The Day of Truth

[annathepiper]

Today, fundamentalists and conservatives are having a so-called "Day of Truth" in which they are attempting to spread what they perceive to be the "truth" about homosexuality.

I approve of truth. I would therefore like to share some truth of my own.

Truth #1: Queer people don't choose to be that way. I am friends with several, and none of them are idiots. None of them are crazy. None of them suddenly said to themselves one day, "Gosh, I'm going to take on a lifestyle that will get me scorn, ridicule, and abuse, kicked out of my family, shunned by people of my community, beaten up by bullies, and even death threats!" No one in their right mind would choose to subject themselves to such treatment.

Truth #2: Yeah, the Bible does forbid people of the same gender lying with one another. But you know what? The Bible forbids a whole lot of other things that somehow mysteriously don't seem to matter in our modern society--such as eating shellfish, or mixing up crops in the same field, or wearing clothing made of different kinds of fiber. I know exactly zero people who, upon having lost a spouse, turned around and married their spouse's sibling. I also know exactly zero people who, upon having been discovered cheating on their spouses, were punished by public stoning.

Truth #3: "Queer" is not a synonym for "pedophile".

Truth #4: "Queer" is also not a synonym for "slut".

Truth #5: Queer folk do not have an "agenda" past just wanting to live in peace and to be treated with the same decency and respect that everybody else gets to enjoy.

Truth #6: No queer person of my acquaintance wants to force Christians to have to like their lifestyle or let them get married in their churches. No queer person I know wants to say, "You, Christian! You can't believe this way!" Religious freedom, though, means that everybody gets religious freedom. Not just the Christians. "Your right to swing your fist stops at my nose" applies to religions, too.

And last, but not least, this truth.

I am bisexual. I am also an ethical, moral, law-abiding citizen. I am not out to "recruit" young people. I am not out to foist my attentions onto someone who doesn't want them. The only difference between me and a heterosexual woman is that the person with whom I've chosen to spend my life is a girl.

That is my truth for today. Share at will.

Comments

[wiredwizard.livejournal.com]

=thumbs up= Rock on, Anna!

(Just 'cause I'm a conservative het. male doesn't mean I can't agree w/ everything you said... =) )

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much, and I appreciate hearing from you. :)

I should add that when I speak of "fundamentalists and conservatives", I'm speaking of folks who are both. I definitely acknowledge that it is possible to be a conservative without being a fundamentalist.

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

[annathepiper]

Thanks. :)

[spunbutterfly.livejournal.com]

As a Christian het, I agree with -everything- you say. Much of the Christian right's inability to see past their nose in pushing their beliefs on others probably has direct correlations as to how often I actually go to church or not, and just how much 'Christian piety' I can actually take. There's a few verses in scripture (supporting the belief that in the Bible you can find justifications for just about anything and overlook other things as 'irrelevant') that talk about how to deal with people who do things or view things differently than you do. (But then again, some people take these verses literally to mean what they say rather than as analogies.) The New Testament, rather than the Old, tends to be what many 'modern' Christians look to as a guide, so the ancient Biblical laws about whether you can eat hooved animals or not, shellfish, pork, stonings, or marriage of dead spouse's wife aren't really considered much. You can still find a ton of references in the New Testament though that people tend to ignore.

I read about the Day of Truth online, didn't know it was today. Faugh. You have my support, and thanks for your words.

[annathepiper]

Thank you very kindly for speaking up! While several of my friends and loved ones are queer, I have several friends also who are Christians and who feel the same way you do; I take a lot of comfort from that.

I've also been fortunate in that my own family has backed me up on this, too. While we've never been overly religious, the overall religious flavor of my kin and my upbringing has been Christian, and so I do retain a great deal of respect for that. Hearing from you now adds to that. Thank you. :)

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

***hugs***

I agree with you... uh, how many percent over a hundred can I go before it just looks goofy? That much.

[annathepiper]

*hugs back!*

I realize that posting about this on LJ is pretty much preaching to the choir given my Friends list... but hey. I link to my LJ on a regular basis with every post I make on the message boards I visit. Somebody else might see this, and hopefully see where I'm coming from.

[cafiorello.livejournal.com]

Nice job. Thank you.
Cathy

[annathepiper]

Thanks. :)

[cats-haven.livejournal.com]

Amen!! Tell it like it is. I have to admit I'm not 100% hetero, but what you've said hit it right on the button.

[annathepiper]

Testify, sister. :)

See my comment elsewhere on the thread--I realize this is pretty much preaching to the choir, but hey. It is good to hear your part in the song.

[kissare.livejournal.com]

Can't sing but I can keep the beat... Another 100% het who couldn't agree with you more!

Peole digust me. Gosh dang, why can't everyone just mind their own business and let people do what makes them happy, when it DOESN'T HURT ANYBODY??? Oh no - two people loving each other! A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY! I can just see all the queer folks waking up saying, "I think I'd like to be treated like a disgusting, perverted 3rd-class citizen today. I think I'll go be queer!" Give me a break. Hugs to you and Dara, and here's hoping for a REAL day of truth - REAL truth.

[annathepiper]

*hugs back!* Thanks, hon!

And hey, keeping the beat is GOOD! I have a soft spot in my heart for percussionists. ;)

Truth..

[(Anonymous)]

Having worked for nearly a decade at a Chrisitian college,at least amongst the people I worked and spoke with,few are of the fundamentalist types. Very few..as in maybe three in over nine years. Most were decent folks. While they might not agree with a particular lifestyle, they realized you can't make someone else believe the way they do. Of the few fundamentalists, most seemed miserable,and determined to spread the misery.
All told,the people I worked with were decent, kind,and tolerant. The fundamentalists are a small but noisy minority that give an entire religion a bad name.(my old name for fundamentalists was televangelisticexpialidocious..) Fundamentalists also tend to have a poor sense of humor....Scott

Re: Truth..

[annathepiper]

Unfortunately, Scott, the fundamentalists are the ones with the power right now, and they are the ones who are in a position to pass the laws. :( So I can't just dismiss them as a small, noisy minority.

Which is why I post these things to my journal. As I have mentioned elsewhere on the comments, I realize that I am mostly preaching to the choir here, but I do regularly link to my journal when I post on other message boards, and there is always the chance that someone might come by who needs to hear what I have to say.