The Middle of the Road or Not?

Anon-Voter wrote:

......... I would hope that Momma and those who believe like her would look into the cause and reason for homosexuality. It's not a disease, and it's not a mental illness. It can't be cured, it can only be suppressed ... and I don't think that can be done successfully over the long term. There are physiological, physical, and mental reasons for homosexuality, and they are as natural to the individual as life itself.

Anon

Are you assuming that homosexuals are born that way?

I know homosexuals who would disagree with that very strongly.

I have met gay guys who knew that they were "different" at the age of 3 or 4. You can't say that THAT is learned behavior!

Phoenix32890 wrote:

I have met gay guys who knew that they were "different" at the age of 3 or 4. You can't say that THAT is learned behavior!

It's not a learned behavior. Anyone who things it is is kidding himself.

One the other hand, one can hardly be called a fiend for not wanting to grant homosexuals something (mariage) that they have never had in any era or place on Earth. I am not saying that just because something has always been done a certain way it is right, but what I am saying is that it's an exaggeration to call one evil for not wanting to grant them privileges they have never possesses in any human society in human history.

Exercize your mind just a dab, if you can crack it open just a tad.

If they can be born with these conditions:

and I have seen one child, who was born with both male and female genitals, and more than a few born with dominant male traits, but feminine genitals--and plenty of men, who walk, talk, have mannerisms the most accomplished actor couldn't fake. Since more than a few of them were teased mercilessly and some, brutally:

I don't know why any rational person would insist that there is no reason other than some evil inherent desire to be reviled by society and maybe killed.

You sound like someone who despises gay people, and wants to blame them for it, to justify the way up feel.

I worked closely with several people, who needed community services--and also interacted with a troupe of local actors--and I'm not guessing.

Lash wrote:

Exercize your mind just a dab, if you can crack it open just a tad.

If they can be born with these conditions:

and I have seen one child, who was born with both male and female genitals, and more than a few born with dominant male traits, but feminine genitals--and plenty of men, who walk, talk, have mannerisms the most accomplished actor couldn't fake. Since more than a few of them were teased mercilessly and some, brutally:

I don't know why any rational person would insist that there is no reason other than some evil inherent desire to be reviled by society and maybe killed.

You sound like someone who despises gay people, and wants to blame them for it, to justify the way up feel.

I worked closely with several people, who needed community services--and also interacted with a troupe of local actors--and I'm not guessing.

Of course you're guessing. Your experiences that you've mentioned point to the fact that you have experience with those individuals. That hardly qualifies you to speak authoritatively on the subject. Thus you are guessing.

This subject has been hashed and rehashed again. Some claim that science has already proven that homosexuality stems from a chemical balance in the mind. Others claim that homosexuality is not, in fact, natural and isn't something that the brain can influence outside of how it's used to rationalize the feelings a person has.

What it all comes down to is that no one really knows, some people just have very strong emotions towards same gender, others just like to have fun with it, and others are repulsed.

Actually it has been proven. It is not a "chemical imbalance", it is an actual difference in brain structure and makeup. There are distinct differences between the hertero brain, and the homosexual brain.

Anon

Biology and sexual orientation is the concept in industrialized societies that there is, at least in part, a biological basis for sexual orientation. An increasing number of studies have investigated this link, but no scientific consensus exists as to the specific biological factors that may play a role, nor to the precise nature of their influence on sexual orientation. Causal areas these studies have examined include morphological brain structure, prenatal environment, chromosomes, and viral genetic influence. Methodologically, some studies have used twins as controls.

Preamble

For many years, Friends have struggled with one another to grow in mutual understanding about issues relating to the lives of gays and lesbians within our Meetings, in our communities, and within our families. In our Meetings we include sexual minority members, some of whom are in same-sex marriages, and we have shared times with each other's families. Again, we have found evidence of the truth to which Friends have witnessed throughout the years: "There is that of God in every person."
We have struggled with the meaning of marriage. As Quakers, we recognize marriages to affirm the choice and commitment of individuals, to support loving families, and to strengthen our own spiritual community. We use the process of corporate spiritual discernment when deciding to take a marriage under our care. In recent years, most of the Meetings in North Pacific Yearly Meeting have felt called to take the marriages of gay couples and lesbian couples under their care. Each of these Meetings made this decision after a corporate search under the guidance of the Spirit.

Marriage, however, is not only a religious, spiritual matter, it is also a legal or civil matter. Marriage, in the civil sense, conveys a broad array of civil benefits, including access to health insurance for dependents, tax benefits, inheritance rights, parental and custody rights, and next-of-kin status for medical decisions and visitation. As we have educated ourselves about the lives and struggles of our sexual minority members, we have become aware of what effects the denial of these legal rights has on gay and lesbian couples. We now feel led to speak publicly against this form of discrimination and injustice and for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.


We, therefore, approve the following minute:

North Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is deeply concerned that access to civil marriage is presently denied to gay and lesbian couples. This injustice brings legal, financial and social discrimination against lesbian and gay couples and their children. We, therefore, support legal recognition of the marriages of gay and lesbian couples to permit them the same legal rights and responsibilities that pertain to heterosexual married couples.

We now feel led to speak publicly against this form of discrimination and injustice and for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.