Angelo, we, here at everydaycitizen, are not afraid to talk about controversial issues. The sexual orientation and abortion issues are ripping apart the very fabric of our communities and families.

I in no way will promote abortion as an easy coverup of promiscuity. Neither can I endorse and encourage the homosexual life style. But — — —

I believe we are created (by whatever means you wish to describe how you got here) with diverse emotions, personalities, and gifts. Those with differing standards from mine are free to make their choices. If i flaunt my heterosexual lifestyle with inappropriate public display or if the homosexuals exhibit inappropriate public behaviour, we have transgressed civilization's laws. If we attempt to force our choices or standards on non consenting children or adults, we have transgressed civilization's laws.

I don't think the God that I worship needs me to declare my faith and theology as the law of the land, for all others. And, neither did those statesmen and people who drafted and ratified the first amendment to our National Constitution intend for any religious or secular power group to force others to conform to laws based only on a particular religious dogma.

My Bible tells me that God loves the sinner, and I am a sinner. My Bible doesn't tell me that my God only loves the sinners who have met a prescribed ritual of confession and repentance. My Bible tells me that it grieves the heart of God when man doesn't come to Him, but it does not say God gives up on them or ceases to love them, as long as they are breathing living human beings.

You don't have to agree with or practice my theological position, but we all have to obey the civil laws of society. Those laws should not and can not be based on theology. Our civil laws are meant to be enforced on world residents regardless of whether you think they are heaven or hell bound hopefuls, or just think we simply cease to exist when this life ends.

Thanks Ken, for your thoughtful comment. I guess I am passionate about this issue because I witnessed with my own eyes gay Christians get harassed and ostracized during my time attending an evangelical church in the 1990s. There were those who didn't approve of the harassment, but no one stepped in to try to stop it. I was guilty of not intervening when I saw someone get harassed.

It's easy for me to be a liberal in a blue state like California. It's more difficult to be a liberal in a bible-belt state, where taking any controversial stand entails enduring some consequences. So I admire Everyday Citizen bloggers who live in more conservative communities and still are willing to speak up for their principles. I respect your willingness, Ken, to speak out for a more moderate and humane way to deal with disparate points of views. I respect your courage in speaking out.

I have many gay and lesbian friends and have learned a lot from listening to them. They just want to be treated with the same respect that any human being deserves to be treated with. When I attended an evangelical church, I remember overhearing many conversations where Christians were extremely disdainful and hateful of gay individuals that they knew. What gives me hope, though, are the private conversations I had with Christians who had friends or family members who were gay and were troubled by the way these loved ones were treated by more homophobic Christians.

It's been 9 years now since I attended an evangelical church, but I've been reading in my Facebook of Evangelicals, Catholics, Mormons, and other Christians who are now speaking out against homophobia. I realize the courage it takes for them to speak out to defend their LGBT friends and family members, as I realize the courage it takes for an LGBT person to stay a Christian with the homophobia in many Christian churches. I have gay friends who think it's crazy for any gay or lesbian to be a Christian or religious, with the history of persecution in many religions against gays and lesbians. Christianity has played a very positive role in my life, and I want to show my gay friends that that there are Christians and other religious people who are trying to fight to change that intolerant strand within our religions.

Angelo - thanks so much for posting this. And I also appreciate Ken's remarkably sane comment.