Not all gays are filthy perverts

THE EDITOR: Having recently read several “dotish” ideologies in the dailies that condemn gays and their lifestyles, it would not surprise me if some poor frustrated gay boy or girl began harbouring thoughts of suicide. Leading the irresponsible statements that have come about because of the recent sanctioning of a gay Anglican Bishop and the upsurge of same-sex marriages is the head of the Anglican Church in TT. He should choose his words more wisely. There are adulterous homophobes who also preach that it is ok to be gay while branding such unions as sacrilegious. Talk about double standards. I am here to tell all narrow-minded bashers who cloak themselves in religion that God is seeing through your self-serving agenda that selects only certain excerpts from the Bible to justify your cause of hatred to “different” people. The stereotyping is also quite disturbing — people running their uninformed mouths off about a concept they know little or nothing about. The belief for many is that all gay men are filthy perverts who pounce on anything with a penis and who are also capable of fathering children but generally choose not to. Yes, there are gays who fit that bill but many more don’t. Scores of men and women have written before denouncing this sort of bigotry as pure hysteria but to no avail.

I would change my same-sex preference at the drop of a dime if I could have, simply because of society’s unrelenting cruelty. It is not easy being a homosexual, at least not for millions like myself, who are private and contributing law abiders. Most of us are model citizens who remain discreet, or at least try to be. Unfortunately, it is only the flamboyant fussy fags and the ever-popular promiscuous bisexual that bigots see or want to see. These are the groups that critics base their biased opinions on. As I write, I can foresee the thoughts of readers that question, why I don’t pray for change. Do you honestly believe that I don’t do that? I know now that this is my lot in life, one of my personal trials on the road to salvation. On the same road that some high-ranking Church heads believe they are way in front, when in fact they lag behind. With regards to the newly appointed gay bishop who has two children from a dissolved marriage and has been living with his man for 13 years, I concede that he is a sinner. But who amongst us isn’t? The intolerance in this case seems to come from the perception that gay sex is one of the gravest sins. Others don’t subscribe to that thought. Do you think that if this popular Bishop was some how proven to be celibate that his detractors would have accepted him as Bishop? No way hosay. The fact that he is likely to be sexually active only adds fuel to his chastisement when the principal issue lies with his gayness - a situation his imperfect human status cannot change. His prior heterosexual union meant that he put up a valiant fight for years — trying to do the “right thing” before being overcome by his destiny. The same holds for many guys here in TT, a hard-to-hear reality.

God bestowed us all with a conscience and free will. Then he provided guidelines that tell how we should live our lives. Our conscience indicates right from wrong, even in uncertainty and our will chooses right or wrong, having learnt the difference. Our God-given conscience can therefore be comparative to the “written word” as both tell right from wrong, with our conscience further coming into play in defining ambiguous interpretations of the Bible. It follows then, that what one feels in his heart to be right — when his conscience is clear on doing what is perceived to be right, is in fact the right thing to do for that individual. Bishop Gene Robinson’s appointment is just if his conscience is clear that he is who he is destined to be. Similarly, same-sex marriages are moral if the players believe within their hearts, beyond all doubt, that they are meant for each other. After all, the soul has no gender. Let us remember that at the end of the day we are all God’s children, conferred with different skin colours and tones. Many would love to change their colour but can’t. By the same token, others are heterosexual or gay or bisexual and must live with their orientation for life. Blessed is the day when we forego judging people based on whom they sleep with, and instead celebrate the goodness within their hearts. Let God be the judge.

ETHAN G
(In the Closet)
Trinidad