The LGBT–I’m No Longer Standing By

… (T)he truth of the matter is, you do not get to call generation after generation of LGBTQUI people sinful and make them 2nd class citizens with deadly words wrapped up in an abusive definition of love and then cry foul when someone tells you to stop it.” (Pat Green).*

He’s right. Want to start a fight that can only end in surrender or destruction? Attack a man’s child.

Go ahead. Tell the children that their sexuality is sinful, that their feelings are disgusting and should be repressed. Ridicule them. Tell jokes about them. Tell them they shouldn’t exist. Stand by and let them be bullied, beaten, and violated. Watch them die of illness and suicide, then say it’s their own fault, and tell them they’ll be in hell once they’re gone.

Do you really expect their loved ones to stand by and let you get away with that?

You can say, “Hey, I’m just quoting God and calling sin what it is. What’s wrong with that?  I don’t hate the sinner. I hate the sin.”

I say that’s a lie and that you’re bullying others while hiding behind your religion.

You can back away and talk about how angry the queers are and be shocked at their naughty language. After all, you are only trying to show God’s love. You can even talk about how you’re being persecuted for expressing your religious views.  Oh, and be sure to puff up and talk about how you believe in the Bible as if that gives you free reign to be hateful.  After all, the Bible is God’s word.

Frankly, I’m amazed at how you can be sarcastic, condescending, and delusional at the same time. It’s not gay people who are twisted. You are.

I’m upset but to be honest, my feelings are not directed primarily at you.  I’m angry and ashamed at myself for standing by and not speaking up before.

When I was a kid I daydreamed of being a hero who saved people from the bad guys. But when I was a teenager, I stayed silent when others bullied a slender soft spoken kid because I didn’t want anyone to think I was gay, too.  When I became a minister I saw myself as a defender of oppressed people.  However, I wanted to be considerate and not offend my parishioners, hoping that I could gently guide them away from their rage. As I got older I continued to be diplomatic because I didn’t want to endanger my ministerial pension.

Finally, now that I’m past the midpoint of my lifespan, I’m speaking up.  In my last post, I tried to be kind but I guess I can’t expect people to take it well when I say they’re wrong. Some did, but others weren’t able to stay civil. It’s okay, I’m not scared of their rage anymore.

I am however, more resolved. And I’m putting people on notice that I’m standing up and speaking out.

*Pat Green is the author of   Transparent Expedition, a blog about being the parent of a transgender child.