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May 31, 2007

They're Not "Real" Parents ... but Don't be Offended

Stephen Bennett, founder of Stephen Bennett Ministries (a group promoting the homosexual "cure"), is all hot under the collar over the White House's reference to Mary Cheney's lesbian partner, Heather Poe, as the "parent" of the couple's baby boy. The offending word was found in a caption under the official photo of Vice President and Mrs. Cheney holding their new grandson. "I say shame on the White House, shame on the president and shame on the vice president for allowing such a caption to be 'officially' added onto the White House website and such a beautiful photo of two happy grandparents and their new grandchild," Bennett said. "I guess we can tragically and officially say both the White House and the Bush Administration have officially recognized the sinful sexual unions of homosexuals, as well as recognized and embraced the tragedy of the social experiment of homosexual parenting." Bennett goes on to accuse Cheney and Poe of "playing house," says they are not "real parents," says the Vice President is rebelling "against his superior" (the President) and making "a public mockery of the president and the current administration he is supposed to represent," and calls on his supporters to pray for the president and other leaders.

All of this is, of course, very offensive – even to those of us who are uncomfortable with homosexuality, but who have come to understand that homosexuals really are "born that way," and because their activity involves consenting adults, and no one is being harmed, what they choose to do in the privacy of their own bedrooms isn't anyone else's business. Too many people seem to believe that their own perspective is the only one that is valid. This view can relate to political or religious views, customs, food, clothing, activities, entertainment, or anything else. If something is repulsive to me, then surely it must be repulsive to everyone, right? Therefore, if someone else is enjoying that repulsive thing, then clearly they must have something seriously wrong in their head. Obviously, if you think about it for a minute, that view is absolutely ridiculous, and thankfully, in the case of homosexual behavior, we have the science to prove it – and more and more people are recognizing that. My point is, even people who aren't comfortable with homosexuality because they can't personally relate to it are increasingly realizing that homosexuals aren't freaky people and that they have the right to pursue love and happiness just like everyone else.

Getting to this point has been a long process, and along the way a lot of people who cannot understand or tolerate others' personal choices are completely unhappy with this trend. They are, in fact, very frightened by it. They believe we are literally dragging this country straight to Hell and are convinced that homosexuals want all of us to become gay and burn in Hell with them. The harm they do with their comments is real and it feels like hate (in the case of people like Fred Phelps, I believe it actually is hate). But what drives them typically is something very different from hate. It is fear of God and a near panic over the danger they believe our tolerance of homosexuality places this country and the souls of those who engage in homosexuality. In a nutshell, believe it or not, they are driven by very real concern for the well-being of their fellow man. As I said, sometimes we find ourselves unable to tolerate the views of others because we think our own perspective is the only valid one. We need to look at this from the perspective of those whose speech we believe is "hateful" and repulsive.

Bennett is himself a "former" homosexual, who, in a period of 11 years, had more than 100 homosexual partners until he found Jesus, married a woman, had two daughters, and started his ministry. I know a lot of people think Bennett is simply trying to make a living the easy way, and I can understand that. But I really don't think that is the case. Everything he says makes it clear he is desperate to save other homosexuals from eternal damnation.

My point here is that hating people like Bennett isn't the answer even though his comments feel very hurtful. More hate is never the answer. Neither should people be terribly offended because his motivations are actually based on concern for the eternal souls of homosexuals. No matter how ignorant you may think that is, the fact is that based on his understanding of reality, he is trying to help people. In my opinion, the answer is to continue to press forward with efforts to support personal freedom at every turn and to help all of our young people grow up valuing themselves so they will choose healthy, happy lives, whether gay or straight. Over time, as more and more homosexuals grow up in a society that is, for the most part, not repressive or abusive to them, and as they succeed in society without having to hide who they are, people like Bennett will have less and less power to hurt them.

Posted by Becky at May 31, 2007 12:00 PM