I have been around people who aren’t straight for my whole life – and as I write that, I wonder why we even use that word – it seems offensive to me. Anyway, some of the people we designate as LGBTQ+ (etcetera, etcetera) did not reveal their orientation or true selves to me for many years, especially during the learned homophobic years of my childhood. And yet, there they were, living amongst us heterosexual people without us knowing it. Just being people – eating in restaurants and going to religious ceremonies and working jobs. They are teachers and plumbers and bus drivers – in fact, it might surprise some folks that people, regardless of their sexual orientation or whether or not their outside matches their inside, can do any job they are equipped to do. Why, then, are some people so afraid of them?
As I wrote earlier, I’ve been around people of every orientation and gender for almost my entire life. I’ve hugged them and I’ve shaken their hands – I’ve shared Holy Communion by dipping my bread into the chalice with them and I’ve been in the same swimming pool with them. Here’s the amazing part (that was sarcasm) – I am still heterosexual and male. I’m still cisgender and married to my amazing wife. I haven’t gotten AIDS and I still wear pink and I’ve never been injured in any way by having friends and associates who are different than me. Whatever the “homosexual agenda” is (we heard that a lot in the 1980’s and 90’s), it hasn’t had any effect on me. Why, then, are some people so afraid?
Part of it is ignorance, I suppose – like any form of hatred, fear is based in a lack of knowledge and one’s upbringing. Like having separate water fountains or believing that Jews have horns on their heads (that started with an erroneous translation about Moses), fear leads to stupidity and meanness and pain. “They” might do something wrong to our children or spouses or communities – “they” will “infect” our God-fearing (notice how it never seems to be God-loving?) communities and schools and houses of worship. I understand when someone hates another person because that person has personally injured them, but to hate people you never met and who have never harmed you is the ultimate in ignorance. If you are one of those fearful people, I hope you find a way to be healed of it. Your fear makes the world a far worse place than it needs to be, and it destroys you in the process. Try loving people as beautiful creations – I hear that it casts out fear (1 John 4).
Prayer – Holy God, help us to see others the way You see them – as beautiful creations made in Your image. Amen.
Today’s art is “No Fear in Love” by Cynthia Christine.