Leading Evangelical: Obama Goes Beyond Tolerance For Gays, All The Way To Pride
The White House declared June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. Forty years ago, in June 1969, patrons at the Stonewall Inn in New York resisted police harassment, a seminal moment in the evolution of gay rights in America. I can’t imagine this language coming from our previous administration:
Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration — in both the White House and the Federal agencies — openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.
But a leading Southern Baptist, Albert Mohler, who heads the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, is critical of this proclamation. (h/t Right Wing Watch)
“The United States federal government, now by executive order, signed by the President of the United States, is declaring national pride in these lifestyles,” he contends. “This is not mere toleration; it’s not calling for legalization, an end to criminal sanctions. It’s not calling even for something like civil unions…it’s calling for pride.”
Of course the “pride” expressed by the White House, is pride that they are the first administration to so honor those in the LGBT community. Even if the president said, “Gays should be proud,” it’s a shame that Mohler would have a problem with that. A couple of years ago Dr. Mohler expressed “pride” that gays will soon be able to be turned into straights:
What if you could know that your unborn baby boy is likely to be sexually attracted to other boys? Beyond that, what if hormonal treatments could change the baby’s orientation to heterosexual? Would you do it? Some scientists believe that such developments are just around the corner.
Mohler continues to talk in exultant terms about such a possibility.
If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin.
[...]
If such knowledge should ever be discovered, we should embrace it and use it for the greater good of humanity and for the greater glory of God.
So “the greater good of humanity” and “the greater glory of God” means only heterosexual sex. And anything that can change someone to be that way is a real cause for pride, implies Dr. Mohler.
So Mohler acknowledges that being gay is biological, not just a choice, and still disaproves of them being gay?
JFA Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Placefield, where did Mohler acknowledge, “that being gay is biological,” I didn’t see that can you tell me??
Thank you.
placefield Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I guess he just acknowledged the possibility.
“If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin.”
But that possibility does not seem to have any bearing on his opinion on homosexuals.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
I hope LGBT month doesn’t overshadow Juneteenth celebrations.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Sounds like someone is advocating eugenics. You know what this guy doesn’t understand about his “God” is the fact that “he” gave us a choice. It’s in Genesis, Adam and Eve had the choice to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They weren’t programmed to avoid the sin of eating the forbidden fruit. He needs to reread Scripture and understand the meaning of free will.
Daddio Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
You are right CRH3E. God did give us the freedom to choose how we live our lives. He is not a dictator but a God of love. We choose to follow Him or we choose to follow the world. One leads to eternal life and the other leads to eternal suffering.
The choice is yours. So “choose wisely.”
TDro319 Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
So if we “choose unwisely”, your god will condemn us to “eternal suffering”? Nice god. He sounds like he doesn’t have a high tolerance level.
EricG Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
“One leads to eternal life and the other leads to eternal suffering.”
Some flame-job minister told you that. You can believe it if you want but I think it’s all BS.
Why would God create children of his image then burn them in fire for all eternity because they did something with the free will he gave to do something he doesn’t approve of?
I really don’t think any of the evangelicals or extreme right wing religious nuts of America have anything to talk about when it comes to loving Christ’s love and knowing anything about the Divine.
This “choose wisely” thing of yours could be thrown right back at you. You should choose wisely when you speak of knowing the Will of God and knowing exactly what Jesus wants of us. Because most of the time when an evangelical starts talking, Jesus starts crying.
average james Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Yo Eric,
It is sad, but I think you’re right.
When most of these loud “christian” conservstives speak, Jesus probably does cry.
flap Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
John 3:16 involves a choice.
You don’t have to accept it, you can label Christians as idiots or dupes or stupid, chalk it up to religious nonsense, but the choice is there.
GuidoVanHorn Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 2:34 am
yes, this guy is creepily invoking some sort of eugenics, and is on the precipice of fascists wackiness.
However, the truth is that God does not condemn us to burning in eternal flames. One, the eternal flames is metaphor, secondly, we condemn ourselves by our actions, and lastly God will judge us righteously to each according to our own.
I’m fairly certain that not all Gays are “going to Hell” and I’m fairly certain that not all Christians are going to Heaven.
However I’m also certain that homosexual sex is banned by God, and that most Christian churches will at least try and point you in the right direction.
average james Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Hey there CRH3E,
That popped into my head as I was reading it too. Eugenics. This pastor is inadvertently advocating eugenics. Apparently he thinks it’s ok to play God.
Also he talked about hormone therapy. That’s giving the nod to a physical/biological state of being in my book.
The hits just keep on coming.
Southern baptist huh, why am I not surprised.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
And still Obama is against Gay Marriage.
Weird world.
Daddio Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I will choose to not take part is this declaration.
Doesn’t Obama have more important things to worry about, by the way? Aren’t we still in a recession? Isn’t the unemployment rate still rising? I think someone ought to tell him that the campaign is over and he won. He always seems to be campaigning, trying to appease his supporters.
Rick Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I’ve noticed on many political boards that the folks who say that Obama is spending his time on dates with Michelle, pride declarations, and other unimportant things rather than focusing on the economy, also happen to be the same folks who claim that Obama is turning this country into a socialist mess, and government should stay out the way and let the economy take its course.
