"All of a sudden, we have become a generation that defines morality in terms of sex. In other words, you can be a bigot, you can not care about the poor, you can be selfish, you can be abusive, but as long as you don't sleep with anybody, God is going to love you. Interestingly enough, when we talk about character issues, it always comes down to what someone does sexually- what the President did sexually...Do not confuse sex with morality. Cheating has to do with morality. How you treat your fellow human beings has to do with morality. Your belief in God and your ability to be humble have to do with morality."

--Jerry Springer

Talk show host Jerry Springer seems genuinely surprised that people equate one's sexuality with morality. It's a lesson gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trangendered folk have learned a long time ago. Long before President Clinton painted a target on his chest with his indiscretions in the Oval Office, glbt people have had to deal with having their sexuality equated with their overall morality. Welcome to the club, Mr. President!

It's rare that I agree with men like Jerry Springer. However, his words ring true here. Cheating has to do with morality. This gets to the heart of not our sexuality, but how we use it. Cheating on your spouse is immoral. Anonymous sex is immoral. Promiscuity, be it gay, straight or bi, is immoral. But do not confuse orientation and morality. Sexual orientation is neither moral or immoral ... it merely is. It's our conduct, our use of our sexuality, that makes it immoral.

But, as glbt folk we are always condemned, and singled out, simply for our orientation. We are called immoral simply for being gay, lesbian, bi or transgendered. Yet, bigots, those who don't care about the poor, the selfish and the abusive are not condemned as immoral by those on the religious right. These sins are not equated with the word "immoral" ... only sex ... and usually homosex, has that honor.

Springer speaks truth when he says "how you treat your fellow human beings has to do with morality. Your belief in God and your ability to be humble have to do with morality."

We, along with our accusers on the religious right, must remember that as we try to spread the Gospel of Christ.

Blessings,

Candace