As to your comments on overt displays of sex, I’m not exactly sure what you mean but let me just respond with what your words brought to my mind. Like you, I don’t find anything attractive about promiscuous or overt displays of public sex or sexuality, whether it’s gay or straight, and that’s because I’m coming from the same place as you in regards to my faith convictions and a personal standard of morality that’s shaped by my understanding of sexual behavior and human sexuality. Among the circles of straight and gay Christians I’m a part of, that would essentially be true for all of them to one degree or another since I really can’t say what’s in another’s mind or heart.

Events like the Folsom Street Fair (Up Your Alley), as well as a small percentage of what can often appear at a gay parade are no doubt as offensive to me as to you but there are a couple things I think are important to keep in mind. We often use the term “GLBTQ community” which can make it sound like all GLBTQ people are together in one collective mindset. The one thing we share in common is that we know what it is to be GLBTQ in this world and we stand united, more or less, in our commitment and struggle to gain equal treatment under the law, but beyond that the word is really misleading just as it would be to lump all straight people together as one “heterosexual community.” What we are is a collective of communities and among us there is incredible diversity, places where we agree and places where we’re at great conflict. I say all this because of the concerted effort among some who oppose homosexuality to paint us all with a broad brush stroke as though every gay person and what they do represents all gay people. All that to say, I can’t nor won’t defend the sexual behavior of every GLBTQ person nor do I believe any gay person is responsible to do so. I only have one gay person I’m responsible to keep in line and to give account for and that’s me. That’s a big enough job for me.

There are other times when GLBTQ people are out publicly in ways and some people consider just doing that, marching for marriage equality or demanding an end to DOMA, is being “blatant” about our sex or that we’re throwing homosexuality in their face. What I would hope people could begin to understand is that being gay is about much more than who we sleep with or sex in general. When I or other gay people are being visible in the world in seeking our rights, our focus isn’t on sex (though it seems to be for some who oppose us) but because there’s a part of our identity that keeps us from being treated equally under the law. We aren’t out in the world demanding that people embrace our sexual orientation or homosexuality but that they look beyond that to our humanity and to treat us as equal to them in our worth, our rights, and our responsibilities. Because we are in every way they value in themselves and those they love.

Kim, you probably got a way longer reply from me than you intended or wanted but interestingly enough I’ve been considering writing a series of posts addressed to straight folks and so apparently my soapbox was just within reach

Again, so glad you stopped by and I do hope you continue to check in from time to time. You’re always welcome here.

Kim

One thing about God and His Word, He expects His disciple or seeker to study the Word of God so that they know what it says and what it means as a whole ~ (“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH” II Timothy 2:15). It was not God’s intention for people to take out one verse here and one verse there – and build a theology around those one or two verses taken out of context.

God’s Authority has established His Plan for sexuality, in the beginning, and maintains it throughout Scripture:
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:24 & 25

Jesus mentions this same standard in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9. He adds a phrase, “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Asunder means: separate or pull apart)

Paul mentions this same standard in Ephesians 5:31. Paul adds how the man and wife marriage plan is a metaphor of the great mystery concerning Christ and the Church. Scripture often talks of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as the Bride (“As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” Isaiah 62:5; “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready…Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” Revelation 19:7 & 9; “And I John saw the holy city, Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” Revelation 21:2; “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife” Revelation 21:9). Paul states that Christ is the head of the church, Christ loved the church, gave Himself for it, and is sanctifying it with the Word of God. The ONENESS of marriage is explained, “For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones” – just as man and wife are ONE flesh.

All other instances involving “marriage” relationships in the New Testament refer to one man and one wife (I Corinthians 7; I Timothy 3:2; I Timothy 3:12; I Timothy 5:9; Titus 1:6; I Peter 3:7 ~ and many more).