By now, I'm sure that many of those reading this blog, or on the facebook blog page, have read the story of the North Carolina maniac, disguised as a pastor, who told his congregation to physical abuse their young children if they thought they were beginning to show homosexual tendencies. That's right! In his words, "I give you a special dispensation this morning to..." crack the perceived limp wrists of their very young boy if they thought he was showing homosexual tendencies. "Man up". He also urged them to PUNCH the boy.
I have to pause for a moment to regain my composure and dignity.
What's worse is the "congregation" he was delivering the "sermon" to were laughing, cheering, and offering their "amen" to the words of this barbarian. I'm guessing that advocating the harm of a child isn't a crime in North Carolina. Or, is that ok "as long as it's done for religious, political, or philosophical beliefs."?
My mind wants to go back to the person who "Anonymously" posted a comment last month to one of the blog entries who said that it was "absolutely absurd" to blame religious and political "leaders" for what's going on in this country, and around the world, today when it comes to the LGBT community and, in particular, the LGBT youth. Those words don't go away. I seeth every time they replay in my mind.
It doesn't get any clearer than this: what we're witnessing right now in this country is an all-out war against the LGBT community. Keep in mind, as well, that there was also recent a "DJ", DJ Dominic Dieter, who went on record as telling a father that he should get one of his friends to screw his lesbian daughter straight. For a nation so obsessed with terrorism, and the threat thereof (and, rightfully so), it's interesting that groups who publicly wage war against a segment of our population aren't considered domestic terrorists. To be fair, I will add that a number of these maniacs are, in fact, listed as hate groups. Wouldn't you, as a Christian, be just a little leery about going to a church that is listed as a hate group? Well, yes, of course you would. That is, of course, unless your mind is as warped as those who lead these "churches".
Here's the issue in plain black and white: we are in the fight of our lives, as a community, right here and right now. At stake is our freedom, as a community, as "they" systematically attempt to erase all gains that have been made over the past few years as it pertains to marriage equality and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. WORSE, what's at stake is the very lives of the LGBT teens from coast-to-coast and border-to-border as we see one political and/or religious "leader" after another all but say "we don't care that they're killing themselves. If they'd stop being LGBT, they'd feel better about themselves and wouldn't commit suicide." We need to let them know that this is 100% unacceptable. From this constant attack, led by highly visible "leaders" comes the mentality of the young ones that it's okay, and even expected of them, to bully those they perceive to be LGBT.
I get a little emotional about this.
This just shows what we're up against. It shows that we need to fight harder, with even more conviction, and we need every single available voice to speak up loudly and clearly. The message needs to be crystal clear: we are NOT second-class citizens; we are NOT mistakes; we ARE equal in every sense of the word; and, God's opinion of me and my life is between me and God. Being gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender has NOTHING to do with the quality of our character. We are PEOPLE, first and foremost.
Spread the word. Every voice is needed...right now!
