Did you vote YES?

In my mind, two of the most important concepts taught within religious doctrine are: ‘love one another’ and ‘treat others as you wish to be treated’. I can’t find anywhere in the bible when God says anything specifically about homosexuals (gay or lesbian and other) wherein the story actually holds true by today’s standards. Is there something that your religious leader has told you that makes you think that ‘God hates Fags?’ I sincerely believe (and have been taught) that religious study requires intelligent inspection and interpretation, not just blind acceptance. A religious path is completely specific to the individual on that path. Each relationship with God is unique. Furthermore, God reserves the right to do the judging, not us…

It dawned on me after thinking about something that a YES-ON-H8TER wrote earlier: ‘God loves the sinner and hates the sin.’ It made me think. Wouldn’t it be appropriate for you to make a decision to love others with the openness of your heart, and to do them a kindness by treating them equally and assuming them equal rights (treat others as you wish to be treated). And then go to God and ask for his forgiveness if he feels you have done something wrong. Explain that you made a choice to love thy neighbor because you believe in love, respect and equal rights while we’re here on this planet together trying to figure all of this out. You want to create connections and strong bonds with your neighbors while we are on earth together instead of erecting walls of hatred and discrimination. Then let (Him) know that you know (He’ll) make the right judgment of the ‘sinner’. I think that would make sense.

In going back through my many conversations, I have to clarify my perspective a little: In my understanding of it all, I’m not going to hell any faster than you’re going to heaven. Let’s be honest - Those are decisions that just haven’t been made yet and they aren’t decisions made by you and I. Those are Final Judgments that happen at the culmination of our lives and these are far off for many of us. We’ve got a lot of time here on the earth to live together in kindness, hope, respect, faith, love, and an ever-triumphant push towards equality. And if you’re religous "absolutes" hold true and the judgments shake out in your favor in the end, then I will applaud your luck in being exposed to the ‘right’ religion. And if you’re correct, then we’ll end up in different places and you can say you told me so…

Your vote to deny me rights, hurt me. I’m just not willing to hurt others in God’s name. I’m not willing to ask people to behave and contribute like first-class citizens and then treat them like second-class citizens. It’s archaic and I’ve read my history books... This is nation of free people and it is built on a tradition of personal liberty and equality. I have faith in you as a compassionate American.