# I must tell you the truth: gangs are a result of same sex marriage. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 16, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663 "2004-06-16T15:15:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/1 "2004-06-16T15:15:57Z")
You didn’t know that, did you? I certainly didn’t know it; well, not until last night, anyway. I’m the co-coordinator for our neighborhood’s Crime Watch, and as such, went to a meeting last night, at the AME Church, about recent gang activity in our area. The fact that the meeting was in a church didn’t worry me; our Crime Watch has meetings in a local church all the time, in the basement. Well, this meeting was a little different. It was in the main part of the church, with the pastor of the church leading the discussion. He (the pastor) felt obliged to open the meeting with something very much like a sermon. In the sermon, he said that gangs are merely our kids, giving in to the baser, more animal sides of their nature. Well, I can agree with that. Then he said this happens because families aren’t paying enough attention; if the kids had solid families at home, they wouldn’t be looking for “families” in the gangs; ok, to some degree I can agree with that (I think it’s a gross over-simplification, but not untrue). _Then_ comes the biggie: what are kids _supposed_ to do, when we see such a break down of society that it’s acceptable for a household to be made of all women or all men??? A household, according to this gentleman (and I use the term loosely) is “ordained by God, to be made of _one man_, _one woman_, expressing their love for one another in such a way that it shall bring forth others who will worship and praise Jesus”. For one thing, it’s my distinct impression that gangs have been around for way longer than homosexuality has been somewhat acceptable; for another thing, if you’re going to have a public meeting in your church, could you dispense with the sermonizing and Bible-thumping for a couple of hours? Please? If I use all the :rolleyes: that I think this situation deserves, there will be none left for other Dopers to use later. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/2 "2004-06-16T15:21:26Z")
Yes, because the poor ghettos of Los Angeles and New York City are pits of sentiment for gay rights. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/3 "2004-06-16T15:29:34Z")
Well, given the surroundings, I guess the pastor confused the meeting with his Sunday congregation and did what came naturally. Just curious, did anyone rebut his assertions at the time he made them? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/4 "2004-06-16T15:31:01Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > if you’re going to have a public meeting in your church, could you dispense with the sermonizing and Bible-thumping for a couple of hours? Please? Did you confront him on this? I’d be surprised if you were the only one thinking it… ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/5 "2004-06-16T15:42:30Z")
Suddenly I see _[West Side Story](http://www.westsidestory.com/site/level2/lyrics/krupke.html)_ in a whole new light!Gee, Officer Krupke, we’re very upset; We never had the love that ev’ry child oughta get. We ain’t no delinquents, We’re misunderstood. Deep down inside us \! ---
**Author:** ![Brandus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/6 "2004-06-16T15:53:47Z")
> [@](#): > > if the kids had solid families at home, they wouldn’t be looking for “families” in the gangs… Maybe they could be adopted by a nice gay couple. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/7 "2004-06-16T15:58:14Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Just curious, did anyone rebut his assertions at the time he made them? Oh, I hope so… ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/8 "2004-06-16T16:07:19Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > Oh, I hope so… Although this would be satisfying, it may end up fairly ugly. I’dve gone for something like: “I recognize your beliefs and don’t wish to offend you; however, the purpose of this meeting is not to discuss the root causes of local criminal activity, but instead to discuss how we can aid law enforcement in the immediate vicinity. Tonight, I was hopeing to discuss _xyzzy_.” Try and shut him up without picking a fight in a church full of people that may very well not side with you. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/9 "2004-06-16T16:15:26Z")
Uhm, by the way you phrased what the pastor said, isn’t it possible that he was just referring to one parent broken homes? As in, these kids are being raised by a single mother, but the father should be around, too? I agree that the praising Jesus part of it is over the top, but I’m not sure that he was necessarily saying that gay marriage leads to gangs, maybe just that broken homes lead to gangs. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/10 "2004-06-16T16:21:59Z")
