There was a time when Christians were thrown to the lions. Could the gay community (read tolerant, open minded people of all sexual tastes), too rescue themselves from the pit and reach the same political clout as these Christians seem to have now? Could they do so and still remain tolerant, open minded people?
Whoa, first post. I’ve been lurking for quite awhile, but I feel compelled to post with this thread. I swear wholeheartedly to use proper grammar, spelling, homonyms for there/their/they’re, etc to the best of my ability, and never to feed the trolls (well, maybe only the really skinny ones; I feel bad for them when they get all malnourished).
With that out of the way, I would encourage everybody to check out the book Stranger at the Gate, by Mel White. He is a gay minister raised as a very conservative Christian, and after years of denying his sexuality (and working very successfully as a Christian filmmaker and speechwriter for Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and others), he came out of the closet, much to the dismay of his former employees. In much of the book, Mel and his several college degrees in Theology show that many of the pieces of scripture that are standards in anti-gay rhetoric (specifically, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah) aren’t really being read correctly, and when taken in context and/or translated more fully from the original language don’t mean what many anti-homosexual ministers take them to mean. Sadly, I gave this book back to the person I borrowed it from so I can’t give any specific quotes, but I just wanted to state that the Bible can be read many ways. I’m no theology expert, but Mel is, and he points out that there are different (educated) points of view in the matter.
Whew. Did I do that right? First time posts always make me a little nervous. Comments are appreciated.
Zion: You state that you’re anti-homosexuality. Are you also anti-atheism? Do you consider atheism or homosexuality a greater “threat” to your religion or “societal problem”?
I’m not sure what you mean by anti-homosexuality. I am “anti-homosexual” in that I don’t find homosexual activities to my taste and decline to participate in them. By the same token I am anti-mayonaisse and anti-broccoli.
Or you do consider homosexuality to harmful to individuals and thus should rationally be criminalized? Or detrimental to society and thus should be discouraged? Or do you just find homosexual people distasteful and prefer the company of other heterosexuals?
Dr. Crane! Your glockenspiel has come to life!
Zion
Can you show us where the word “homosexuality” appears in the Bible?
UWmite, you did just fine. I’m in Madison, so if you ever want to come over to peruse my copy of Stranger at the Gate just ask.
OP must not be in SF 
I’d say AIDs.
Once Aids came out in the 80’s they were attacked like no other time in history locally.
I think most straight people are probably
very much turned off by the idea of homosexual intercourse, esp. when it involves
two of their own sex. You can’t make people
approve it if they don’t already, or expect them to try to understand it. But you should be able to expect tolerance regarding personal lifestyle choices that are consensual and do not harm others.
Hop on everyone, we’re going to GD. (I can’t imagine Manny leaving this thread here)
Otto: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Neither the sexually immoral nor the adulterered nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders…will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Leviticus 18 says that a same sex relationships are “detestable,” and then there’s the most famous section, in Romans chapter 1 that addresses the wickedness of homosexuality, without actually saying the word “homosexual.” But, are we that blind that we cannot see what it’s talking about?
Ronald B:
Both. Homosexual acts are repulsive to me. Even if the Bible did not mention it (which it does), I still would not approve of it in any way. And, as someone else pointed out, Christians do not exempt from discrimination. As for my views on whether or not gays should receive the same liberties we do, please refer to the thread entitled “The Ethics of Homosexuality” in GD. (Sorry, don’t know how to post a link) (Basically, I don’t think they should be allowed to marry, or adopt kids)
SingleDad: I’m anti-sin. The Bible says that atheists are just fools anyway, and I’m not sure if being a fool is sin. I do not, in any way, encourage homosexual behavior. I do not find gays to be distasteful, and have had lesbian, gay, and bisexual friends. I’ve also had friends who smoke, drink, and swear, and I think those things are sinful as well. So, what’s the difference? Love the sinner, hate the sin.
A girl: I’m sorry for saying that your post was of the trolling variety. It was probably your comment on “Jesus people” that set me off. People are not born gay. Even if you could prove that they are, then it still makes it unnatural. You see, God can change our mindsets. None of us are “boo-boos.” We are all born sinners, and until we accept Jesus, there is no way of redemption. If a person is “born gay,” then he/she has the opportunity, through God’s grace, to be redeemed, and live a life that God intended, which, is to be set free of that mindset.
Sin, in any way, shape, or form, is a vice, a cage. It keeps us from experiencing true freedom. Homosexuality is just one of the jillion types of sins that hinder us from true peace, true freedom, which can only be attained through a life in Jesus.
Manhattan: I know this post was laden with stuff that belongs in GD. If you’d be so kind, please just move the thread, and don’t delete any of this post.
Adam
I have never understood hating anyone for being gay. It also bothers me not one bit what anyone does to each other.
My guess is that humans need to feel superior to something and gays will do.
One of the dumbest girls in my high school asked our biology teacher why gays couldn’t be cured so they could be husbands to needing women.
I still have no idea what she was talking about.
lindsay
I don’t suppose the mods like it when I tell them what to do. Sorry Manhattan. Do whatever you feel is appropriate.
Zion:
Worry not. We try our darndest not to edit or delete posts for content. I’m simply going to send this one to join the 3 million or so other “Why do straight people have a beef (heh) with gay people” threads in Great Debates.
