What are you willing to do as a Christian or otherwise to end discrimination and violence toward LGBT people?

Question

Ok I’ve heard the scriptures and so on, please don’t reiterate them for me…what I really want to know is how are we going to end the discrimination and violence, something I am hoping most of us can agree is not acceptable. It seems that the belief and teaching that homosexuality is wrong to such an extensive degree and marketing it as more of an abomination then any other sin listed in the bible is only perpetuating the problem. Openly gay people face the threat of being beaten up or murdered, refusal of employment and places to live, and loss of parental and community support simply because that they are known to be homosexual.
Hate the sin love the sinner? How can we effectively separate the two and actively put this into practice? How can we show the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community that they are loved and accepted by the rest of humanity? Condemning their actions isn’t working, obviously, otherwise they wouldn’t still be crying out for love and acceptance (just a note here: not all transgender people are homosexual and there are LGBT people that are Christian). So, where do we start? In the classroom where young minds are forming? Instead of teaching that homosexuality is ok since it seems some Christians are very opposed to the idea, will you as a person or a Christian be willing to support or initiate a movement for schools to teach kids that it is not ok to harass, beat up, or discriminate against LGBT people (or anyone for that matter), that everyone deserves respect regardless of their differences, and that no one has the right to enforce their religious beliefs on others? Would you be willing to put pressure on teachers and authorities not to condone or ignore this kind of harmful behavior? If so, would you be willing to also promote teaching this not only in schools, but in churches, and (or at least) around the family table? Would you be willing to oppose religious leaders who televise and publish anti-gay material? If not, what other ideas or suggestions do you have on how we might solve this problem?
Please be reasonable. Don’t offer that they should just keep quiet and go back into the closet as a solution. This is teaching people not to speak the truth.

And remember, if human beings are treated with respect, they often respond in kind.

Answer 1

I personally raise my children to understand that no matter how we feel about a person or any of their beliefs it is not ok to hurt them physically, or emotionally. We are all God's children. I believe that this must be taught by the parents. However I would NOT permit my sons to attend any class that treated homosexuality as normal. Sorry but I do not believe that!

Answer 2

I had a thought. what if the human DNA could tell when the world is over populated and can make the adjustment. There is only 35 percent of the oxygen in the atmosphere and only 35 percent the nutrition in our food that there was at the turn of the 20th century, so I asked a friend,,. a non church going straight man who believes the world is over populated and does not want children, I asked what if homosexuality was an answer to population control, it's better than wars famine. And all sorts of natural disasters. He opened the bible to Romans 1:2_ and after some discussion and later that day he asked "why would god condemn gays if he created them? it doesn't make sense" I found that an amazing connection so many hypocrites at the podium can't make.I like it when things make sense and I want to clear up some confusion so listen up, this is the kind of stuff that holds up in court.There's only one place you can find any possible mention of this astronomical mistake, the only bigger mistake was the church burning controversial gospels in the second century. There is no backup or support to it anywhere else, it's not in all versions, there is no irrefutable evidence of this proposition and because of this mistake, the story has been largely misunderstood for a very long time. It is very important to keep in mind that Jesus never said a word about it, good or bad, and it's always best to follow his example and what's consistent throughout the Bible and all the versions, and remembered at the podium when speaking of Gods love for ALL his children, and if one says gays are not Gods children, one is taking an awful chance come judgment day and should remember Gods directive re judgment. These days there are acceptance issues and yes you can be gay and stay in complete abeyance of the Ten Commandments, Gods complete set of laws, nothing missing, and the complete moral code in a nutshell that says nothing about homosexuality, including those commandments pertaining to sexual morality. As long as a relationship is loving and committed it is good in God's eyes; moral and Safe, and those are the only two requirements for marriage and the rest can be extrapolated from that and Gods laws. To clarify, if it isn’t in the Ten Commandments you have to think twice if it's a sin and it still ain't.Also keep in mind there are extreme difficulties at times when translating and you can't help but loose something, i.e. an accent, an inflection . . .So in Genesis 19: there are two words in a list of sinners that the authorities could not nail, they are "Arsenekoiti" and "Malakos", so someone thought they were smart by putting in homosexual; not found in Gods laws, and look at the damage done!!! Now there are a bunch of gays believing a lie that they're sinners and the natural course of action is to forsake religion and find God's laws unworthy, and therefore, go ahead and sin perpetuating the gay stereotype of sex out of wedlock that people see when they read of sexual immorality in the bible, so now there is AIDS. I see two commandments pertaining to sexual morality, neither exclusive to gays but both apply to any lifestyle, one commandment redundant and neither mention anything other than sex outside of marriage. And more damage, our society has placed so much shame on it with so much ridicule that there are statistics on how many teens commit suicide after discovering their sexuality because it's such a disgraceful, despicable thing that you're better off dead!!! God sure has a lot of forgiving to do, how can he keep up? And further, you've heard, "I ain't crazy, I ain't seein' no shrink" Sound familiar? Perfectly Designed To Throw Shame In Getting Help Too! so the poor kids have no way out but the permanent way out! How much damage must our society destroy itself with shame? Statistic; 97% of all marriages could have been saved with a little counseling so there is more shame in getting help and less shame in getting a divorce!!! and you know how that affects our children too!So you see how people single this out and run with it and look how it got so blown out of population that people still have the crazy ides that the story is about a town full of homoes that want sex this guy who just blew in, sight unseen even, and this will look like a form of mass insanity, showing a low opinion and expectation of other people when you see the story is really about a traveler that came to a town that just didn't have the hospitality or courtesy to leave the poor sob alone to rest from his travels.Now consider this, the moral code has not changed in the time since the story, how could human behavior change so radically? How could there ever be a town of nothing but homosexuals? And at a time it seems that homosexuality was too rarely an issue?, So with the confusion over the word "yara," there are two reasons those people would be out there, one is to get to know him, the other is the whole town wanted sex with him sight unseen. The later sounds a little preposterous and the former is just human nature carried a little too far. Romans 8:28 PS Those who say homosexuality is unnatural sure don't know the birds and the bees and the rest of the animal kingdom too so don't forget they are God's creations too. And notice other cultures around the world where it is just as normal as the birds and the bees

