Happiness

I have thought for a long time about writing this post, it's about sensitive subjects. My mission is not to offend anyone but to simply state my opinions and feelings and to hopefully open people's eyes, minds and hearts.

I have long believed that everyone deserves the right to be happy. I have many gay and lesbian friends and could never understand what was quite so offensive about them. What is offensive to me is the ability of some to judge an entire group of people based solely on the fact that they love someone of the same gender. What two consenting people chose to do with their lives is their decision, and their decision alone. It should never have been put up for debate in the first place. There's that whole right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness thing, isn't there?
  Here's where it gets really messy. Religion is so often brought into this debate. The Bible says that homosexuality is a sin. Well, guess what, so is smoking, drinking, cursing, having bad thoughts, not wearing modest clothing, having sex out of wedlock, divorce, jealousy and JUDGMENT. That's right, I said it. God states in the Bible that He alone is to cast judgement. That we, as people, are to strive to love and accept our fellow man. The whole practice of Christianity is about accepting people, about forgiveness and about trying to be the best person you can be. I believe it is John 8:7 that states 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'.
  I personally do not believe in God. I am an Evolutionist. But, I was raised in the Lutheran Church, attended a Lutheran school for many years, have read the Bible and have a pretty good working knowledge on the subject of religion. I have faced criticism based on my beliefs, and have turned the other cheek. I have never judged others based on their beliefs and don't intend to start. I have never judged someone based on their faults, barring abuse, murder, rape, you know, the things that really are awful. I would never judge someone based on the fact that they curse too much, that they drink too much, that their religious beliefs differ from mine, that they love someone of the same gender or that they disagree with me. Live and let live.
  My husband is Baptist. We have talked many times about religion and how we will bring up our son. I have agreed to attend church if that is something Brian would like to do, I have no problem with Brian reading the Bible to Beau. Brian has asked me if I would be bothered by him praying with Beau, and I would be fine with it, I would even encourage it. We decided that we will raise Beau with both of our beliefs and when he is older we will let him decide for himself. I will have no objections if my son chooses to believe in God, or Evolution for that matter. We will bring him up with love and acceptance, teach him that hate is wrong and that respect is a necessity.  As long as he is a good person and is good to other people then we have done our job.
  And now to discuss the matter of gays and lesbians raising children. We all know how reproduction works, so I'm not even going to discuss that aspect of it. What I will discuss is the fact that there are so many unwanted children, so many babies that need loving homes, stable upbringings and parents that care. There are good people everywhere, there are also bad people everywhere. People who will abuse children, abuse the system by having more children just to get more money to spend on themselves, people who would rather do anything than care for the child they created. So how can we say that two people of the same gender wanting to love and care for a child is wrong when two people of opposite genders can't get it right?  If we take that route than we could say that, for example, an aunt and grandmother raising a child together is wrong. Or that a single father seeking help from his father/brother/friend in raising a child is wrong.There is all together too much focus on what people deem right and wrong, and not enough focus on what really matters in these situations, that a child is loved and cared for.
  I have seen friends personally affected by hate, seen the look in their eyes when someone suggests that they are less of a person because of who they love. It breaks my heart that it has taken so long for them to gain equal rights, and we're not even there yet. My friends, people who have supported me, given me a place to stay, loved me without question are some of the best people I have ever known. To anyone who says that gays and lesbians are sinners and bad people, I say does it make you a good person to cast that judgement?
  Everyone has the right to their own beliefs, they have the right to love who they want to love. I want more than anything for this whole issue to open people's eyes to the fact that everyone is different. Just because someone does not share your beliefs or have the same family structure as you or loves someone who is the same gender or a different color or a different race does not give you the right to judge them. You never know what you will learn by simply listening to another person.
What a boring world it would be if we were all the same!