Loss, gain, and the Golden Rule

LOSS

Last night, I had intended to write a post about my extreme disappointment in North Carolina for approving Amendment One, defining marriage as one man and one woman. It passed by about 61% of the vote, a moderate majority. This was a tremendous setback for gay equality in America. Also, it marks NC as the 30th state to constitutionally ban marriage equality. And yes, sadly, Texas is among those 30, since a similar constitutional ban was passed back in 2005. But even before TX passed the ban, we already had a law passed making it illegal, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Similarly, NC had already passed DOMA as well. But, no. In both states, conservative voters wanted more. They wanted there to be NO chance, whatsoever, for gay couples, no matter how long they've been together, no matter how committed they were, to enjoy the same rights and protections as them.

There's no question that NC is a conservative state. They were part of the Confederacy in the Civil War (1861-1865), and likely, many of the conservative evangelical Christians over there are likely Baptist. Well, NC got some heat, especially pastor Sean Harris at Berean Baptist Church who justified that parents should physically beat their child should a boy exhibit feminine traits, or if a girl exhibits more "butch" behavior. Later, the pastor went on to disavow his comments, saying he was only joking, and would've been more careful with his words. But in the background during his sermon, you can hear congregants laughing, and even a few "Amen" affirmations. It's bigotry disguised as gospel, spoken through a big microphone, affecting the minds and lives of hundreds (potentially thousands) of families, plenty of whom could have closeted gay children who live in fear and self-loathing, very aware that the truth will make them lose their loved ones. Considering the kind of people Jesus spent his time with, he'd probably be very disappointed.

GAIN

A few weeks ago, Vice President Joe Biden affirmed his support of marriage equality. This was a major point of progress for equality supporters.



Here's what gets me, though. Evangelical Christians who interpret the Bible as literally as they do, they'll use verse after verse to justify anti-gay opinions. Yet, President Barack Obama, used his faith as a means to help him evolve towards his conclusion that he does indeed support marriage equality. This decision has made him the FIRST and ONLY president to fully support marriage equality.




THE GOLDEN RULE

Though he didn't refer to the Bible and quote Scripture the way equality opponents typically do, Obama just made a reference: The Golden Rule, which is found in Matthew 7:12: "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you." He referred to this lesson in Scripture to complete his "evolving" view on marriage equality. And now, because of the Golden Rule, he supports it, because it states that we should treat others the way we want them to treat us.

My big thing with the Golden Rule and how there are so many "Christians" who oppose marriage equality based on the Bible is that opponents quote every Scripture where someone else spoke, not Jesus. They quote the Old Testament, and the letters of St. Paul to whomever. However, in this particular verse, Jesus himself spoke. He also spoke about divorce, and how "what God has joined, no man shall separate" (Matt. 19:6). So, again, there Jesus himself spoke, and he said it clearly, that what God has joined, no man shall separate. So, if Jesus clearly speaks against divorce in the gospel, why are there no laws being worked on to ban divorce? Why are people so up in arms about the one true event that is the REAL enemy of the "sanctity of marriage"? If anything, gays are fighting FOR the sanctity of marriage. They're trying to get married because they're committed to their partners, which is what a marriage is all about. It is, after all, "until death do you part", so marriage is about love and commitment, and THAT is what gays are fighting for: the sanctity of marriage. And ironically, the same people who typically oppose marriage equality are the ones who've likely already experienced a failed marriage. So, how are gays such a threat?

Our president, whether you like him or hate him, has concluded that it's only fair for committed couples to have a legally recognized marriage. He's the first president in American history to publicly state this. He could look at me and Frank, and millions of others like us, and see us as married, recognizing our life-long commitments to each other.

"Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you." -Jesus
"Love your neighbor as yourself." -Jesus

Obama is doing just that. 

Can you guess who I'm voting for in November 2012?