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Rogue-Ranger β Pro LGBT Equality and Religious Freedom Stamp
#christian #equality #gay #gayrights #love #peace #religiousfreedom #lgbtrights
Published: 2016-02-01 00:28:13 +0000 UTC; Views: 3129; Favourites: 139; Downloads: 2
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I believe that everyone should be treated equally and I believe everyone should be free to openly believe what they want.The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law and the First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. One does not eliminate the other.
Saying that treating people equally and upholding freedom of religion can not coexist is a false choice. It says that the point of religion is to discriminate or that the point of LGBT rights is to bring down religion, neither of which is true. Still, many people have fallen for this idea. Some feel that religion is just discrimination by another name and others feel LGBT rights are a direct attack on their faith.
The truth is that supporting equality does not make you an atheist and being religious does not make you a bigot. In fact, many people of faith believe everyone is equal and should be treated fairly, with love and dignity. Many LGBT supporters and LGBT themselves are religious. And, in several religions, followers are called to treat everyone with love and kindness, even if those people are not kind back.
Here's something to consider: Many LGBTQIA people have been told that all religious people are out to get them, so they better watch out and they definitely can't be an LGBT person of faith, which they're told is impossible. This leads to hostility against religious people and conflicts. Then, on the other side, religious people are told that LGBT+ people are gaining special rights at the expense of their own rights and even that those rights are a sign they're planning to round up and jail all people of faith next. This leads to hostility and fear of LGBT people and their supporters, and of course more conflicts. It also creates a self fulfilling prophecy because, if you see LGBT rights as a step away from outlawing faith, you'll try to limit LGBT rights and, if you see religion as a step away from outlawing being LGBT, you'll try to limit religious rights.
None of that needs to happen. We are all different, whether it be our appearance, sexuality, gender, beliefs, or any number of things. We can either let those differences divide us or we can let them unite us. Even identical twins have different personalities. This universal uniqueness is actually what unites us. If there were a default, anyone fitting it better would be better than anyone fitting it less. Instead, no two people are alike, making us all equal. Plus, if we were all the same, there would be no creativity or diversity of thought and, frankly, it would be kind of creepy. So talk to others who are different from you, get to know their unique perspective on life. You'll see that there's no reason for fear, mistrust or conflicts. We all share this world together, so if we divide ourselves, we ruin things for everyone, but if we work together, we build things up for all of us.
Live together, not because we're the same, but because we're different. That is true equality and freedom.
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Comments: 71
i'm far from religious but heck this is good stuff <3
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It's hard to coexist with religion when they keep telling gay people that they're diseased because of their homosexuality and need to change their ways
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I know. That's why I have a lot of stamps and written works here to change their minds, though it's harder to tell who I've influenced here than it has been at my church. People can change, though, so don't give up that the current state of some religious beliefs will change too. History is rarely stagnant.
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I'm Christian and LGBT and agree. You can find how I personally define love here:Β rogue-ranger.deviantart.com/arβ¦
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My boyfriend is Christian and bisexual and poly. He's such a sweet guy, I love him so much.Β Β
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Your boyfriend is not Christian
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No true Scotsman... what makes you say that, hmm?
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I wish religion never existed, this world would be much happier without following some stupid scripture.
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I consider myself more spiritual than religious, but I can see that many humans have a tendency to become "religious" about many things, from sports to politics to more, and will become angry at anyone who opposes their belief that their sport team, political views, etc is not automatically correct. So, unless some people stop reacting that way, there will always be religion.
That being said, many people who are more spiritually oriented and identify with a religion use their beliefs to help others.
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Yeah I'm more spiritual too.
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I agree, but when someone elses 'religious freedom' infringes upon another right to equality or feeling safe or welcomed that's where I draw the line. however it would be fair to mention -many- lgbt people hate/fear/ or uncomfortable with religion and religious people because religion and religious people abuse them or treat them poorly. I myself, can't stand religion and am uncomfortable with religious people unless they specifically say they support lgbt equality. If religious people could oh, I don't know, keep their religion out of politics and the law i'd be perfectly fine with them 'not supporting me' or whatever the fuck because then they don't effect me, unfortunately, in the states and pretty much everywhere else in the world this is not the case and it's why religion and religious people get as much hate as they do. sorry not sorry, but if you're a douche bag against equal rights that's all you are and you deserve what you get/ put out towards others, end of story.Β
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A lot of people feel this way, but not only are there religious people who support LGBT+ equality, but many LGBT people are religious. Although it is different for different religions and regions, there is a push in US Christian churches to be more loving, welcoming, and Christ-like (and a push back from more conservative elements against equality). This can be a frightening time for someone holding onto bigotry, but it is an exciting time for those who embrace love. Sure, I've listened to many pastors go on about how marriage equality was just stage one in an LGBT plot to round up Christians and lock them all up. Some people are as afraid of LGBT people in government as some people are afraid of religious people in government, but freedom is only free if it is applied equally. If someone's "freedom" is to deny someone else freedom or equality, it is not freedom. In time, more people will see this, so be cautious but not afraid. People can and do change. My church did a complete 180 on this, as did my parents, who went from believing in conversion therapy to supporting marriage equality. Many times It's just a matter or ignorance and that is cured with understanding. Not since segregation has the church been forced to change or risk losing anyone with love in their hearts (since the Bible says "God is love," this would be losing the people churches most need). There may soon come a time when someone is bullied for their sexuality and it will be someone of faith who is the very first to stand up for them. Maybe then some mending will begin. But, in the mean time, don't hate them. They'll change fastest by getting to know LGBT people as people. No one's perfect and I'm sure we've all hurt others because of our actions at least once, so forgive them and try to help open their minds. Even if you only get through to one person, that person may go on to change other people's minds. It's not magic, but time changes all things.