To everyone who asked, no, no one confronted him. I was tempted, but thought it would be rude, insofar as, well, he _was_ opening his church to us; also, this is a very conservative/religious area, and my raising the issue would only have served to side-track things further. **Ravenman** , I suppose it’s _possible_ I could have misconstrued his statements, but I don’t think so. You see, in the closing prayer, he reiterated the same sentiments, and again, something to the effect that households were not ordained by God to be made of “all women” or “all men”. That just didn’t sound to me like he was talking of homes of divorce. I believe if he were, he’d have made mention of single-parent homes or some such. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/11 "2004-06-16T16:49:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Suddenly I see West Side Story in a whole new light! > Gee, Officer Krupke, we’re very upset; > We never had the love that ev’ry child oughta get. > We ain’t no delinquents, > We’re misunderstood. > Deep down inside us \! No offense to the Sharks and the Jets (insert obiligatory “…not that there’s anything wrong with that” here), but anyone who fights like that… ya gotta wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/12 "2004-06-16T17:20:17Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > _Then_ comes the biggie: what are kids _supposed_ to do, when we see such a break down of society that it’s acceptable for a household to be made of all women or all men??? A household, according to this gentleman (and I use the term loosely) is “ordained by God, to be made of _one man_, _one woman_, expressing their love for one another in such a way that it shall bring forth others who will worship and praise Jesus”. Can I get an A-meyn? Of course, it all started in the days of black and white television with the likes of _My Three Sons_. I think we can all be comforted with the knowledge that Mr. Douglas, Uncle Charlie, Ernie, Chip, and all the others in that horrible brood are **BURNING IN HELL AS WE SPEAK!**. Can I get an A-meyn? -Joe, reminding everyone that we all need a southern preacher deep down inside - just not _that_ way, if you know what I mean ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/13 "2004-06-16T17:23:37Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > No offense to the Sharks and the Jets (insert obiligatory “…not that there’s anything wrong with that” here), but anyone who fights like that… ya gotta wonder. What, stab twirl punch pihouette? What’s wrong with that? Of course, you have to expect that from a movie in which a guy runs through a Puerto Rican neighborhood shouting for Maria, and only one woman answers him. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/14 "2004-06-16T17:29:38Z")
> [@](#): > > A household, according to this gentleman (and I use the term loosely) is “ordained by God, to be made of _one man_, _one woman_, expressing their love for one another in such a way that it shall bring forth others who will worship and praise Jesus”. Ah, see, now we come down to it. The true purpose of marriage is to manufacture more worshippers. Marriage as a means to a force of numbers. THAT’S what’s wrong with gay marriage. It doesn’t produce soldiers for the Army of the Lord. It’s all starting to make sense now. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/15 "2004-06-16T18:35:51Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by tdn_ > The true purpose of marriage is to manufacture more worshippers Ah, but not _just_ worshippers. People who worship exactly the way the pastor worships. > [@](#): > > THAT’S what’s wrong with gay marriage. It doesn’t produce soldiers for the Army of the Lord. I don’t know about The Army of the Lord, but gays certainly _can_ produce soldiers (well, kids, I mean). I have two sisters who are gay; one of them has two kids; the other one has one kid, and a partner of twenty years who also has two kids. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/16 "2004-06-16T20:22:31Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > Tonight, I was hopeing to discuss _xyzzy_. You have been eaten by a grue. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/17 "2004-06-16T20:59:15Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > . . . A household, according to this gentleman (and I use the term loosely) is "ordained by God, to be made of _one man_, _one woman_, expressing their love for one another in such a way that it shall bring forth others who will worship and praise Jesus . . . . I guess that explains all the Jewish and Buddhist gangs roaming the streets. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/18 "2004-06-17T21:02:09Z")
Norine, I hope you’re going to write a letter. Or at least register your displeasure somehow. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/19 "2004-06-18T00:29:56Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > Norine, I hope you’re going to write a letter. Or at least register your displeasure somehow. I think a letter would be an excellent idea; especially in light of the fact that they are planning on having these meetings at the same church every month. I believe that I will write the pastor a very civilized letter explaining that, while I’m concerned about the development of gangs in this area, I will not tolerate his association with gangs and homosexuality. Perhaps if he knows that _one_ person feels that way, he might consider toning down his comments at these meetings. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663/20 "2004-06-18T02:54:01Z")
Just yell “CITE?”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-must-tell-you-the-truth-gangs-are-a-result-of-same-sex-marriage/250663.md?page=2)