Discrimination and Harassment

Some online dictionaries say that "discrimination against" means to treat a person worse than you treat others, or to treat them according to what you think their group deserves--in a negative way--rather than according to their merit.  

When I was young, I was forced to go on social assistance and I felt very bad about it.  But I saw a sign somewhere that said everyone should be treated with human dignity and worth...and I appreciated it very much.  I was kind of surprised, actually.  And I believe it's true that everyone should be treated with a certain amount of dignity.  

People know what harassment and bullying mean.  Nobody wants to be treated in that way.  It's sad when it happens.

As for the LGBTQs, I'd like to see those Christians who've been somewhat isolated and prejudiced--maybe they were busy with work elsewhere and haven't been exposed to gays--to understand that it's not just about homosexuality versus no homosexuality.  It's about stopping the discrimination and harassment, as far as possible.  Christians are supposed to be kind and helpful, and I don't believe true Christians would want to interfere in this work.  I believe the special police project has been dealing with this kind of a business for some time...and some others are just catching up now.  I'm sorry if I wasn't able to help with some discussion earlier.  

Some Gays Have Been Combative, but can we get past defensiveness?

Some gays that I've heard of from more than one person, in both Canada and the United States, have been combative towards conservative Christians or towards my church and our church schools.  And some of the Christians are on the defensive.  That's an issue, in my opinion.  The Christians think it's a question of accepting homosexuality or holding a standard against it?  But the way I see it is our society needs--as they have been doing--to reduce the discrimination and harassment against LGBTQs, as well as against other marginalized groups.

What does discrimination and harassment mean?  Where do we draw the line?  It's been noted by politicians that there may be a conflict between religious rights and minority rights, in some cases.  Religious people would like to keep their religious rights.  But is it always necessary--not to say that religion isn't significant?  Is a Christian harmed in any way by baking a cake for a gay wedding...?

Do Christians think it's okay for gays to be treated badly, in general, in our society?  Or would they want to help see them treated with dignity and fairness like other people expect to be treated?  We're all human beings, after all.

Myself, I've expressed views in my "church pamphlet," which is posted in this blog.  [If you scroll down a little, you'll see a post.]  My church headquarters have joined the proposed Fairness For All Act to support it.  They don't want gays to be harassed or bullied, but they don't want to give employment at this time....

In the special police project, some parties have been allowed to have some unrealistic expectations, as far as I've seen.  But if we'd resolve the legitimate concerns, I think the frivolous ones would disappear--or they would soon be dealt with.

The police project has several lawyers helping them.  One of them has worked with me somewhat--even if at arm's length--on the gay issues.  Otherwise it would've been hard for me to work on everything by myself.

Was I Calling Anyone a Bigot?

Was I meaning to call anyone names in my previous post?  No, I just wanted to encourage people to think about what their views were, where they came from, and to consider if they needed to change...?  I also wanted to let any church friends know that there's a practical consideration regarding the church that needs attention, in my opinion.  

If church members are interested, they can look up the proposed "Fairness For All Act," which may not be quite so fair...?  A respectable lawyer in my church wrote an article against this Act a while ago and I posted a link in my Facebook earlier....  [Don't have it handy right now.]  My church and other parties were promoting this Act.  The main legislation, which has already been partially passed in Congress in the USA, is called the "Equality Act."  There are one or two minor issues which I disagree with but otherwise, I think it's good.  It's possible it could be passed at any time....  

Myself, I've had the opportunity to study gay issues for over 20 years, and it was because of the Landlord/Tenant case that I was brought into by a gay landlady....  That, and some issues with the police....  

What is a Bigot?

In my opinion, conservative Christians have a right to follow the Bible and to not condone homosexuality.  But in the western world within the past 50 years and more, Christians have gone beyond that.  The practise of homosexuality was seen as a crime and as a psychiatric illness.  More recently, there was the quotation that linked pedophilia, bestiality, polygamy, and homosexuality together.  Maybe some Christians still haven't processed their views?  And from what I've heard, some gays and politicians have made awkward and/or aggressive attempts to make their issues known to conservatives; and I've seen these Christians become MORE resistant to homosexuals and their rights--because they didn't understand?

Myself, I'd like to apologize on behalf of all the aggressive and sometimes misguided gays and their supporters.  Please forgive them.  And let's not fight, let's talk....

The book of Romans, chapter 1, in the Bible speaks of people who carelessly drifted away from God and got into sin....  But the second chapter is all about how Christians shouldn't judge others, and shouldn't be angry and hostile towards them!  We can set our boundaries; and I believe churches have the right to hire only members in good standing as pastors and teachers?  (Will try to confirm this.)

My dictionary says a bigot is:  "One blindly and obstinately devoted to a particular creed or party."  I believe we should make an effort to understand what our beliefs are about...!  Some prejudiced people aren't Christians, but do they want to be decent people?  A bigot is not a nice word in our society.  I believe we shouldn't put unreasonable pressures and demands on LGBTQ people....  [Currently, my church, and a few other parties with their concerns, is wanting to deny employment to gays in common labour positions because they say it interferes in their religion...they want to avoid the possibility of paying health benefits to families of married gays.]