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So you're idea of 'equality' is to sit back and let people use their beliefs to keep people down at the expense of other people's freedom. Right...
Well i dont think i should mention how that does absolutely nothing at the end of the day- in MI it is now legal for lgbt people to be put in prison for anal/oral sex. There are a couple states promoting checking people's privates before they enter public and school restrooms to "stop teh pervurt trannies"
So much for all that fucking love and tolerance :3 am i right? Of course because now any state with a higher religious population and a homophobic transphobic agenda will follow suit-- i don't see anyone defending lgbt in these situations 
I don't see people's 'sitting back and taking it' attitude helping lgbt in places that execute lgbt people or torture them. Or how about russia where you can be thrown in prison for life for being gay or lesbian?
Not to mention there are thousands of people that no matter how you try to properly educate them on something or give them your view on it or explain how it negatively effects the world--will and are still entirely selfish in their views and are heartless to the fact of the damage it does. I cant even count on all my digits anymore how many people i have told myself personally the risk lgbt people face for assault, rape, abuse- how many of them commit suicide or attenpt suicide because they are constantly told how 'sick and wrong they are' and what do i get in return? "Oh well just my opinion" so tell me why should -anyone- care about their right to pravtice hateful aspects of their religion when they are so cold and calloused to the lives of others? Kind of like you ironically you seem to just not give a flying fuck what those people do to lgbt folk.
Sorry but the fact you tolerate beliefs that do this to people says a great measure about how much you fucking love and care about anything. Good day
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I believe you may have accidentally misunderstood what I actually said. If you point out the parts that were unclear, where you concluded that I don't care or where I support people using their beliefs for anything but love, I can try to clarify what I meant. What is said and what is heard can alter based on a number of factors, even including simply how things are worded or expectations about what is being said, so I'll try to be clear this time. Sorry in advance if it ends up long as a result. :/
I'm not perfect. Maybe I'm not doing enough. I'm not a lawyer. I'm not actively challenging legal cases, like the proposed (ironically named) "First Amendment Defense Act" or the laws being proposed in various states. I'm not even on tv campaigning for an end to discrimination. Instead, my approach is in educating targeted groups of people about these things and trying to change people's thinking so that this doesn't just keep happening over and over again.
I know all too well how frustrating it is to try to convince people that they are perpetuating a set of ideas that does so much harm. I've been in many long discussions that seemed to just go around in circles and I've felt like giving up, but then I started to discover what worked and I actually saw some people go through the phases from complete denial to skepticism to being on the fence to acceptance and, although rare, to active support.
I'm not saying it was easy. It took a lot of effort for me to change my parents' minds to such an extent, but they've already been able to influence others without my help. One of the things that really got to my mom was listening to the story of Christian parents who have many regrets after the loss of their gay son. For others, it was just meeting LGBT individuals personally. People can be touched on a deep level and changed in ways simply being told how they think is wrong doesn't affect. That happened with our church too, by bringing in people to tell their stories, including myself. It's a matter of targeting the people who support discrimination and changing them and the enviromment that perpetuates those beliefs.
It can work online too (although it's harder) with either comments or things I write, so long as the approach is open and not hostile, even if they are hostile at first. I also help people with their problems and offer advice or support. I don't know everything, but sometimes an LGBT person in crisis just needs to know they're not alone and that there are resources available. Hope can be a daily battle.
Maybe it would make a broader change if I did more than simply supported the efforts of others to overturn laws, but changing people on a personal and deep level is also necessary, even if it's not as far-reaching as what people with more fame and power can do. But, if you have additional suggestions, please let me know. I may have missed something obvious (wouldn't be the first time).
Psychologically speaking, people react to hostility with hostility as a defense mechanism, making them closed off and unable to process new emotional data. Most people can not become more compassionate or empathic by any approach but compassion or empathy. This is why telling people the effect of their beliefs or actions often needs to be put in a personal context involving someone they know or relate to. It also means temporarily putting any anger on hold to reach them. Some people will see anyone as "the enemy" until proven otherwise, so you need to establish you're not a threat. Once their guard drops, they are open to new information. This isn't always easy, as some people are naturally more tense and negatively polarized, but it is possible.
