One of my friends use to say "if you ask me to chose between a homosexual (man or woman) and a religious (man or woman), then I will always chose the woman". Joking apart, I will always chose the homosexual. And yes, I am straight. I don't especially like nor dislike gays, neither religious people. They all have their beliefs. So what? I live with them around me here in Thai, where they are quite numerous (both categories, lgbt and christian missionaries), and some of them are "normal people". Some not. Same as some of the straight and/or atheist people I know are "normal" too. Some not... There is no forest without dead trees. My strongest belief is that our force ("our" as in "humanity") stays in the fact that we are different. We are strong because we are different. If we would be all the same, then the first enemy (disease, virus, bacteria, animal, space alien, cold/hot weather, russians, americans, etc) that could kill one, would kill all. But they can't, because we are so different, we adapt and we survive. I respect them as long as they respect me and don't step on my toes. I didn't see any gay ringing my door and trying to convert me. I saw religious people doing it. They may be still praying for my soul, but didn't try to ring my bell second time.:smile:

[QUOTE=LaurV;399066]One of my friends use to say "if you ask me to chose between a homosexual (man or woman) and a religious (man or woman), then I will always chose the woman". Joking apart, I will always chose the homosexual. And yes, I am straight. I don't especially like nor dislike gays, neither religious people. They all have their beliefs. So what? I live with them around me here in Thai, where they are quite numerous (both categories, lgbt and christian missionaries), and some of them are "normal people". Some not. Same as some of the straight and/or atheist people I know are "normal" too. Some not... There is no forest without dead trees. My strongest belief is that our force ("our" as in "humanity") stays in the fact that we are different. We are strong because we are different. If we would be all the same, then the first enemy (disease, virus, bacteria, animal, space alien, cold/hot weather, russians, americans, etc) that could kill one, would kill all. But they can't, because we are so different, we adapt and we survive. I respect them as long as they respect me and don't step on my toes. I didn't see any gay ringing my door and trying to convert me. I saw religious people doing it. They may be still praying for my soul, but didn't try to ring my bell second time.:smile:[/QUOTE]
Christians don't hate homosexuals, not as a rule. It's the homosexuality that's the problem. In my case, I don't think it's nearly as big a problem as some other Christians do. But it's the only religious issue that seems to come up on these forums, so I come across as more hateful than I am.

The only thing I'm asserting is that homosexuality is a sin. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it might actually be less damaging than my pornography addiction.

Homosexuality is a sin, with the definition of a sin being that which separates us from God. I'm not claiming homosexuals are evil, I'm simply saying it's not okay. In my mind the right to same sex marriage is like a right to hit yourself in the face. It's something that doesn't do anyone any good.

[QUOTE] I'm not claiming homosexuals are evil, I'm simply saying it's not okay. In my mind the right to same sex marriage is like a right to hit yourself in the face. [B] It's something that doesn't do anyone any good.[/B] [/QUOTE]

You may not hate us, but you do a great job of denigrating relationships which you do not understand. Dan and I have been hitting ourselves in the face for a bit over 33 years, and it still feels good. :grin: We aren't married, yet, but that is more about legal benefits than it is about our state of being connected.

[QUOTE=kladner;399124]You may not hate us, but you do a great job of denigrating relationships which you do not understand.[/QUOTE]

If I may say, I greatly admire those who are public about their orientation in the face of widespread ignorance and stupidity. It is, of course, a long-term battle which can only be won by those willing to be open about reality.

Like LaurV, I'm "straight". But I have many gay friends (yes, even here in Barbados where it is still illegal). To me it matters about as much as one's eye colour, hair colour or skin colour: not at all.

A funny story... Linda and I visited Thailand several years ago (beautiful county; amazing food). We were on Bangkok's "Sky Train" when this amazingly beautiful woman got on the train and sat across from us. And I mean stunning beautiful; probably a model. Then her cell phone rang, and she answered it with a very, VERY deep "Hello"....

Big thumbs-up to some of the comments above.:smile:

Back on the subject of Indiana's new law, same sex couples in the state will be heartbroken to know that they cannot order pizza for their wedding day from Memories Pizza, an establishment eager to exercise its new Religious Freedom. I guess they'll just have to go for some less classy food for their special day then.
[URL]http://abcnews.go.com/Business/indiana-pizza-restaurant-cater-gay-wedding-supports-religious/story?id=30045085[/URL]
[QUOTE]“If a gay couple was to come in -- like say, they wanted us to provide them pizzas for a wedding, we would have to say 'no,'” Crystal O'Connor of Memories Pizza told WBND, calling the business a "Christian establishment." [/QUOTE]

So Christian establishments who don't want to serve "sinners" better close their doors because the pickings for saintly clientele are pretty slim.