EricG Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Good observation, Rick.
I believe you nailed it right on the head.
The people who make sound arguments against Obama policy are for real and actually Americans.
The people who jump up and say ’socialist’ and go on about his latest trip to the deli are all backwards America-Haters who are looking for a reason, ANY REASON, to hate the first black president and the first real liberal in the White House in a long time.
If the right wing could denounce it’s own idiot-wing then I would think better of them but as it stands they are making Bush-Bashing look like a light sprinkling of partisanship next to their full steam BS machine running day and night.
RDM Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Yep, rather queer.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Alan, I love you, you are my hero. You do love to stir the abortion and gay pots don’t you?
Daddio Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I really think Alan is a closet gay. He only married to coverup his secret life.
TDro319 Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
“I really think Alan is a closet gay. He only married to coverup his secret life.”
Mmmmm I don’t think so. Now Lindsey Graham, on the other hand…..
Southern Girl Lib Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
And Charlie Crist…………..
JFA Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Humm, maybe,,,, like Rock Hudson??
EricG Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Rush Limbaugh is gay.
pierre Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Rush is not gay . He likes to bend over and grab
his ankles.
June 8th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Placefield, do you think that sexual orientation is biological I mean a person is born that way by way of genetics. Or could it be a matter of choice? Just curious.
placefield Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I belive that it is biological.
JFA Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Ok then, thank you. What do think about HBD?
OldLefty Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
“Ok then, thank you. What do think about HBD?”
………………..
Home Brew Digest?
placefield Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I am a fan of Home Brew Digest but I don’t think that is what you are referring to. Maybe I am ignorant or dense but what is HBD?
placefield Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Oh I see, Human Bio Diversity. I assume you are talking about the institute. And I will have to answer that yes I am ignorant on the subject. Although I am not a fan of eugenics.
June 8th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Willy,
I really think Alan is a closet gay. He only married to coverup his secret life.
Why do you think that? He doesn’t seem to feel that homosexuals have anything to be ashamed about.
The closeted gays are generally people who have religious beliefs around homosexuality being wrong. I have never heard Alan express a religious belief that homosexuality was wrong.
But I have heard you say it, many times… Hmm…
Daddio Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I wasn’t serious with my comment Cara. I guess I should have followed it with a little smily face.
Yes you have heard me say many times that I base my opinion on homosexuality on my faith and what my bible says about it. And I base that belief without any reservations or apologies.
June 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I am proud to have a president who respects all people for who they are and doesn’t demand people to conform to religious standards to be treated respectfully.
Obama has once again proven himself to be leagues better a president and leader than the former.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Lefty, I knew you would jump in, but then what do you think about sexual oreintation? Is biolical or a choice.
Oh, HBD= human bio diversity.
OldLefty Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
JFA,
Oh, didn’t know that.
As for sexual oreintation, I don’t think it’s a choice…but it doesn’t matter to me outside of the fact that I have a gay relative and a few friends who are very happy, otherwise I don’t care.
I was actually just trying to be funny:
I googled HBD and got Home Brew Digest. Thought all the beer lovers would get excited.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Placefield. I didn’t know that they had an institute, and I don’t think it’s about eugenics, however I have read that the Chinese are looking into that.(off topic) It’s about the difference between the races when it comes to IQ and maybe a couple other things.
placefield Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I thought that it has been shown that there is not any significant cognitive difference between “the races”. I don’t know as to me that kind of information is nothing but statistics for ignorant minds to misuse and misinterpret.
JFA Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Placefield, “I thought that it has been shown that there is not any significant cognitive difference between “the races”.” Where did you read that? I have been looking for something of acclaim that proves what you say I look forward to reading your source.
placefield Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Not sourced, just what I thought I had heard. Already admitted to being ignorant on the subject. Perhaps a result of my leftwing California public education? LOL
June 8th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Ok, thanks anyway. Oh, by the way I have a lot of family in California(Orange county) and, and I am left handed. :)
June 8th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
“Doesn’t Obama have more important things to worry about, by the way?”
Yeah, he could be putting in time on the secret plans to confiscate all your guns, but he decided to do something for gays instead.
“…what do you think about sexual orientation? Is biological or a choice.”
It’s irrelevant.
But it’s also as natural as anything on earth, because every living species of creature on the planet that resorts to sex for purposes of procreation has been observed engaging in homosexual behavior.
Daddio Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
When were you “observed engaging in homosexual behavior” Rocky? :)
placefield Reply:
June 8th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Good point Rocky, it really is irrelevant.
June 8th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
But it’s also as natural as anything on earth
I may agree. But why oh why doesn’t the Blessed Leader come out in favor of Gay Marriage?
Here puppy puppy puppy……heel.
June 8th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Rott Dawg, that’s how it’s pronounced in Detroit by the “diversided population”. Anyway I’m not sure but I think it’s a good thing to them. So, good for you, sic em boy!
June 8th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Hormonal treatments in utero? Sounds like a BAD idea! Can you imagine what might happen if hormonal treatments were given in pregnancy….boys overloaded with testosterone! Since every individual is different, this could result in some really bad outcomes, like a rapist, murderer, etc. BAD idea! (Not to mention the underlying hate of others…just read the Frank Shaeffer book, and I think Mohler is unAmerican.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:24 am