If you take the good you also have to take the bad, something many of us, even those within the gay community, seem sometimes to forget. When former Facts Of Life star Lisa Whelchel was first announced as a player on this season's Survivor there were many gay sights and blogs that were posting negative comments about Lisa, even some suggesting a boycott due to her stance on homosexuality.
In my research I found a reply on her website to a mother who wrote in (since deleted) suggesting you could 'pray the gay away' and that it is possible to leave behind a homosexual lifestyle. Now of course I don't believe this conversion therapy (unless on American Horror Story) works, but I also can see a clear difference in someone living their convictions and someone using it to spread hate (Michele Bachmann?).
Lisa is a Christian, but just as we expect all homosexuals not to be judged and lumped together, so should be true with Christians. Many Christians support gay marriage, many domination's accept women as preachers, many have progressed beyond the what the extreme bigotry of many fundamentalists. Homophobia does not necessarily stem from Christians, it stems from bigots who use the Bible as a tool for hate and suppression, not love and inclusion as Jesus did in most Bible stories that I recall.
I like Lisa Whelchel. I am not sure where she stands on homosexuality these days. She is about to turn 50, is going through a divorce and maybe with all her years in Hollywood has a perspective that is all her own. I don't know, I also really don't care. I am enjoying her on Survivor, I loved her mud wrestling, and holding her own, with Denise, I love her game play and her interactions with others. I fear Lisa is leaving the show soon and maybe she will say something bigoted to change my mind, but until then she doesn't seem to be fueled by hate, but by love. Someone thinking differently than I is cool, it has to be if we ultimately are ever going to obtain the full acceptance we say we want. I think many people forget sometimes that the goal, should not be to have others think exactly like we do, but instead, accept, and respect that others think differently. Isn't how we treat each other that really counts?
2 comments:
I totally agree. I don't force my opinions on others and they don't force their's on me. Mutual respect and understanding is the key.
-Chris
In the turbulent times that we are experiencing it's difficult to remember that we at times are just as guilty as those we persecute. Lisa is entitled to her beliefs much as we are. Remember we live in a country that allows us freedom of speech. She has the right to say what's on her mind, as do we. And, she can also disagree with the marriage of homosexuality and of homosexuality itself, but no where have I ever read or heard her say that we were evil, disgusting, or anything that actual bigots have stated. She just holds steadfastly to her beliefs, and although I disagree with them I applaud her for having the strength and courage of conviction to state those beliefs so loudly. Anyone can say anything, but it takes a strong person to uphold what they've said.
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