Sexual Orientation?

[Louis VI the Fat]

I'm very open minded, and my sexual orientation is very broad. I'll do anything, whether straight girls or lesbians.

[PanzerJaeger]

I usually don't like to share elements from my personal life on teh interwebs, but here is my experience with the social implications of homosexuality.

About two years ago a good friend came out to me. It was slightly shocking as he did not fit the stereotype I had in my head of what a gay person was at all. We connected through a shared interest in military history (he thinks America is the best, but I forgive him) and guns. In many ways he is more of a typical 'guy' than me. He likes sports, beer, and Skoal, none of which I can abide. From hearing about the mental torture he put himself through for years trying to be straight, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is not a choice, regardless of whether it is genetic or formed in early childhood.

Since then, I have witnessed how he has been treated by some of his family and his church, and it has been nothing short of awful. He was kicked out of both his home and congregation for his 'disgusting' behavior, with threats of eternal damnation just for good measure. These people who profess to be a loving community were not content to abandon him, but harassed him for months after he left - all the time under the guise of trying to help him. And the thing is, after he came out, he didn't change. He didn't suddenly don a tiny speedo and march in the Gay pride parade. He didn't flaunt his sexuality in the least. They changed, and for no other reason than the fact that he was brave and stupid enough to want his 'family' to know who he really was.

I used to think that religious aversion to homosexuality was based on the stereotypes of rampant promiscuity, femininity, and some sort of apocalyptic breakdown of society a la Sodom from the bible. What I have learned is that religious people just don't like gay people, period. It doesn't matter how they look or act, and it certainly doesn't matter how devoted they are to their faith. Religion and scripture are a big cover for hate: unbridled, unwarranted, and unjustified hate. My friend is a kind, decent, good person, and the best Christian that I know.

[Strike For The South]

wait, you dont drink beer?

[tibilicus]

I usually don't like to share elements from my personal life on teh interwebs, but here is my experience with the social implications of homosexuality.

About two years ago a good friend came out to me. It was slightly shocking as he did not fit the stereotype I had in my head of what a gay person was at all. We connected through a shared interest in military history (he thinks America is the best, but I forgive him) and guns. In many ways he is more of a typical 'guy' than me. He likes sports, beer, and Skoal, none of which I can abide. From hearing about the mental torture he put himself through for years trying to be straight, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is not a choice, regardless of whether it is genetic or formed in early childhood.

Since then, I have witnessed how he has been treated by some of his family and his church, and it has been nothing short of awful. He was kicked out of both his home and congregation for his 'disgusting' behavior, with threats of eternal damnation just for good measure. These people who profess to be a loving community were not content to abandon him, but harassed him for months after he left - all the time under the guise of trying to help him. And the thing is, after he came out, he didn't change. He didn't suddenly don a tiny speedo and march in the Gay pride parade. He didn't flaunt his sexuality in the least. They changed, and for no other reason than the fact that he was brave and stupid enough to want his 'family' to know who he really was.

I used to think that religious aversion to homosexuality was based on the stereotypes of rampant promiscuity, femininity, and some sort of apocalyptic breakdown of society a la Sodom from the bible. What I have learned is that religious people just don't like gay people, period. It doesn't matter how they look or act, and it certainly doesn't matter how devoted they are to their faith. Religion and scripture are a big cover for hate: unbridled, unwarranted, and unjustified hate. My friend is a kind, decent, good person, and the best Christian that I know.

These sort of stories support what I already think, it still isn't ok to be homosexual. No, I'm not homophobic, but the main stream of society seems to be. Sure, the media culture and society as a whole may be more tolerant, but there are some places were being gay simply isn't acceptable. Places like Africa actually seem to be going the other way which is even more concerning.

Quite frankly, the religious types who harass people over sexuality are scum. I can't comprehend how people can view being gay as a "choice". Why would anyone choose to isolate them self from the main stream of society or choose to be stared at every time they go out with their partner. If someone believes it's a choice,they need their head examining in my opinion.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Well I think it is immoral, an unpopular view but what can you do, I don't see why consent should be the only basis for morality.

I also don't see why whether or not it is a choice is relevant, and I don't understand the fascination of the religious right with calling it a choice, you would think from the way they argue that Christianity was a religion of works.

