Earlier it was California's Proposition 8 getting quashed, then it was Tyler Clementi, a college freshman who committed suicide after his roommate filmed him having sex and broadcast it on the web, then it was the church group protesting at the funeral of a gay soldier, next it was the Bronx attacks and last night, a NY Gubernatorial candidate (I need to quote here) said; "My children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family. And I don't want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option. It isn't"
Needless to say the uproar that has greeted these events have been resounding, and there have been condemnations from various quarters as well.
This has led me to re-evaluate my own position on the gay issue, to identify my prejudices, if any, bias, support and the sources and justifications for these positions.
Having spent my first 30 years in Nigeria, it comes as no surprise that I do not know any LGBT, well at least any that is 'out of the closet' so to speak. Thus I have no personal experience to bring to bear on this issue.
On self-examination however, I realized that my most perceptible emotions towards and about gays were negative - off the cuff, I felt it was unnatural, aberrant, unhealthy, dysfunctional.
When I probed further, I found out that these definitions only applied to their sexuality, that is, I personally wouldn't mind meeting with, working with or making friends with a gay person. I have always believed that a man's private deeds are no concern of mine.
Next I endeavored to determine the source of my prejudice, this wasn't hard, both my native African culture and religious teaching as a Muslim take a dim view of homosexuality.
Since my recent immigration to the US, I have had to come to terms with the American Way, which simply put: states that it is the individual, not the State or any social or religious group, that will determine the requirements for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
The American society accepts all manner of people and faith and creed and race and sexual orientation.
Yes (some of) the people are religious but the State will not favor one religion over the other. Thus what may have been outlawed by faith can be lawful in the eyes of the State. This has been taken by people to mean that the State is Anti-religion, and many have defended it arguing that not supporting religious views is not tantamount to being against religion.
I believe that the USA is anti-religion. Just as being Christian is anti-Islam and being Muslim is anti-Christianity because no faith is truly egalitarian and tolerant. Each claims not just superiority of knowledge, but monopoly of the truth. Not to support or promote any faith is to stand in the way of that faith.
Back to the Gay issue, it is noteworthy that virtually every faith demeans the practice of homosexuality, and yet the practice can be found in every culture, ethnicity and race. It is also rather remarkable that these religious teachings aligned with the prevailing social dogma at the times the religions were established.
This is a recurring theme with world religions where along with the gospel of the One True God, the dominant belief systems have also been codified and taught alongside the real message. Thus Judaism, Christianity and Islam are patriarchal while the Far Eastern and Asian faiths predominantly are animistic.
I believe that homophobia is of man, not from God. For in the Eyes of God, all sinners have the potential for redemption. Had fornication and adultery been an uncommon aberrant behavior it would have been as successfully vilified by religious leaders.
My premise is based on three simple facts. That sexual orientation is biologically determined. That aberrations are statistically inevitable and that God does not make mistakes.
The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were not just 'sodomy and bestiality' as pop culture would have us believe. In Ezekiel 16: 48-50 (God said) of Sodom (and the four cities): "She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me."
The cardinal sins are acts of voluntary will initiated by a perverted mind, not oddities of nature.
In view of the above, I will never discriminate against any LGBT, however this does not mean I subscribe to all of their agitations.
For instance, I vehemently oppose the adoption of children by Gay (male) couples, but I have no such reservations for lesbians who conceive through artificial techniques. About Gay Marriage? My position is that the US law errs in adopting the religious definition of marriage, or better put, in adopting the religious term rather than the more legalistic term; 'civil union'.
This is my opinion, my position, my stance...
Thank you.