Answer 3

1. Confront people who make anti-gay slurs. Let them know that the fun stops when people are actually discriminated against, threatened, harassed and marginalized by society. Homophobia is GAY.

2. Insist that people who call themselves Christians pay attention to the WHOLE Bible and not just the parts that illustrate and justify sexism and bigotry as it relates to modern day gay Christians who are likely either celibate or in loving, committed relationships. Are you a Paulian, a Patrician, or a CHRISTIAN? What do you really worship people?

3. Get involved in a charity or political campaign directly or indirectly involved in helping LGBT.

4. Laugh and remember that we're all humans and we all make mistakes. It will be a great day when sexism, racism, sin and evil are all annihilated from the human condition, but until then we have to love and forgive one another.

Answer 4

You will never end discrimination against those who are different. Be they gay, black,disabled or look different from the seething mass of protoplasm called humans. You cannot make a silk purse from a sows ear, yes that is in the Bible. I am a Christian but not a Bible basher. This subject on the acceptance of gay people has been going on since Adam was a boy, nothing has changed except promiscuous gays have managed to spread aids across the globe. There will always be a majority rule and that is hetrosexuals. I am gay but choose not to be involved with same sex. I feel if I cannot look the majority in the face without them talking behind my back and judging me for what? I was born this way. So, there you have it; nothing will change because we are not accepted and we do have choices, I chose God first.

Answer 5

You bring up some great points here and I share some of your sentiments in relation to discrimination and judgment. It is wrong to openly condemn anyone or treat them differently.

But when it comes to loving the sinner. We need to treat this as we would any other issue we don't agree with. We focus on the issue, not on the person. That is where judgment goes wrong. We openly condemn the person for doing something we don't agree with. It is never acceptable to treat a person with disrespect, even if they do something we don't like.

As a Christian, I firmly believe that it is up to God to do the judging. That is NOT my job. However, no one has the right to tell me what my family should approve or not approve of. As a parent, I do have the right to teach my children that being in a same sex relationship is wrong. If my children were to come to me and say they are lesbian or gay, I would still love them. I would NOT be happy with their choice, but if they were adults and living out of my home I would still love them just the same. Just don't expect me to approve of the behavior.

We teach our kids to love everyone, gay, lesbian, black, Mexican, white, rich, poor; all are part of God's creation. However, where I do have a problem is the acceptance arena. For instance, a pastor should have the right to refuse to marry a couple, and if that minister feels that gay marriage is wrong, they should have that right to refuse to marry a couple.

