The "Homosexual Agenda"

[Rick336]

Here's a few quotes I found from the religious right about the "homosexual agenda" in America:

"We can bring a halt to the homosexual agenda or remain silent and the values of our children and society will be deeply and tragically altered."

"The only way we as Christians can reverse the homosexual agenda is to stand up for what we believe; to get involved and educated about the issue. We've had our heads in the sand for too long."

"The homosexual agenda presents a clear and present danger to this Republic and the institution of the family upon which all decent societies are built."

Over and over again I hear our opponents talk about the so called "homosexual agenda". It sounds like we're all plotting to take over society and turn eveyone's children into homosexuals.

This idea is so ridiculous that most of us laugh at it and dismiss it as utter nonsense. But what's scary is that many of our opponents sincerely believe we plan to "tragically alter" America.

I was talking to an ultra-conservative, Christian friend of mine this past weekend. He knows I'm gay and we got into a discussion about gay rights. He said, "What I have a problem with is that homosexual groups are going into the schools to try to recruit children into the homosexual lifestyle."

I was so shocked that he actually believed this that I hardly knew how to respond. I explained to him that to choose one's sexual orientation is not an option and therefore recruitment is impossible. I explained that the objective was to educate students that GLBT Americans deserve the same basic rights as all Americans and that bullying and violence against gay or lesbian students is cruel and harmful.

I could have easily laughed him off and said, "You don't have a clue so there's no reason to talk to you." But I think my explanation began to sink in and hopefully he will question the validity of his thoughts on the subject.

As ridiculous as the above quotes from the religious right seem, we need to take them seriously. Instead of dismissing them as hateful rhetoric we should take the opportunity to educate our opponents that we do not have an "evil" agenda. We need to show them that our goal is simple. We want the same rights and representation as other Americans enjoy. We want the same protection under the law that's given to all citizens.

It's called equality. It means having the same privileges, status, rights, value, and freedom as others.

The fight for equality and freedom is not an evil agenda. It's the American agenda.

Rick

[Zerbie]

Yep. There are two different audiences to address though.

First of all, the "leaders" of this anti-gay movement - I write them off for lost causes since many of them actually DO know better than to believe their own propaganda (what confounds me then is their possible motivation for continuing to spread it.) They either know better, or have the resources, personal professional and education, to have learned better, and turn a blind eye to the actuality.

We need to address the "normal" people who are being misinformed about gay folk. People like your friend. No one likes to find out they were lied to, and the American people as a whole are being lied to about gays on a regular basis. Once they discover what is actually happening, most of them will rally to our "side."

What this means is we must find a way to debate with the anti-gay leaders in such a way as to sway - not the leaders we are debating - but the observing audience. The public will not be consistently fooled. If we can communicate the actuality of what is happening with these issues, we will indeed win the equality we struggle to acheive.

[Jennifer5]

It is a hard situation because the people debating us are ones that have clearly made up their minds... you're right Zerbie, it's the ones watching that can still change, not the ones debating.

[Rick336]

Yes. It's frustrating sometimes that the leaders of the anti-gay movement are so closed minded. And it seems to make sense to ignore their vicious rhetoric and focus only on the moderates.

But I disagree that it's useless to debate them. Sure there are some ultra-conservatives who will never see us as equal to them. But there are others who I believe can actually be persuaded to see our side of the struggle for equality and to seriously question their irrational beliefs.

During the civil rights movement of the 1960s Governor George Wallace of Alabama vowed never to give in to the demands of African Americans to integrate the schools and lunch counters of Alabama. In a speech he made in 1963 he said this:

"I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!"

But 19 years later he had this to say:

"I did stand with a majority of the white people for separation of the schools. But that was wrong and that will never come back again."

I believe that change is possible even among some who vow never to accept homosexuals as deserving equality. Rational thought is a powerful and convincing force.

Rick

[Jennifer5]

You're right Rick... sometimes people can change in time... it is worth righting for our rights... even when you don't see that it will do anything.

[studying]

It seems to me that "anti-homosexual" to many is just the keeping of ages old norms. There does seem to be a homosexual agenda to be the only voice for qualifying what is and what isn't acceptable behavior.

My Christian friends see the gay movement within Churches and Christian Colleges as complete intolerance of the rights of Christians to believe what they always have believed for 2000 years. The do not agree with Soulforce demonsrtating at Colleges when there are plaenty of other colleges to attend.

I always thought the term was "Gay Agenda" and that it was an organized political body. In California legislator Sheila Kuehl sponsered a bill 1437 that would seem to declassify "Mothers day" or "Fathers day" to something that lends itself to adversely affecting the LGBT community.

I personally do not agree with Soulforce in protesting Christian Colleges that do not change to accept homosexual behavior. There is no reason for doing so. This would be like protesting that divorce or adultery be ignored.

There are millions of people that believe that the "homosexual agenda" is to change everything to "its" way of classifying what is and what isn't acceptable moral behavior.

With laws about what children can be taught in schools without the consent of their parents or approval, it seems that many feel validated that there are forces behind the scenes running a new society on all.

[Zerbie]

Hey Rick re-read my post - I didn't say useless at all. We will continue to debate them. But I do believe we need to structure our arguments to persuade the observing audience above all, because they are the more readily "moveable."

No, don't give up trying to persuade the anti-gay leaders and figureheads, as you said Rick, people have been known to change their minds in time. Usually, as in the example you give, in decades. So what that says is that persuading those people is a long term goal, whereas bringing the "moveable mainstream" to see what's actually happening is a far more short term goal.

[Rick336]

Good point Zerbie. I agree. The process involves both long and short term goals. But the prize at the end is worth it. Freedom.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by studying

It seems to me that "anti-homosexual" to many is just the keeping of ages old norms. There does seem to be a homosexual agenda to be the only voice for qualifying what is and what isn't acceptable behavior.

really? the only voice? Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, Donald Wildmon, Christian Coaliton, RepentAmerica. any of these sound familiar to you?

My Christian friends see the gay movement within Churches and Christian Colleges as complete intolerance of the rights of Christians to believe what they always have believed for 2000 years.

women are still possessions. polygamy is still practiced by christians. there are no women pastors. there are no church buildings, believers meet in each other's homes.

I personally do not agree with Soulforce in protesting Christian Colleges that do not change to accept homosexual behavior. There is no reason for doing so. This would be like protesting that divorce or adultery be ignored.

Christian colleges should be left alone by groups like Soulforce because what's done in private and on private property is acceptable, much like what's done in the bedroom between persons of the same-sex is of no concern to those Christian colleges. is that what you mean to say? Divorce and the subsequent adultery of those who remarry is ignored, given a "pass" by religious institutions or there wouldn't be such a high divorce rate, particularly in the south!

There are millions of people that believe that the "homosexual agenda" is to change everything to "its" way of classifying what is and what isn't acceptable moral behavior.

slavery. women's rights, including the right to vote. interracial marriages.

With laws about what children can be taught in schools without the consent of their parents or approval, it seems that many feel validated that there are forces behind the scenes running a new society on all.

hard facts here please. I am a school teacher in the public schools. I have found no homosexual "agenda" being shoved down our children's throats. If you're referring to lessons about anger management, discrimination, and bullying, you may find some reference to homosexuals, as in, it's not nice to beat up someone because you think they're gay. But again, I haven't seen that in anything my public school district teaches.