I was raised Christian. I still actively love Jesus. However, I also still actively love my girlfriend. That being said, I am a member of the LGBT community and have a strong desire to defend it, as well as my faith. This week, Facebook provoked me to do so, as it often does. I never really engage in social media quarrels, but I thought that I would step up for my people, (who are, in fact, real live people with feelings), and calmly present my views in a manner which was not disrespectful, yet assertive.
Since when did we start to compare transgenders and the armed forces? There are so many reasons why this might be an inflammatory post to us “modern and worldly” thinkers, but it is generally the fact that a public figure who should only be receiving support and acceptance is coming into question as “less than.” She is not being slandered, but she is not being advocated for either. Quite frankly, if one wishes to debate the worthiness of another person in terms of courage, they should at least respect the assumed identity of the subject in question. Capitalizing “HE” is a direct refusal of equality. On this note, I took it upon myself to calmly bring the opposition to the starting line.
I realize here that in entering the conversation, I was basically playing a game of “How long will it take before someone quotes the Bible at me over the Internet?” It seems as though it took approximately seven minutes, in my case. Like I mentioned, though, I was raised Christian. I have read a few pages of the Bible and can quote it to my benefit just as well as anyone else can.
The Bible said it before the Beatles did, essentially. Love is all you need, and I don’t seem to have any room for much else in my short life. My quote appears multiple times in the Christian cornerstone text, meaning that Jesus basically said, “Lets be real, guys, I know that I’ve mentioned a lot of rules and regulations, but to sum it up, love each other. That is what matters most. Amen.”
Yes, all is wonderful and God is so good, isn’t he? Aren’t we all just so pure and blameless because we “hold each other accountable” and call into question the lives of the rich and famous? Looking back, I wish I would have thought of quoting the part of the Bible that says we are forbidden to eat shellfish, or cut our hair.
I will state my opinions openly: I do not resent or hate those that oppose my beliefs. How can I promote love if I do not first love who comes against me? I avidly support Caitlyn Jenner, and all of the unknown transgender individuals who do not have the celebrity stature to gain any attention and support from the public. I also avidly support Christianity, which is supposed to be driven primarily by love. Even so, oppression is alive and real, but so am I, and so are you.
