In California this past weekend, a historic moment of a
sordid sort transpired in Republican politics.
The CAGOP officially recognized the Log Cabin Republicans as
a chartered member.
a chartered member.
For those unaware, this group is composed of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender members, and sympathizing individuals who support them. I
imagine that very soon the “questioning” element will be added, if it has not
come already.
On a wide vote, 861-293, delegates overwhelmingly supported
this move.
this move.
I was devastated by the outcome. Throughout the meeting I
was contacting a delegate friend of mine, who rejected chartering the group
because she felt that the current by-laws of the party would not permit a
charter. She stood her ground on this issue, even though she held the minority
view on the subject.
was contacting a delegate friend of mine, who rejected chartering the group
because she felt that the current by-laws of the party would not permit a
charter. She stood her ground on this issue, even though she held the minority
view on the subject.
After the vote, I spoke at length with one of my
conservative Christian friends, who voted for the charter.
He explained to me that he has gay friends, that another friend
of his had a child who struggled with sexual feelings and identity. This child
was bullied at her school, attempted suicide, yet lingered on in a vegetative
state for four years before passing away. He also pointed out that Republican
volunteers who live homosexual conduct had worked for him and other winning
Republican candidates.
of his had a child who struggled with sexual feelings and identity. This child
was bullied at her school, attempted suicide, yet lingered on in a vegetative
state for four years before passing away. He also pointed out that Republican
volunteers who live homosexual conduct had worked for him and other winning
Republican candidates.
I cried when he related to me these harrowing, personal,
tragic accounts. I understood the stories he told me of gay friends helping him
get elected.
tragic accounts. I understood the stories he told me of gay friends helping him
get elected.
Nevertheless, I countered on the whole premise he had been
offering: “gay friends”. The issue goes back to identity, and the entire
homosexual agenda, as outlined in a 1993 book
However, I have another close conservative friend, who lost
a loved one due to gun violence. She did not become a gun control advocate as a
result.
a loved one due to gun violence. She did not become a gun control advocate as a
result.
Public policy simply cannot be the dictate of our feelings.
Our hearts, what we identify and believe in, and our minds, what we decide and
respond to, help us inform our stake on societal issues.
Our hearts, what we identify and believe in, and our minds, what we decide and
respond to, help us inform our stake on societal issues.
Yet for many pro-family groups, and conservatives in
general, they are not willing to fight against the cult of feelings which
shames people for saying the truth:
general, they are not willing to fight against the cult of feelings which
shames people for saying the truth:
Homosexuality is a disordered form of conduct, and not an
identity. Yes, I just wrote that. Deal with it. The evidence is overwhelming
regarding the health concerns which afflict homosexuals.
identity. Yes, I just wrote that. Deal with it. The evidence is overwhelming
regarding the health concerns which afflict homosexuals.
My good friend from Northern California, who related to me
his painful hurt about what his friends have gone through, opened my eyes to
understanding why pro-family, pro-marriage proponents are not winning.
his painful hurt about what his friends have gone through, opened my eyes to
understanding why pro-family, pro-marriage proponents are not winning.
Instead of putting aside feelings, they are embracing them.
Instead of asking homosexuals hard questions and getting straight answers, they
are simply accepting their decision as more than a lifestyle, but an identity.
Instead of asking homosexuals hard questions and getting straight answers, they
are simply accepting their decision as more than a lifestyle, but an identity.
My Christian friend candidly told me that his gay friends
have their same-sex feelings, and they do not know why. These are valid points,
and therefore to say that homosexual conduct is a choice free of force or shame
makes no sense.
have their same-sex feelings, and they do not know why. These are valid points,
and therefore to say that homosexual conduct is a choice free of force or shame
makes no sense.
I qualified my remark: people engage in homosexual conduct,
or identify with it in response to abuse, neglect, or confusion. The shame of
sexual molestation is so deep, that even the most professional and successful
of adults still struggle with identity issues. Oprah Winfrey, a king-maker and
global influence in her own right, candidly admitted that she still blamed
herself for the abuse she had endured, even though counselors, support groups,
and good friends had affirmed that she did nothing wrong.
or identify with it in response to abuse, neglect, or confusion. The shame of
sexual molestation is so deep, that even the most professional and successful
of adults still struggle with identity issues. Oprah Winfrey, a king-maker and
global influence in her own right, candidly admitted that she still blamed
herself for the abuse she had endured, even though counselors, support groups,
and good friends had affirmed that she did nothing wrong.
Only when Winfrey, forty-two years old, interviewed a group
of convicted child molesters, did she realize that part of the modus operandi
of abuse is to convince the victim that they deserve the abuse, i.e. that it is
their fault. She was an established adult, yet she did not understand.
of convicted child molesters, did she realize that part of the modus operandi
of abuse is to convince the victim that they deserve the abuse, i.e. that it is
their fault. She was an established adult, yet she did not understand.
That moment of truth set Oprah free. Truth has that effect,
and the same helps many who struggled with sexual identity and same-sex
attraction. Many adults victimized by abuse and neglect do not pinpoint right
away their same-sex attraction to these concerns. Most people would rather “come
out” as gay rather than acknowledge the pain of abuse.
and the same helps many who struggled with sexual identity and same-sex
attraction. Many adults victimized by abuse and neglect do not pinpoint right
away their same-sex attraction to these concerns. Most people would rather “come
out” as gay rather than acknowledge the pain of abuse.
Neglect is another key source of gender confusion and
same-sex attraction. Many young men do not know or never understood the love of
their fathers, and they try to seek the same in other men. Same for women.
Confusion reigns supreme in public institutions. Adolescents as a matter of
development routinely deal with confusion, and now it’s worse because
authorities in our governments and hubs of culture (churches, charities,
after-school programs) are telling people that they can change their gender,
that this basic and immune aspects of our being can be altered.
same-sex attraction. Many young men do not know or never understood the love of
their fathers, and they try to seek the same in other men. Same for women.
Confusion reigns supreme in public institutions. Adolescents as a matter of
development routinely deal with confusion, and now it’s worse because
authorities in our governments and hubs of culture (churches, charities,
after-school programs) are telling people that they can change their gender,
that this basic and immune aspects of our being can be altered.
![]("http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHY9Vzkwg4I/VPS7V5H9J2I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/5ucKrBk-egs/s1600/MassResistance%2BLogo.gif")
In short: we are not telling people the truth, for fear of
offending someone, of losing political influence, of seeing more issues fall
away from us.
offending someone, of losing political influence, of seeing more issues fall
away from us.
Pro-family forces need to relate to people that it’s not
about shame, guilt, or hate. It’s about the documented realities, historical, empirical,
and anecdotal, that homosexual conduct as an aberration hurts rather than
helps, which destroys individuals, families, and communities.
about shame, guilt, or hate. It’s about the documented realities, historical, empirical,
and anecdotal, that homosexual conduct as an aberration hurts rather than
helps, which destroys individuals, families, and communities.
In Massachusetts, a pro-family group MassResistance, is waging the fight to protect young people, aid adults, and inform everyone of the consequences of state-imposed gay marriage, and the attending consequences of homosexual conduct.
Perhaps it's time for CaliResistance. In other words: time to tell the truth about homosexuality, and the truth that sets people free!