But that doesn't give me a right to harass them. Still, I don't have to respect their sexuality any more than they should have to respect my religion.

[Husar]

What's an LGBT anyway? It sounds like some fancy new bomb of the USAF.
I've got nothing against giving gay couples marriage status from the state, but I'm against forcing religious groups to do the same, so I'm against an equal status of gay marriage, unless the topic was meant in a political sense only, but that didn't seem specified in the poll, so yeah, I'm a bit backwards but mommy says that's okay.
Oh, where were we again?
Yeah, it's okay, but the poll was a bit black or white while I'm very colourful.

[Megas Methuselah]

Women are very beautiful and lusty.

[Louis VI the Fat]

What's an LGBT anyway?

LGBT stands for Large Gay Black Tapdancer.


Some people consider it a real turn on, and I must admit, I can well see why.

[pevergreen]

What's an LGBT anyway?

Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual and Transgender

I think so at least.

[drone]

Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual and Transgender

I think so at least.

What's an LGBT anyway? It sounds like some fancy new bomb of the USAF.

Laser Guided Booty Tapper.

[Husar]

Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual and Transgender

I can feel your pain if you're all that at once...

[Fragony]

Well I think it is immoral, an unpopular view but what can you do, I don't see why consent should be the only basis for morality.

I also don't see why whether or not it is a choice is relevant, and I don't understand the fascination of the religious right with calling it a choice, you would think from the way they argue that Christianity was a religion of works.

But that doesn't give me a right to harass them. Still, I don't have to respect their sexuality any more than they should have to respect my religion.

Sounds perfectly fine to me. I am allergic to 'you should', the only thing people should do is minding their own business.

[Xiahou]

I usually don't like to share elements from my personal life on teh interwebs, but here is my experience with the social implications of homosexuality.

About two years ago a good friend came out to me. It was slightly shocking as he did not fit the stereotype I had in my head of what a gay person was at all. We connected through a shared interest in military history (he thinks America is the best, but I forgive him) and guns. In many ways he is more of a typical 'guy' than me. He likes sports, beer, and Skoal, none of which I can abide. From hearing about the mental torture he put himself through for years trying to be straight, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is not a choice, regardless of whether it is genetic or formed in early childhood.

Since then, I have witnessed how he has been treated by some of his family and his church, and it has been nothing short of awful. He was kicked out of both his home and congregation for his 'disgusting' behavior, with threats of eternal damnation just for good measure. These people who profess to be a loving community were not content to abandon him, but harassed him for months after he left - all the time under the guise of trying to help him. And the thing is, after he came out, he didn't change. He didn't suddenly don a tiny speedo and march in the Gay pride parade. He didn't flaunt his sexuality in the least. They changed, and for no other reason than the fact that he was brave and stupid enough to want his 'family' to know who he really was.

I used to think that religious aversion to homosexuality was based on the stereotypes of rampant promiscuity, femininity, and some sort of apocalyptic breakdown of society a la Sodom from the bible. What I have learned is that religious people just don't like gay people, period. It doesn't matter how they look or act, and it certainly doesn't matter how devoted they are to their faith. Religion and scripture are a big cover for hate: unbridled, unwarranted, and unjustified hate. My friend is a kind, decent, good person, and the best Christian that I know.

I think it's at least a little ironic that in your post against stereotyping and bigotry towards gays, you engage in stereotyping and prejudice towards other groups.

[PanzerJaeger]

I think it's at least a little ironic that in your post against stereotyping and bigotry towards gays, you engage in stereotyping and prejudice towards other groups.

That did occur to me. However, it also occurred to me that Christians choose to embrace an ideology that makes an innate human characteristic sinful through its principle text, which is fundamentally abhorent. And unlike the consumption of shellfish, Christianity has seen fit to enforce that particular outdated, intrusive dictate. In contrast to homosexuality, being Christian is a choice and Christians can be held liable for what they choose to believe.

I will ammend the above text. Replace 'religious people' with 'religious people who follow biblical directives'.

[Xiahou]

That did occur to me. However, it also occurred to me that Christians choose to embrace an ideology that makes an innate human characteristic sinful through its principle text, which is fundamentally abhorent.I will ammend the above text. Replace 'religious people' with 'religious people who follow biblical directives'.

