[b said:
Quote[/b] ]If I interacted with you in real life I would treat you the same way I would treat anyone else, with compassion.
Unless those interactions included such basic rights as being able to inherit property, not to be forced to testify against a spouse, not to be evicted from one's home for mere orientation, and a plethora of other examples numbering in excess of 1000.
To claim compassion while at the same time supporting laws treating others as second-class citizens is hypocracy, period. If I'm polite and friendly to you, but work to remove your basic human rights, can you claim my behavior is compassionate? No, no more compassionate than the used-car salesman who smiles and jokes with you as you sign the lease on a car with a transmission made of tinkertoys.
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]When you posted your opinions, I could have easily jumped on it and made a scene like you did. Instead I respected your post and posted my opinion/views and what did you do? You jumped all over me because my view is opposite yours. Why can't both views be posted? Why is it OK for you to post your perspective but as soon as I post mine I'm a hypocrite, blind person with no common sense? I'm willing to see both perspectives, maybe you are the blind one?
Our opinions do not materially harm you or infringe upon your rights in any way. In contrast, your opinions actively seek to prevent equality and deny people rights based on nothing more than your views of morality.
Let me give you an insight: a while back, my city (Cincinnati) had a portion in it's city charter, put there by people like you, which made it legal for me to be evicted from my apartment simply because my sexuality. I could be denied loans, hotel lodging, anything. And when this lovely display of "compassion" came up for referrendum, I found myself watching an ad, sponsored by people like you, which said, in as many words, that I do not deserve the same rights as you.
I want you to look me in the metaphorical eye and tell me what aspect of the compasion and tolerance Jesus preached is involved in throwing me out of my home because of who I am.
I'll make it even simpler: Tell me why, in an ostensibly free country, I should be forced to live by *your* moral rules?
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]So they actually found the cause of homosexuality? That's news to me!
Logical fallacy: strawman. We have evidence that there are genetic factors at work (through heritability studies), and we have evidence that other factors (number of older brothers) also affect sexual orientation. However, human behavior is more complex than that of Drosophilia, and the large-scale genomic evaluations necessary to determine the underlying causes have only recently become technologically possible.
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]How do you feel about homosexuals who find Jesus Christ and then turn heterosexual? How did they change their genetics?
Factually incorrect: Numerous studies have shown that the reversion rate of those who claim to have "become straight" over long time periods is 100%. You know Exodus International, the leader among such "ex-gay" groups? The founder is currently living in Canada - with his husband.
Every properly performed study done on the phenomenon you describe reveals that the individuals have not changed their orientation, merely supressed it, going "back into the closet", as it were. The psychological damage incurred in such instances can be significant.
If you want a serious debate on this, I'm all for it, but do me a favor and actually research the facts. I've grown bored to repeating the same refutations for the same ridiculous anti-gay propaganda over and over again, as I have so far in this thread.
Mokele