Gay Pride Month - Just What Are We Celebrating?
by Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International
Barack Obama just issued a proclamation declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. Of course, his declaration poses a problem for most Christians, but his words raise some ideas worth pondering.
In his public statement, Obama said: "LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities."
True, but does the fact that these leaders identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender have anything to do with the fact that they are talented? Of course not. Their achievements and contributions are entirely unrelated to any label they may embrace. Each was born with the God-given potential for the contributions they have bestowed and the greatness they have achieved. Consequently, I've always thought that the evangelical church is missing out on the talented contributions of our missing prodigals, some of whom are in the gay community, and I'm reminded again to pray for their return.
I do agree with President Obama when he says "LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment." Most of us would. Every student should have a safe environment in which to learn without fear of harassment regardless of perceived or self-declared sexual orientation.
I wish more people subscribed to that way of thinking when I was in school. I was the fat kid with acne that everyone labeled as "gay." I endured plenty of ridicule during middle school—so much so that when I think about it today it still hurts. I needed to feel safe and never did. I needed support from teachers and students alike. But so did Andrea, a girl who had no same-sex attraction issues that I knew of—just big teeth and braces.
The girls were so mean to her, and I watched her endure the cruelest taunting and abuse. I will never forget seeing her eyes fill up with tears as she put on a brave face. I wish that I had stood up for her. I wonder, though, are we not playing playground politics once more by elevating the status of LBGT individuals above those of the equally valuable Andreas of the world?
Ultimately, the biggest problem I have with Obama's proclamation is our difference of opinion on what is truly worth celebrating. I chose to leave gay life more than 18 years ago because the self-indulgent, empty pursuits I encountered there are certainly not worth commemorating. It's the life I live now as a fulfilled husband, father and ministry leader that causes me to look back and celebrate what God has done in and through me. Obama notes the 40th anniversary of riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, where many in the gay community resisted police harassment. Some consider it to be the birth of the LGBT movement, but ironically it's also the 40th anniversary of something else.
In 1969, Roberta Laurila, now an 87-year old woman who came out of lesbianism in her 40s, had a dream of a stadium filled with men and women who had come out of homosexuality. She described it as "a spiritual vision of a worldwide ministry" and said it would "reach homosexuals who wanted a close relationships with Jesus Christ and who wanted to be set free from their sin."
Now, 40 years later Laurila's dream has been fulfilled through the ministry of Exodus International. Exodus has seen thousands of individuals trapped by gay life and an all-consuming gay identity experience freedom and new life through the power of Jesus Christ. This message of hope and freedom has been proclaimed in stadiums around the world and on almost every continent, and next month hundreds more will meet in Chicago for the 34th annual Exodus Freedom conference to encounter the changing power of a living God. Now that's worth celebrating!
Alan Chambers is the President of Exodus International, the largest Christian ministry to men and women affected by unwanted same-sex attraction.
Read more at OpposingViews.com:
http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/opinion-evangelicals-bash-obama-s-gay-pride-month-decree
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Look, i am proud to be gay... You might ask why? Is it because i think it is cool that i am different? Nope... Is it because i want to start controversy? No... Is it because i want get special rights? No...
The reason why i am proud and i celebrate is because i loved myself enouph to stop trying to change myself into something that i am not... I am proud because -a while ago- for one of the first times in my life, just thought about me and my own personal beliefs... I am proud because i know that God still loves all of his children for who they are... I am proud that i can still grow and prosper in a society that labels me and says i want special rights when i want is for people to leave me alone... I am proud to not judge how others live... And last I am proud that i have never hurt someone else for being different and peacful in their difference.
That is why i am proud
I used to tolerate gays in a live and let live kind of truce. My wife works with many of them as she is a flight attendant. When gays began to push their agendas and lifestyle into my face and the faces of all other American citizens, I reached my point of intolerance for them. Gays are digging a hole for themselves that most likely will end in a huge backlash against them by the real majority. If the real majority knew about all of the deprevity and disease transfers that occur in the gay community, they would have almost no support left at all. Your sick gay parades are going a long way to educate them about you. If you are going to educate everyone, make sure you tell the whole truth.
You say that we can't have religion in schools and then turn around and want to teach young children about the homosexual lifestyle. That is as two faced as anyone can get! The Devil is most definately being given free run on the face of the earth as Jesus Christ stated he would until the end finally comes.
We need to stop pointing out how people are different the way you are doing and start pointing out how they are the same. Only then would discrimination of all kinds be ended.
I've never been a fan of "pride" anything. I don't see what being born a certain way has to do with what you achieve or what talents you have or skills you've learned. To attach those things to a certain element like sexuality or race is to also imply that people don't have choices. You are either able to do something or you're not, by birth. It reinforces stereotypes.
I'm not sure about being "proud" of something you had nothing to do with. I didn't make myself a woman or white or heterosexual, so I don't give myself a parade for it. *I* had nothing to do with it.
Maybe we should have a "pride in the achievements of certain types/classes/races of people month." But isn't that even segregating instead of integrating, singling out people based on those differences?
Though I've always felt that devoting months as official pride months is a curious concept I fail to see the difference between a GLBT pride month and an African American pride month (or any other 'group' months).
Homosexuals are part of our society , and they have made contributions like any other group. The computer stands as a prime example, as Alan Turing (a homosexual) was instrumental in the development of the mathematical basis for computers.
Homosexuals can look up to Mr. Turing, just as any minority (or the majority) can look up to those who practice the same things that they do and are highly regarded by everyone.
Such things are of great importance to members of a minority, because seeing people who are also part of that minority celebrated helps raise their own moral.
It seems that Christians are having more and more problems with the gay community than just gay marriage, and I think this article is a good example of that. You've gotten to the point now where you're saying that people who are gay, and are happy about it or take pride in it, are something that is an issue with Christians. So I'd really like some Christians to answer this question: Do you have a problem with gay people EXISTING, or gay people feeling PRIDE in their existence? And if it's neither of those things:
"Barack Obama just issued a proclamation declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. Of course, his declaration poses a problem for most Christians,"
What problem is Alan referring to?
You were talking about how ashamed you were in school because of your appearance, how no one should feel that way because of who they are. And yet, you certainly don't want them to feel proud. Where are you coming down, Alan?