A leopard don't change his spots, Jimmy.

[taste_is_sweet]

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but:

This is beautifully written but very sad Huffington Post blog by Linda Robertson, about how she learned to truly love her gay son, but too late to save his life.

Initially, Ms. Robertson and her husband told their son Ryan that they loved him no matter what, but that he needed to reconcile his sexuality with the teachings of Jesus and the expectations of God. But because it's impossible to change how you're born, naturally all the prayer and good intentions in the world couldn't make Ryan 'normal'. Ryan eventually became a drug addict to numb his self-loathing.

Shortly before Ryan died of an overdose, his parents realized that having their child home, safe and well was far, far more important than his sexuality. They also came to the conclusion that if God wouldn't change Ryan's sexuality, than maybe it was because Ryan had been born exactly as had been intended.

I have deistic leanings though I don't believe in God, but even so it seems eminently logical that if an all-powerful, perfect being keeps dropping humans onto this overcrowded planet, then whatever way we're born is how we should be. To me this is as obvious and indelible as needing oxygen. God doesn't make mistakes, right? Right.

The problem is that a lot of--far too many--people think that God's repertoire is limited. That somehow the supreme being who gave us Sunflower Sea Stars and Echidnas could only figure out binary sexuality and gender when it comes to Hir supposedly favourite creations. So God doesn't make mistakes, but we can somehow choose to be mistakes. Which doesn't even make any sense--why would anyone choose to live in a way that most people still abhor?

They wouldn't, and they don't. But children (and adults) are still dying because of the pain of denying who they are or trying to change it. I'm sure that's not what God wants. Too bad humans are far more fallible.

Comments

[sdkshelly.livejournal.com]

I know when I came out, most of my family ignored it (extended family--my brother and mom were like "and?" basically, lol), but my closest Aunt told me that she still loved me despite my lifestyle choice. I think for her and a lot of my family, they see it as something to overcome, like the urge to cheat on a spouse, have premarital sex, steal money or whatever. A challenge that God has given me to overcome with his help to deny my sexual identity. Obviously I disagree and am thankful that my mom is supportive and that I have her. But basically my point is, they don't see it as a mistake, but with this twisted logic, still something to condemn.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

That's a fascinating concept, that being homosexual could be a 'challenge' to overcome. I suppose it's better than thinking of homosexuality as a 'sin', but I like how you call it: twisted logic. I'm so glad that your brother and mother don't think that!

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

That story just gutted me. How I hope it reaches some that might end up on that path. :-(

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's horrible, isn't it? D: It would be wonderful if it can help other parents to realize how they really should be thinking about their precious children.

[alizarin-nyc.livejournal.com]

he needed to reconcile his sexuality with the teachings of Jesus and the expectations of God.

For years I struggled with depression and OCD related to the fact that I (a heterosexual woman) could not reconcile my desire to have sex before marriage with the "teachings of Jesus and the expectations of God." It was very damaging.

If LGBT folk are faced with this issue, then I think any "fornicator" should be as well, as it's the same in the Bible. That sort of hypocrisy drove me away from the church.

But I do feel much better now.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you feel better now! I find it astonishing that the idea of wanting to have sex would be considered so terrible.

[natsuko1978.livejournal.com]

As a Christian (of one description) this sort of thing really gets my goat. One of the core principles of Christianity is that we are ALL flawed and ALL fall short. A principle of Christian doctrine is that only one person has ever walked the Earth who committed no sin - and by his death he blotted out all our sins - in propitation for the whole world, that all things may be united under God.

I do not believe that homosexuality is a sin, myself. I think sin is something that hurts yourself, or other people, or your relationship with the Universe/God/goodness/whatever you think the most important thing is. Homophobia is a sin.

Why do people focus on the "thou shalt nots" and "abominations" which are listed in the Bible text? Many of them only make any kind of sense in the *human* context of the Israelites or early Christians anyway - the attempt to create a society/culture that differed from those around it.

Why not focus on "God is Love"? And "whoever loves, knows God"? Why not look at the beam in your own eye before trying to remove the speck from your brother or son? Why not cite, "Judge not, lest ye be judged" and "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not is us, but if we confess our sin God is faithful and just to forgive sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"? How can you say you love God - whom you have never seen - and yet hate one of His children?

Sorry - didn't mean to write a sermon or preach to the choir... but, like you, I feel so, so strongly about this.

[taste-is-sweet.livejournal.com]

I think sin is something that hurts yourself, or other people, or your relationship with the Universe/God/goodness/whatever you think the most important thing is. Homophobia is a sin.

Beautifully put. And feel free to preach to the choir anytime. I enjoy your eloquent and thoughtful views.