[QUOTE=only_human;399149]So Christian establishments who don't want to serve "sinners" better close their doors because the pickings for saintly clientele are pretty slim.[/QUOTE]

:davar55: :goodposting:

Looks the bigot IN governor - faced with a furious backlash from people and corporations exercising *their* right to do business (or not - more pertinently here) with whom they please - is already backpedaling, saying 'the new law needs clarification.' What a buffoon.

Mish - one of my go-to eCon bloggers - had a couple of good posts on this story in the past 2 days:

[url=http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/03/indiana-legalizes-discrimination-on.html]Indiana Legalizes Discrimination on Grounds of "Religious Freedom"[/url]

[url=http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/03/if-it-aint-broken-dont-fix-it-religious.html]If It Ain't Broken, Don't Fix It: Religious Freedom Act Take II[/url]

With a view toward "who to boycott", here are a couple of links which may prove handy in that regard:

[url=indianapolis-indiana.funcityfinder.com/2009/05/29/50-largest-public-indiana-companies/]50 Largest Indiana Public Companies[/url]

[url=www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Indianapolis-Economy.html]Indianapolis: EconomyMajor Industries and Commercial Activity[/url]

This pizzeria is not yet ready to resume providing cheesy communion wafers for weddings.

[URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/04/anti-gay-pizzeria_n_7003596.html"]Anti-Gay Pizzeria Says God 'Has Blessed Us' With Over $800,000 For 'Standing Up'[/URL][QUOTE]As of Saturday morning, "Support Memories Pizza" had raised over $800,000. In an interview with Fox News Business' Neil Cavuto, Crystal said that although she's not quite ready to open the pizzeria again, she believes God is responsible for the support that's poured in.

"God has blessed us for standing up for what we believe, and not denying him," Crystal told Cavuto.[/QUOTE]

Anti-gay "pastor" charged with stealing $150K...blames gays. No, really.
 

Perhaps just a bit O/T, but I can't resist the [URL="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021694/-Anti-gay-pastor-charged-with-stealing-150K-blames-gays-No-really"]schadenfreude.[/URL] :devil:

Comments:
[QUOTE][B]Their martydom never ends... [/B]

the Good Christians of America can't even swindle $150K out of needy people without the homosexuals drawing people's attention to it.[/QUOTE][COLOR=Blue]Poster's note: I saw no indication that the [STRIKE]mark[/STRIKE] investor was needy; after all, he had access to $150K. Stupid, [STRIKE]maybe[/STRIKE] (well DUH!,) fueled perhaps by greed.[/COLOR]

[QUOTE][B]You know how petty and vindictive we are. [/B]

We're so bitter and nasty we'll even interfere with sweet little schemes like this, just so that we can punish someone who hates us.
Yes, just one more victim of "the Gay Agenda."

[/QUOTE][QUOTE][B]I think there IS some truth to it [/B]

think of how the gays stung Marcus Bachmann's pray the gay away clinic. Consider they [URL="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021540/-More-lies-on-NC-state-senators-resume?via=tag"]they just exposed a NC State Senator as a fraud.[/URL] Word to bigots, if you want to beat up on gays, make sure your own house is clean, because we can expose your shit. The community ain't playing anymore. We ain't afraid, hiding in a closet. [SIZE=3][B]We will go Kenneth Starr on your ass.[/B][/SIZE]

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[LIST][*] [B] There is a viral video lurking somewhere in that [/B]

idea. (Going kenneth starr on your ass)[/LIST][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][B]What's the world come to... [/B]

... when a pastor can't engage in a Godly little swindle without the evil gays dropping a dime on him? How positively unChristian of them!

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=kladner;399496]Perhaps just a bit O/T, but I can't resist the [URL="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021694/-Anti-gay-pastor-charged-with-stealing-150K-blames-gays-No-really"]schadenfreude.[/URL] :devil:[/QUOTE]

I understand where you're coming from. But bad winners are almost as bad as bad losers...

Take your wins gracefully. IMO, we will win this war at the end of the day through steady work.