Answer 6

On a personal level meaning self, family and freinds Ithey know where I stand and I try hard to teach tot he point of changing others view points and behavior. From the words perspective no sin is greater than another thus while like God I may hate the sin I am to love the person. That does not mean I will back off the truth of what the scripture says on any given subject. That said ,I sit on no church pews any longer instead I try hard to walk with God and let him take the lead if its time to speak on a subject that may be difficult for the hearer. In my expereince if I walk with God at the helm so to speak so that when its time to speak to whom ever on whatever subject its myheart wrapped in the love of God talking by inspiritation I hope so that hearts get blessed. Its the love of God that I am responsible to give and live. Noone will know Christ unless its his actions, his hands , his eyes, his heart etc... behind mine and my love. I take the place of the absent Christ until his return so its my job as it is all christians to teach the love of God and if thats done just keep going from there one day at a time and change should happen. Change always happens as individual hearts step up to the plate and determine to do the right thing by people.
Ever notice if there is only one street lamp on a while block that the street is not dark at night? I am to love, period . Thts my light and it will have an impact in others lives and homes so if we each one put this on in our worlds then it will change. At least taht is my experience. If a man or woman gets to the place in the word or in loving God whre they want to do the most they can then they will have to deal with the issue of homosexuality and the scriptures in thier own hearts and lives, its not my job to judge hearts nor to legislate morality in any way. Its simply to love the person big like I want loved. Sometimes love means hearing things we dont like though but its never cruel.

Answer 7

I agree with you (though, honestly, i did not read word by word because it is too long!).
Here are my thoughts:
* the issue of being LGBT is a sin or not is not the focus here
* even if being LGBT is a sin, this does not justify discrimination
* we all have sins; maybe were are clever enough being discrete about the, this does not give us the right to crucify people or discriminate against them for coming out to the light
* we are no gods to judge each other
* regardless of our religions, nationalities, gender, beliefs, orientation, race, cultures, etc, we have to tolerate and respect each other
* we need to leave our differences to Allah, He is the One to say the final word about them on Judgement Day, and have mercy on each other
* if we believe being LGBT is a sin; why don't we support the 'sinner' and help them quit, instead of cursing them?

I definitely agree with you that people rise to expectations and respond positively to being treadted respectfully and humanly.

May Allah bless us all

Answer 8

And remember, if human beings are treated with respect, they often respond in kind.

false idealist phrase...

but to answer you questions...it seems Christianity is under attack in america...not physically but socially...by many liberal groups and gay marriage which doesn't respect those in the Christian faith...and Christians can show that they love the sinner but hate the sin...but they can't be accepted totally...sorry...
Proverbs 29
1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Titus 3:9-11 (New International Version)
9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Answer 9

Lead by example! We are suppose to live like Jesus did when he was on earth! There for, we should not judge, or "beat some one up" bec of there sexuality... we should love them, and treat them as we would any other person! Though I do feel it is wrong for it to be 2 males, or 2 females.. they are still great people! Just confused! Most have had a horrible past! But what can we do to help them? Nothin, except live by example... they are not going to listen to us, i mean seriously, how many people ACTUALLY listen to someone telling you that you are wrong and horrible for somthin u are doing or someone you are with!? Exactly! And you said that there are some "Christians" whom are homo. ? How can that be? How can you serve God when you do not believe in the Bible 100%? Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve... Adam and Eve not Hannah and Eve! Not tryin to judge or anything... but that is my opinion... but like i said, lead by example, take one step at a time! We'll get there!

Answer 10

Pray for them that they repent of their sins. God will make a move their life and end their gayness. Satan has corrrupted their soul with this desire to commit acts against God. This is truth. The Bible clearly states homosexuality is a sin at various places in both Testaments of the Bible. So, good Christians should do nothing to help gay rights. Amen.

Answer 11

The only way to end ANY discrimination is through education, not by religious teachings. Once ignorance is taken care of then tolerance will start to replace the vacancy made by the lack of ignorance. It is ignorance, and fear that are the parents of discrimination. Destroy the source and it will no longer be fed. I am a victim of the above mentioned discrimination, I want so much to be able to marry my partner but here in CA, it is not legal. I am also a vicitm of religious discrimination as well, I am a witch.

Please people educate yourselves and make the worlds I.Q level raise above that of moron. You have nothing to fear and only understanding to gain.