It Is Time For Us To Grow Up

Today is National Coming Out Day, a date set aside for people to come out to their families and friends and for those family and friends to be supportive of those they love.

Given the events of the past few weeks, ranging from the tragic suicides of young gay people who were bullied by peers to the horrific kidnap and torture case in New York City I think that this year it is even more important that we all mark this day, regardless of our personal sexual preferences.

This is not simply a day for gays, but a day for all human beings with hearts.

You may consider this day to be of no importance because nobody you know is gay, but the fact is that everyone knows gay people, whether they know it or not.

Your brother or sister may be gay, your barber may be gay, the cop on the beat, the soldier in the field, the guy working next to you in the office, any of them could be gay and some of them probably are.

I know that for many sexual preference is a tough issue. Many of you have sincere religious or moral attitudes on the subject and I would be the last to question the right of people to their own beliefs.

But when it comes down to it, religion and morality are about love. The Bible does not teach you to hate people, indeed the central premise of Christianity is that you should love one another. God teaches us to be loving and tolerant of our fellow human beings, and that seems to be the least we can do.

Now I’m going to ask you to take a moment to be serious with yourself.

Pick someone from the list above, or pick someone you know in your life, a friend, a neighbor, a co worker, a relative. Now pretend they are gay.

Does it really matter ?

Do you love them any less ?

Are they going to somehow be less of a friend or neighbor ? Would your brother or sister be less special to you ? Would the police officer or soldier be less protective of you ?

The answer of course is no. They are the exact same people you always knew and they will continue to remain just as special to you. And yet there are some in this world who would make them feel like less of a human being just because of who they love.

And that is wrong.

So what can you do about it ?

Love them

Support them

Protect them

Tell them that you love them and always will, which in the end that is all that matters.

It’s time for us to grow up