Religious leaders ... declared it is time for clergy to act decisively to oppose homosexuality.

From The Associated Press

A group of religious right leaders have declared war on homosexuals. An orthodox Rabbi even stood up at a press conference yesterday and said it was time for religious folks to "act up" in opposition to homosexuality.

I wonder if that man thought at all about the religious folk who "acted up" against the Jews, putting them in concentration camps, running them out of their homeland and enslaving them. I have to wonder why, now that Jews can live in relative peace, they must find others to persecute.

Jews were, and still are, considered filthy sinners by many Christians. Now that Jews enjoy some manner of mainstream acceptance, however, they are quick to forget their history of persecution. Now they are free to begin persecuting the other "filthy sinners" of the world.

Certainly this doesn't apply to all Jewish believers. I know plenty of Jews who wouldn't share this Rabbi's views. I just find it ironic that a Jewish leader can take part in such a blatant act of persecution.

These people say we can change, and become heterosexual, therefore no longer "sinners." Guess what? Jews can change, too. I find it a rather strange pairing between the orthodox Jews and the conservative Christians. They'll embrace the Jews when they agree on an issue, but I do seem to remember a conservative Christian mandate from the Baptists that Jews should to be converted as well.

This new war on gays and lesbians concerns me on another level. I wonder just how many kids have killed themselves over the past few months because of the all out attack led by the religious right. Was it the "ex-gay" ads, or was it hearing their local preacher talk about the horrible sin of homosexuality after the ads that pushed them over the edge. I grieve for the children who hear the hatred and intolerance of these supposedly religious people. God's love is never expressed by these tactics, only the hatred of people who claim to speak for God.

Also, I wonder how many spiritual lives of gays and lesbians have died because of the attack. I get letters from so many readers who say they were on the verge of giving up their spiritual lives until they found a little shred of hope here at Whosoever.

These attackers are determined to strip gays and lesbians, not only of any rights we might enjoy, but of our hope as well.

I, for one, will not be silent. God loves gays and lesbians just as God made them. You do not have to change to win God's love. God is not homophobic, the church is. The church is made up of fallible human beings, who often can't see God in those around them. We, as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians, must live boldly, letting the world see that God does live through our lives.

I declare war on the sins of ignorance and hatred. I am a lesbian Christian, loved by God, and I will not be defeated.

Blessings,
Candace