Equal Rights Activist
I’m sorry, I just couldn’t go past your post for all the errors! I can’t believe there are still people who think like you!

Let’s take a little look at what you said:
“Religion is a choice - sexuality is not.” Wrong. There is not one shred of credible evidence that supports your statement of sexuality being ‘innate’. You might want to believe that you were ‘born that way’, but that would honestly be delusional.
And as for your reference to Kinsey… please! Besides the fact that he did the majority of his research based on prison inmates, it is also now clear that his work was fraudulent and criminal, sadly, involving the sexual abuse of hundreds of children. Kinsey also proclaimed that medical and scientific data find no reason to prohibit incest or adult-child sex. Still want to quote from his "research"??

It is widely accepted and documented that 98% of society readily identify themselves as heterosexual. Not the other way around.

Your check on HIV stats MUST have been a ‘quick’ one, because the actual situation is that 85% of AIDS cases involve homosexuals. (National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Australian HIV Surveillance Update, 10/2 (April 1994))

Did you make up your information about condoms being ‘totally safe’ in protecting against HIV too? Check out this link which covers a UNAIDS report: “United Nations Report says Condoms Fail to Protect against AIDS 10% of the Time” http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/jun/03062303.html

As to the ‘homosexual lifestyle’, let me quote from another well-known contributor on this forum: “lifestyle n : "a manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes." Homosexuals live according to their values and attitudes ie. they have "sex" with other men (or boys), and they are extremely promiscuous. That is their lifestyle.” For more information on all other errors please check out this paper (previously posted by Aslan) and learn the true situation. http://www.kulikovskyonline.net/homosexuality.doc

Cheers,

Tammi expresses the classic myopic attitudes of right-wing fundamentalist Christians – and I know there are a hell of lot of them in the world. Naturally she refers to fundamentalist websites as resources. Let me refute her misrepresentations:

(1)What shred of credible evidence dooes Tammi have to suggest that sexuality is not innate? I Know from my own personal experience and from discussion with the hundreds of gay, bisexual, lesbian AND heterosexual persons I’ve known through 11 years of presenting Queer Radio http://www.queerradio.org in Brisbane, that sexuality is innate. You can chose to lie, conceal or behave in a manner that pleases others, but that does change your true sexual orientation.

(2)My reference to the distinguished work of Dr Kinsey was to ”attraction or behaviour” and not to “identity”. Most self-identifying heterosexuals will have feelings of attraction for the opposite sex, or will have a same-sex sexual encounter to orgasm during their lifetimes – and that’s perfectly OK.

(3)Australia may be an island, but I was clearly referring to the global experience of HIV - and research shows a maximum of 10% of infections are due to male-to-male sex.

(4)Condoms when “USED PROPERLY with water based lube” are exceedingly safe. A great site with honest info for proper use is at http://www.avert.org/usecond.htm and they have a page with a history of condoms and the truth about risk of failure http://www.avert.org/condoms.htm .

(5)Same-sex attracted people are no more promiscuous than heterosexuals, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Like myself, and most of my queer friends choose to be faithful to their one partner – it’s not called “monogamy” because the law prevents us from getting married – instead it’s called “love” – you’ve heard of love no doubt, why not practice it?.

(6)For full details of the Queensland’s Age of Consent and the dire need for Sodomy Law Reform go to my own site at http://www.queerradio.org/AgeOfConsent.htm .

equal rights activist

There is a big difference between having some form of same sex attraction and reaching orgasm with someone of the same sex.
A big difference.

Other than that you make some good points

To all the "Christians" who continue to condemn homosexuality based on Scripture, I ask you to consider the following.

"If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die - the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so that you shall put evil away from Israel. If a young woman who is betrothed to a husband, and a young man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both to the city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled a neighbour's wife; so you shall put the evil from among you."

"And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also, more sons and daughters were born to David."

"New Rehoboam loved Maachah the grandaughter of Absolom more than all his wives and concubines, and begot 28 sons and 60 daughters."


Does anybody believe these Scriptures should be written into society today? Should we take the Bible literally and stone adulterers to death? Taken at face value they seem to support men having multiple wives and mistresses and other customs common during biblical times but are completely foreign to Judeo-Christian values today. There are many others eg women who are having their period should not venture into town, mixed fabrics should never be worn... the list goes on.

Why is it so easy for Christians to dismiss these many condemning Scriptures as not relevant today, while proclaiming that a handful of others condemn homosexuality for all times

I've learnt an important lesson here. Never use irony (or any sort of humour) when posting to your own article. Religious fundamentalists don't seem to get it.

But thanks to those who have been countering the usual obsessive bilge from "Christians". No doubt they won't stop debating the issue on this forum but unfortunately for them, just as in the real world, they are not getting things their own way.

I just want to address two points for the moment - homosexuality being a "choice". So what if it is? People choose to be Christians, people choose to marry, people choose many things. As I am gay, I know a lot more about the reality of same-sex sexual feelings than some of these arrogant fundamentalists. And I can tell you I didn't choose my sexual orientation as you would a red or a blue shirt. But that's beside the point.

Secondly, one big risk factor re: HIV/AIDS (in global terms) is being a woman. This is because of women's second class status in most countries. So, maybe people should stop "choosing" to be women perhaps? (I'm being ironic here).

DavidJS - have appreciated all your posts the ironic and the serious. While basically het myself - and I know I didn't concsiously choose; I'm simply wired that way, I wish the 'more righteous than thou' brigade would ask themselves if they chose their sexual orientation - but that requires self reflection, not common among those who would tell others what to do with their bodies. Another quality that appears to be lacking amongst the conservative contingent is empathy - I once asked Aslan if he could imagine being gay. The response was hysterical - I think he thought I was asking him to cut off his most significant appendage.

Back to the topic, I don't understand why the age of consent should be different for gays - clearly this is as discriminative as is banning marriage for gays. We are all human beings.