That said, before I send it over there, I want to share my fondest dream. My fondest dream (well, OK, my third fondest, but let’s leave Tyra Banks and breaking 90 out of this) is that someone will post the OP’s question in GQ and that someone will respond essentially with what Eve said, but with a history of various societies’ reaction to and regulation of homosexuality, links to psychological studies of homo-fear and homophobia, and some other actual GQ stuff.
But alas, I think I have a better shot with Tyra. Well, maybe I’ll break 90 someday. One out of three, life’s dreams speaking, ain’t too bad.
Zion said:
Hmmm, that’s news to me, and probably to all the other gay posters on the SDMB. No wait, it’s also news to anyone who has read the current literature on the subject.
Gotta cite for that little morsel?
No, didn’t think so.
Mmmmm hmmm. And current literature also supports evolution. Don’t believe everything you read.
And like I said, even IF people are born gay, it still does not make it natural. And it does not make it impossible for God to renew the mindset of those individuals.
ARG,
You made a simple declarative statement:
“People are not born gay”.
All I’m asking is that you provide some kind of evidence or backup to that statement.
Can you do that?
BTW, what’s up with the multiple screen names, anyway?
Milroy: I cannot provide evidence (or a link) that shows that people are not born gay. Then again, you cannot provide substantial evidence that people are born gay. Besides, it makes no difference, homosexuality is still wrong, no matter what science says.
BTW, I am no longer ARG220. My old handle has been unregistered, and I’m only posting as Zion.
[quote]
Originally posted by manhattan:
**Zion:
Ok, I’ll bite. I will be upfront and say that I’m a lesbian so my links will reflect that bias. Also, I recognize that one of the problems with the internet is that it is oft times used to advocate for or against something. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to find links that aren’t strongly biased, with out liberal sprinklings of “homophobes”, “bigots” or “gay agenda”, “destructive lifestyle” and sly references to bestiality and pedophilia.
If anyone has links better than these, I’d love to hear about 'em.
In Nature
Biological Exuburance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity http://www.sciencenewsbooks.org/scibook/biolex.html
Alternative Religious Biblical Interpretations http://www.religioustolerance.org/ (tries to present both sides of the argument, but essentially promotes gay tolerance)
Dispelling the Myth http://hcqsa.virtualave.net/dispell.html
Psychology
American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/pi/reslgbc.html
American Psychiatric Association http://www.psych.org/psych/htdocs/public_info/homose~1.htm
Changing our Minds: Brief Look at Selected Studies http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/events/sw25/case4.html
Kinsey Institute http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/res-pubs.html
Dr. Evelyn Hooker
Agh! Two days ago I read an excellent synopsis of her double-blind study and now I can’t find it. If your interested, read up on her. Her study had a huge impact and one of the first to debunk the belief that homosexuality was a mental illness
Dr. Paul Cameron* http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_cameron.html
*this guy has been thoroughly debunked and censured. I include him because many conservative groups still rely on his findings.
Critique of Reparative Therapy http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_changing.html
Sexual Prejudice, Homophobia, and Heterosexism: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/phobdefn.html
The Heterosexualization of Gay and Lesbians in LDS Church http://www.lds-mormon.com/wswwb.shtml
History
Brief overview of Homosexual Holocaust Victims: http://www.holocaust-trc.org/homosx.htm
Homosexuality in Florence: http://www.indegayforum.org/articles/varnell58.html
A Gay History Timeline http://www.gayhistory.com/rev2/timeline/timeline01.htm
History of Homosexuality* http://www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/events/sw25/case5.html
*I just found this tonight and skimmed it. It seems basically a quick synopsis of books dealing with homosexuality throughout history.
Gay Marriages Legal in Colorado (for about a month)* http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Stonewall/1676/1975Marriages/1975_03_27Camera.html
*I just find this story interesting and thought I’d throw it in.
There was another one about same sex church ceremonies that may have been marriages, but the link has expired. 
Homosexuality and the Law
Lambda Legal – One stop shopping for homosexual court cases http://www.lambdalegal.org/
Ahh, now we’re getting somewhere. If you can’t provide evidence, then you shouldn’t be making offhand comments such as “People are not born gay” on this MB.
Believe what you will, but if you’re going to post here, at least try to back up what you’re saying.
Milroy: Provide me a link that shows newborn babies talking to scientists about their sexual preference. Then maybe I’ll listen to you.
You are arguing that even if a biological cause was determined, that it’d still be wrong? That God would intentionally stack the deck against some of His children? That despite biology, a gay person can change his orientation? When is the last time you changed your eye color by concentrating really, really hard?
Hey Zion,
You made the statement. It’s up to you to offer evidence to prove it. That’s how this “debate” thingie is supposed to work, ya know?
Here’s my take on this everybody:
I love gay people! I’m not gay, but gay people in general have a way about them (which I believe is because of a higher level of confidence, a result of not caring if the world dislikes you) which makes them by far more interesting than others. I know several gay and bi people, and none of them frighten me in any way. I know exactly what turns me on, and if something different is their piece of pie, who am I to argue? I do believe there is a very high amount of homophobia resulting from low self confidence. In my less confident days (when I was a 9th grader who didn’t know shit about himself) I hated gay people too. Once I realized they were no threat to me, and how beneficial they could be as friends and companions, they haven’t bothered me a bit. Just think: the more varied your companions, the wider your view on the world.
(FYI, I am a high school senior right now)