It's not the "characteristic", it's the behavior. Promiscuity and pre-marital sex are universally frowned on by any Christian denomination I know of. This applies to hetero or homosexuals.

Of course, there are those who take it to a hypocritical extreme and use it as an excuse for harsh treatment- but you can't damn an entire religion for a minority that twist its teachings

[Beskar]

Of course, there are those who take it to a hypocritical extreme and use it as an excuse for harsh treatment- but you can't damn an entire religion for a minority that twist its teachings

Sorry, but Religion is not above criticism, this is the 21st Century, not the 14th. Especially as it is the majority that follow this view and not the minority. Religions are nothing special, they are myths and fairy tales, akin to Santa Claus but with a stronger commitment and dogmatic criteria.

[Rahwana]

*SIGH*

so I gave up my hope to gain first hand contact, and start to wrote my paper based on wikipedia articles and another internet sources...

BTW, there are even people who push for capital penalty to gay sex. Well... that was merely because recently, an Indonesian couple just get gay-married again in Netherland, and some close minded people try to destroy their hapiness.

[Lord of Lent]

I do respect Beskar's views but I'm tired of the prejudice. I am a christian but I support gay marriage. I think love between two men or two women is the same love that a man and a woman feel. I really do not understand why a lot of christians are against it; I do not think God wants us to judge each other only because they love each other. I am a progressive christian, I must admit, but I just cannot stand people who judge a whole group of people just because the majority has a certain view. We have in common that we all believe in God, but our opinions and ideologies can differ as much as between two non-religious people.

Euthanesia is another thing: I think it is wrong to prevent people to have a better life when their current live is unbearable. A lot of christians do not agree with me, but saying that all christians are against euthanesia is prejudice.

I may have a different religion and a different ideology, but I do not judge you. I may not agree with you but you have the right to express your opinions and I do respect your views and I ask you to do the same.

I wonder if there are LGBT members here. If you read this; do not be afraid to tell us (You do not have to though). I do support you even though I am not LGBT.

[Viking]

The Backroom is to HOMOgeneous for there to be any gays present, it's in the label. The poll does not ask whether I support marriage, so I cannot vote.

Sorry, but Religion is not above criticism, this is the 21st Century, not the 14th. Especially as it is the majority that follow this view and not the minority. Religions are nothing special, they are myths and fairy tales, akin to Santa Claus but with a stronger commitment and dogmatic criteria.

or akin to socialism. Or capitalism. Or any ideology out there that people believe in. This is the 21st Century, so any idea must stand up to scrutiny! (and some time in the future, it will be the 22th century! my God, what do we do then? will our tastes in ice cream no longer be above criticism, like they were in the now loathed 21th?)

[Cute Wolf]

I did actually support for Destigmatization and Worldwide Decriminalizations for gay and bisexuals, but never ever support gay marriage.

Marriage is for men and women only, and what is the point about homosexual marriage? inheritance? Oh please... we all know that they could use WILL, simple enough. Pension? hey, gay men is still a MAN isn't? so took up some work and made their own money. Adoption? What the hell a kid should be reared by 2 daddy? it won't necessarily worse, but the healthy psychological development of children needs both mom and dad's attentions and emotional / spiritual presence (they could be deceased, but still present spiritually).

Gay marriage is pointless, if a cpouple of gay men want to live close together, they should found a couple of lesbians who also want to do that, and each one gay marry each lesbians in 2 marriage of covenience, simple isn't?

[PanzerJaeger]

It's not the "characteristic", it's the behavior. Promiscuity and pre-marital sex are universally frowned on by any Christian denomination I know of. This applies to hetero or homosexuals.

Of course, there are those who take it to a hypocritical extreme and use it as an excuse for harsh treatment- but you can't damn an entire religion for a minority that twist its teachings

Fair enough. My personal involvement has definitely left me with a less than objective stance. It is unfortunate to me that most modern Christian denominations selectively apply Leviticus, but I should not have lumped all of them together.

I'm glad you came to that conclusion that not only is it not a choice but that your homosexual friend was in fact a better man then those who tout that homosexuality is terrible (AKA most religious people).