Trying to convince anti-LGBT people to be more open to LGBT people is like trying to convince anti-religious people to be more open to religious people. They need to meet people from the group they are against who are willing to show them another perspective by being so different from the stereotypes of angry people from "that other group." Each person is different. Some respond to logic, some emotions and some a combination.
Just as you are apprehensive of religious people unless they first come out and say they are pro-LGBT, some religious people are apprehensive unless someone first says they don't want to outlaw religion. Telling them that being free to practice religion has nothing to do with "freedom" to take away people's freedom isn't effective until they are no longer on the offensive/defensive and they are able to listen.
Many people are afraid to be open to listen to someone's concerns and have a dialog instead of an argument because they think it means "giving into the enemy" or "surrendering", so it takes work to convince them you are not the enemy. Find common ground and build up from it.
By using personal approaches to reaching people and changing their minds and combining that with group approaches (such as in churches, online communities or other targeted groups), it makes the jobs of those fighting for equality using political means easier because elected officials making laws are influenced by their constituents who vote. It is far from a hands-off approach, although I fully admit only one part actually looks to the outside world like it's making all the difference.
The reason I try to reassure people that there is hope is because it's far too easy to fall into fear. Fear leads to defensive and offensive responses. People who want to pass anti-equality laws use fear to get people into the mode where they can't connect to their empathy. If empathy for others is to be achieved, its supporters must be empathic and spread it.
This means not thinking of others as "the enemy" even if they associate with groups fighting for hatred. Convincing someone to "change sides" when "sides" involve religious beliefs is almost impossible. They must believe being compassionate is actually the only true way to live out their own beliefs. Then it's not a huge leap to join your "side" because it's their "side" too.
They need to want to change and not feel forced into it. A lot of the new laws are responses to the supreme court's decision last June. They feel like they are "pushing back" against the changes. This is why all equal protections need to be fought for not just legally but emotionally. It's not only combating lies with the truth but also combating fear with love.
Think of it like making friends. Sometimes it's easy, but sometimes it takes work. You both need to be willing to put forth effort, so they need to believe you're worth that effort. If you are genuinely open and relatable or likeable, they will. If you're not, you'll even lose potentially easy friendships. You may be wondering why you would even want to be friends with "those kinds of people," but unless you know some way to change people's minds by force, real change requires this.
Let's say that we do nothing but fight political battles. Just like with marriage equality, each move would be met with a counter move. We're two for two in stopping "religious freedom" laws, but more laws of all different kinds pop up. So we move onto the next and then the next. People literally go from case to case trying to defend equality. Sure, voicing support encourages them to keep going, but how are we really making their jobs easier unless we too become political activists who devote all our time going from state to state? The way to truly make their jobs easier is to stop the process they're fighting against. It means fighting to change minds so we're not caught in a never-ending cycle.
We're not alone. Yes, it's true that you and I both happen to be LGBT, but there are actually many allies who aren't LGBT. It's not an "us vs them" battle. Different people have different gifts, so all our approaches are different, but they can work together toward one common goal.
It's not nothing or a sign I don't care. I personally care because it affects me and, even it didn't, I'm not heartless. Maybe changing people's minds, advocating in church, volunteering and uploading things online aren't enough. But, if all we do is fight legal battles, that will certainly never be enough because we ignore the source. However, if we all do something to influence those around us, we can break the cycle the only way it can be broken, not with anger, but with love.
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Well you can have your fun getting kicked around and treated like shit by them im nothing like that, i spent my time feeling horrible because of them, and i wont lie they still get to me. Im not stupid enough to think loving people who dont give a fuck about me or my well being or the well being of people like me etc is going to work- regardless of what happens it is a losing battle because there js more of them than us and it is an us vs them situation, maybe not on the asoect of 'straight vs gay' or 'cis vs trans' etc but it is us vs homo/transphobes.
People like you claiming their beliefs are ok justified etc adds to the problem itself and im sorry you dont realize that. I cant talk to you anymore without wanting to fucking kill myself :'D bye
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Although I don't enjoy it, I'm pretty well suited for this because I'm not easily phased, no matter what people say to me or the hate I get. Not everyone has that, which is why I focus so much on using that. Unless you have a solution to change people's minds by force, this approach is what I have for now. As you said, there are more of them than us, so letting them continue to believe as they do is not an option. Again, we'd just get stuck playing catchup with every new law.
I hope the third times a charm for clarifying this, but I do not support the belief that certain people are inferior. I do not support the belief that "freedom" means taking away other's rights. However, I make a distinction between those beliefs and simply being religious or Christian. They are not the same thing. There are loving religious people.
I know you're upset, but I'd like you to consider another perspective: Words CAN hurt . And I know it may not resonate with you exactly, but some of the points may help give you a new perspective: Why I Would Choose To Be Gay 
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Tch i dont believe in 'imagining it all better'
And it had little to do with what i was talking about to begin with.
Bye
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