Americans vote in their first african-american president (a symbol of tolerance and hope for the world) and in the same moment they ban gay marriage in three states, and even ban same-sex couples from adopting children in Arkansas! One step forward, and four backwards.

The same-sex marriage debate has been going on for some time, but preventing same sex couples from adopting children is a new low – the saddest, most ignorant and intolerant outcome I have ever seen. This from the same state whose state fruit and vegetable are the tomato, home of Bill Clinton and model of racial integration.

These so-called “religious conservatives” are giving Christianity, humanity and religion in general a bad name – time for a refresher course on the top 10 reasons why gay marriage is wrong.

“There is enough of the population that is alarmed at the general breakdown of the family, that has been so inundated with images of homosexual relationships in all of the media,” said Mr. Hunter, who gave the benediction at the Democratic National Convention this year, yet supported the same-sex marriage ban in his state. “It’s almost like it’s obligatory these days to have a homosexual couple in every TV show or every movie.”

*sigh*

* NYT – Bans in 3 States on Gay Marriage

* Flag photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamison/3005985912/ (flag flying at half mast in Castro, San Francisco on Wednesday 5th November 2008).

Tags: Religion, sexuality

Jeffrey Nielsen, a part-time instructor at Brigham Young University and a practising Mormon, will lose his job after he questioned the leaders of the Mormon church on their stance against gay marriage (The Salt Lake Tribune : BYU instructor let go for questioning LDS stand on gay marriage).
Leaders of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (wikipedia) want members to support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, something Jeffrey believes is immoral and wrong. He stated his views in an op-ed work he wrote for The Salt Lake Tribune: LDS authority and gay marriage.

A perfect God does not require blind obedience, nor does He need unthinking loyalty. Freedom of conscience is a divine blessing, and our privilege to express it is a moral imperative.

I agree with his viewpoint and think his article is great, and respect Jeffrey for publicly standing his ground over his beliefs. As Jeffrey says, Science is well on its way towards proving that same-sex attraction is biologically based (see news article “Sexual orientation of men determined before birth” – Reuters, 27th June 2006)… and the Mormon church has in the past overlooked it’s own polygamy issues despite what the Bible says about a union between a man and a woman (singular), so surely this is hypocritical?

Truly, God would be unjust if He were the creator of a biological process that produced such uncommon, yet perfectly natural results, and then condemned the innocent person to a life of guilt, while denying him or her the ordinary privileges and fulfillment of the deep longing in all of us for family and a committed, loving relationship.

I am a Christian (but definitely not a Mormon :-) who strongly believes that God deliberately created and loves each and every one of us – straight or gay, sinner or saint – and His kingdom is open to all believers.
From Blurbomat – Mormons to Professor: “Later” (the comments are worth reading :)

Tags: Religion, sexuality