practice hard enough, I could probably right with my left hand, but it would never be natural to me. To the religious, however, this is not an admission they could make, even though most evidence points to this conclusion. The reason is that if they were to concede that homosexuality were inate, then they would have to admit that it is God given. THis is a fact that they cannot believe, because the "clobber verses" tell them otherwise. I'm not gay, but a number of my family members are, including my son. I've found the best way to handle misinformed bible thumpers is to throw the bible back at them. I've studied the various interpretations of the Bible since birth, since my father is a preacher. And I've studied what various gay faith groups have to say. I can talk all day about the different interpretations of scripture. I can fight them on their own battle grounds. Sure, it eventually reaches in impass, but it lends truth to words. I know as much as they do about the Bible, I just see it in a different way. A couple of excellent websites: www.gaychristians.com www.gaychristiansurvivors.com

I think it's odd how many religions preach that you shouldn't judge people, yet so many religious people are the ones doing the judging, and telling us we're going to hell. It doesn't bother me anymore that people disagree. I disagree with their religion too. What bothers me, is when people take action and commit hate crimes. Or when they use their beliefs to take away my rights.

Olaff, As a pagan and a lesbian, and an old woman who has been in the same relationship for 25 years, it has gotten much easier for me. I/We have never been people that felt the need to wear rainbows, to march in parades, or to attend festivals (not that we feel that there is anything wrong with that, it is just not for us). Our main priority was always family. We always let our neighbors and co-workers get to know us as people first and then made them aware of our relationship. By that time they knew we were good, upstanding, and contributing community people. We have had some people pass judgment, but it has not been that bad (other than the time that "DONNA MYFULLLASTNAME IS A LESBIAN" was spray painted across a main highway in blaze orange....not to mention also sprayed across the side of a vegetable/fruit market along with my phone number)! The only suggestion that I can give is for you to look for a Unitarian Universalist Church. They are welcoming of people of all faiths and of no faiths, as well as LGBT, as well as mixed race couples. The Quaker community also is another religious commmunity that has a wonderful tolerance. ~Donna

This is pretty much a daily thing for me. I am a lesbian and I live in a very religiously conservative area. I just try to live my life the best I can and hope that I can be an example of why gay people should NOT be condemed. Ultimately, if their religion tells them that I am evil and am going to hell, there is nothing that I will be able to say to make them think differently.