My high school friends were all homophobic to an extreme measure (although since these were players on the football team, they did a lot of homoerotic things to each other as "pranks"). When people we all knew who didn't fit the stereotype came out sophomore, junior and senior year their bigotry simply found more excuses for them to look down at gays. Before they would say it was a choice and that they should just stop choosing to "suck ****", then when it became obvious it's who you are and not a choice they decided to go down the Social Darwinism path and claimed that a scientific journal had published a study where a gene altered in mice had "turned them gay". So their logic became that it wasn't a choice but instead their gayness was a genetic abnormality or "defect" because obviously a gene is defective if it prevents them from procreating and this "gay gene" does that so they are simply "defective" people with a neurological disorder. Yeah, I'm glad I am 400 miles away from those bigots now.

That is all too often the case in high schools across the country. The recent spate of gay teen suicides seems to finally be shedding some light on the issue, though.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Fair enough. My personal involvement has definitely left me with a less than objective stance. It is unfortunate to me that most modern Christian denominations selectively apply Leviticus, but I should not have lumped all of them together.

There are 3 parts to the law in Leviticus, moral/ceremonial/judicial. Christians still only abid by the moral law, since the ceremonial law is said in the New Testament to have been fulfilled in Christ, and the judicial law was given specifically to the nation of Israel.

In any case, it is a myth that homosexuality is only mentioned in Levitcus.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, not idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor theives, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

So who is selectively applying passages?

[Xiahou]

Fair enough. My personal involvement has definitely left me with a less than objective stance. It is unfortunate to me that most modern Christian denominations selectively apply Leviticus, but I should not have lumped all of them together.

"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." (Romans 1:26-27)

Howabout Romans 2:1.. "1 Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things."

[Idaho]

I think it's at least a little ironic that in your post against stereotyping and bigotry towards gays, you engage in stereotyping and prejudice towards other groups.

I thought it was very heartening that someone who usually holds such dodgy (imo) opinions, could step back and see things from this perspective. I was so impressed I almost took him off ignore!

[a completely inoffensive name]

I usually don't like to share elements from my personal life on teh interwebs, but here is my experience with the social implications of homosexuality.

About two years ago a good friend came out to me. It was slightly shocking as he did not fit the stereotype I had in my head of what a gay person was at all. We connected through a shared interest in military history (he thinks America is the best, but I forgive him) and guns. In many ways he is more of a typical 'guy' than me. He likes sports, beer, and Skoal, none of which I can abide. From hearing about the mental torture he put himself through for years trying to be straight, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is not a choice, regardless of whether it is genetic or formed in early childhood.

Since then, I have witnessed how he has been treated by some of his family and his church, and it has been nothing short of awful. He was kicked out of both his home and congregation for his 'disgusting' behavior, with threats of eternal damnation just for good measure. These people who profess to be a loving community were not content to abandon him, but harassed him for months after he left - all the time under the guise of trying to help him. And the thing is, after he came out, he didn't change. He didn't suddenly don a tiny speedo and march in the Gay pride parade. He didn't flaunt his sexuality in the least. They changed, and for no other reason than the fact that he was brave and stupid enough to want his 'family' to know who he really was.

I used to think that religious aversion to homosexuality was based on the stereotypes of rampant promiscuity, femininity, and some sort of apocalyptic breakdown of society a la Sodom from the bible. What I have learned is that religious people just don't like gay people, period. It doesn't matter how they look or act, and it certainly doesn't matter how devoted they are to their faith. Religion and scripture are a big cover for hate: unbridled, unwarranted, and unjustified hate. My friend is a kind, decent, good person, and the best Christian that I know.

I'm glad you came to that conclusion that not only is it not a choice but that your homosexual friend was in fact a better man then those who tout that homosexuality is terrible (AKA most religious people).

My high school friends were all homophobic to an extreme measure (although since these were players on the football team, they did a lot of homoerotic things to each other as "pranks"). When people we all knew who didn't fit the stereotype came out sophomore, junior and senior year their bigotry simply found more excuses for them to look down at gays. Before they would say it was a choice and that they should just stop choosing to "suck ****", then when it became obvious it's who you are and not a choice they decided to go down the Social Darwinism path and claimed that a scientific journal had published a study where a gene altered in mice had "turned them gay". So their logic became that it wasn't a choice but instead their gayness was a genetic abnormality or "defect" because obviously a gene is defective if it prevents them from procreating and this "gay gene" does that so they are simply "defective" people with a neurological disorder. Yeah, I'm glad I am 400 miles away from those bigots now.