Speaking out for gays

Jonathan Fiedler / Columnist

Over time in this great nation, there have been many movements to bring about social justice. In the earlier part of the century, woman gained suffrage and the right to vote. Women gained recognition from being labeled as domestic housewives to leaders in the free world. This was very good.

In the 1960s, African Americans gained many freedoms that should be granted to all people regardless of their color of skin. African Americans in the United States began to be treated fairly, as moves were taken to promote equality among all people in America. This was another great change.

Today, homosexuals are treated as unjust people who have done wrong against society. It is acceptable to look down on gays and it is ok to feel that gays are wrong-doers. I am calling out for a change in this injustice.
I believe homosexuals were born homosexual. If you disagree with me, please ask a gay person if they chose to be hated and looked down on due to whom they love.

I simply encourage people who have homophobic views to get to know a gay person before you make judgments on them.
Most people who view gays as sinners get a majority of their beliefs from the Bible. I do believe the Bible is the word of God, yet I believe sometimes it is more important to look at the grand message of any Holy Scripture rather than take every single translated verse to heart.

Society has changed over time, and some of the Bible's sayings need to be taken into account. The Bible talks about how women should be submissive to men (1 Timothy 2:11). We will see how people feel about this when this great nation elects a woman as president very soon.

The Bible also makes many references to slaves, yet through the great Emancipation Proclamation, slaves are no longer legal in America (Thank goodness!).

My point is not to belittle the Holy word of any religion at all, my point is that people who dislike homosexuals based solely on their Holy Scripture are missing the main point of most religions, which is to love others, not just yourself and your beliefs.

I have a problem trying to understand why there is so much hatred towards gays. Did homosexuals do anything to offend the mass population?

I am afraid to believe that the only reason people are able to hate gays is because they are scared of them, or more importantly, insecure about their own sexuality. That is not right.

Before coming to Elon, I did not really know any gay people. Now that I know a few, I realize that our sexual orientation is not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Whom people are attracted to is not really a big deal to me.

How people treat me is a big deal to me, as I try to drop all prejudices towards minorities in my eyes and only judge people by their character, not by their color, gende, or sexual orientation.

In 20 years, I hope that when people make comments against gays, they will be looked down upon and maybe even corrected. Just as it is now unacceptable to be racist, I hope that soon it will be unjust to have begrudged hatred towards the gay and lesbian community.

Let us start the gay rights movement here at Elon University and encourage the world around us to become true architects of the new free world. A world where no one is discriminated against.

Contact Jonathan Fiedler at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.