Hating somebody because an ancient book of propaganda tells you that you must is hideous! Why embrace such a book and such a mindset?
Actually, in the Bible what we call "gay" is called a "eunuch." It is considered a gift. And eunuchs were socially expected to bond with other men for companionship. It was considered a gift because there was no intense desire for someone of the opposite sex, which saved you from marriage. But sexual urges were expected to be taken care of with masturbation. (1 Thess 4:3-8)
In other words, when you read in the Bible about John, "the one whom Jesus loved", what do you get out of that? What were they talking about. John and Jesus were "together", if you get my drift. They were both eunuchs. They loved each other, but there was no sex because that was just beneath them. But there was nothing wrong with loving another man, even kissing each other in the mouth. There were social concepts where the lines were drawn, just as family members kiss and hug each other in ways considered inappropriate for non-relatives. In that culture, two men who were "together", in love with each others, seen as companions, were not presumed to be engaged in sex.
But let's look at this two ways: (1) socially and (2) sexually graphically.
(1) Socially, a straight male was not to have sex unless he was married. He was free to masturbate, however. So the sexual issue didn't come up. Some engagements might even have lasted for a few years. But if you knew you could relieve any built-up sexual tension privately, it wasn't all that much of problem. Gave you something to look forward to. Well a gay couple were like to people dating who keep postponing the wedding. The thought of dishonoring someone's chasity made a difference. In the end, especially for a holy man, the chaste mind was more enjoyable than being so focussed on the sex.
(2) On the other hand, from a sexually graphic point of view, "gay" is a broad topic. And depending on how broadly you draw that topic can limit your sexual expression. For instance, some gay men like to be tied up and beaten. Urinated on and defecated on. Is that the wholesome "gay" state being really free means? Some gay people have sex in groups with people they don't know. Is that what is supposed to be acceptable. Stepping back a bit, we all know some play distinct roles in relationships. Some prefer being aggressive (a top) and another rather passive (a bottom). These are self-defined or at least self-realized roles each associate with themselves. But that also says there is CONTROL. That is every gay person doesn't like doing the same things. So if you have two bottoms together, not much is going to happen, is it? They may still love each other though. Plus there's the ultimate and total hypocrisy of it all any way. Let's say you're gay, you've been celibate all this time and you just can't take it any more and you're going to give in and have your first sexual experience. You go to a gay bar and there, drunk in the corner is this 86-year-old badly dressed and overweight man whose available. Great, right? Any man will do? No way! Gay desperation drastrically comes under control when age and looks are factored in. Yes, of course, you can't resist if it's a Brad Pitt lookalike who happens to be rich who wants to show you his beach house. Those are the times when it is really hard not to be gay right? But really, it's not simply homosexuality, but the attraction to beautiful man and a beautiful romance. So there are ways to manipulate the mind and sexual desire.
On the other hand, it's quite another thing to think being "gay" or a eunuch isn't natural and try to change yourself. Now that's a lot of pain right there! But God doesn't require that. He doesn't care if you have a boyfriend and you're in love with another human. He just feels it not not necessary to play in each other's feces to express that affection and respect. Think about it.
Hating somebody because an ancient book of propaganda tells you that you must is hideous! Why embrace such a book and such a mindset?
You have brains and talent and humanity in you. USE IT to better yourself. Hang out with rational people. Go to a Philosophy discussion group. Visit an Objectivist Center. Become political. Throw in with artists who are creating something. Are we all not quite in control. You see a handsome guy at the end of the bar, you have a nice conversation, you decide to go out for dinner. He pulls himself down into a wheelchair and says, "C'mon, let's go, my car is right outside." Suddenly, oh gosh! An appointment you forgot about! You've gott run! In fact, "I'm LATE!" Raincheck! Oh, let me get that drink for you, it's on me! See, even if the face is pretty, we expect a whole person. Love with a cripple is not quite what our fantasy was about. Do you realize how lonely and how painful it is for those people are are imperfect in some way? They don't get the romances a lot of times. What about them? There are so many outcasts out there.
And I sort of know both sides. As a guy I wasn't really particularly good looking. I was the typical nerd maybe. But once I put on my makeup and transformed into Diana, a whole set of people were surrounding me all of a sudden. I once knew another drag queen. Her name was "Reyna". She was tall and thin, quite nice, but a nose that wouldn't quit. It looked like a beak. She wasn't attractive. Well at some point she got plastic surgery and when that beak was gone she was a dazzling beauty! Suddenly she could get any man she wanted. Know what she told me? She was going to pour on the charm and break every man's heart she ran into as payback for all the times she got passed over when she was the ugly duckling! So you have a different perspective when you see both sides.
And how about this! I don't know if anyone knows about Orange County, in California. That's where all the white people ran to when blacks started moving into the suburbs of LA. It was known to be a racist place and blacks always got stopped and harrassed by police. Sure, what else is old? But guess what? It's totally different if you are an attractive black woman. I actually had one white officer stop me and proposition me. And I wasn't dressed like a postitute just a woman, a suburbanite! Totally different when I happened to be in men's clothes and got questioned by police. But I learned something. There's something that divides white men and black men that isn't there between white men and black women. I suppose that barrier is not there between black men and white women -- apparently not.
So yes, the God does care if you sodomize your boyfriend, but he doesn't care if you love him and live with him and make a vow to be a couple. And if you have urges, he expects you to work it out privately with some vaseline. That's about it.
JC
