Amidst a Facebook newsfeed largely comprised of red equal signs, I saw a phrase that I took some exception to: Str8 Against H8 (Straight Against Hate). On the surface, there's nothing wrong here. I am also straight and am not particularly pro-hate. I understand that equal marriage rights are a huge deal right now. Personally, I don't care if you marry your patio furniture. It doesn't change my marriage in any way.
No, the problem I have is this wholesale appropriation of the word "hate" by the LGBT community to label anyone who doesn't agree with them. It's certainly an effective political tool, and one that I'm certain has rallied more than a few to their cause. I mean, let's be honest - who wants to be viewed as someone who HATES an entire subsection of our society? Anyone? Probably not. From a purely psychological standpoint, I bet there a good number of people who look at this propaganda-esque usage of the word and jumped on board, just to escape the label. Very clever, LGBT community.
However, I'm going to go ahead and cry foul here. I am not a stupid person, and I understand that this "hate" label is largely being leveled at Christians, right-wing-ers, evangelicals, fundamentalists, and whatever other groups are not on board with gay marriage, regardless of reasoning. This lack of concern for the reason of one's opposition is my problem, and I'm going to say this loud and clear:
Religious conviction is not the same thing as hate.
It just isn't - regardless of willy-nilly application of labels. As I've already stated, I'm not a stupid person. I am sadly aware that some (perhaps many) people who oppose gay marriage do hate homosexuals. It's unfortunate that, if these people who do hate - and do so in the name of God - are ignorant and are also, quite frankly, doing it wrong. Scripture tells us to love each other many more times than it condemns homosexuality. Actually, in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, amongst the people who are listed as not inheriting the kingdom of God are, yes, homosexuals. Right alongside them are: the sexually immoral (which is a BROAD topic), idolators (anyone who places anything else above God), adulterers, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers. Certainly, most of us (myself included) fall into one or more of these categories - even the Christians. The only hope any of us have is the salvation as noted in v. 11 - sanctification in Jesus Christ.
Now, where am I going with this? Mostly, I just think it's unfair for everyone who disagrees with a particular issue to have this "hate" label applied to them. For a group (the LGBT community) who is trying so hard to be accepted and normalized in society, this approach seems a bit counter-productive to me. As I've said in other posts - if you're asking for tolerance and acceptance, try practicing a little. Casting anyone who doesn't agree with you as an enemy does not foster acceptance. Instead, it makes people defensive. If you really want walls to come down in relationships, you have to bring yours down, too.
We'll all be better off when we can learn to disagree on principles without personal attacks on those who may be against us. We're all human. We all want to be loved and be free to live our lives in the way that we best see fit. Let's all try to be a little cooler and not create hate where it doesn't exist.
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