L...G...B...T......#$@%!

Screw it! One label>>>HUMAN

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a HUGE advocate for Gay and Lesbian rights. Out of my circle of fabulous friends (more like family at times) a good majority of them are either gay or lesbian. I cherish them dearly. I have never meant a group of people so enjoyable, accepting, and caring. When I am down, they are there with encouraging words of empowerment to keep me motivated. And for that I am thankful.

I am fortunate to have grown up in a household where my parents, grandparents, and other close relatives made me and my sisters aware of different cultures and sub cultures.  Our parents never came out and told us what gay actually meant, but with the exposure we were able to make a sound decision on what the term meant. We were never told to stay away from "the gays" or that "being gay was nasty or abnormal", we were taught that just like us they were human to and to treat others with respect regardless of how they choose to live their life.  And that is exactly what we did, and still do to this day.

Over the years, an attack on the human race has been waging in our country and now it has hit my home state of North Carolina. Why? Because of fear and the inability of others to tend to their own business. On May 8, 2012, Amendment One (which adds the ban of same sex marriage to the state constitution and limits non married heterosexual couples rights) was approved by a 68%-32% vote.
What does this mean? Well North Carolina already had a ban on same sex marriages, but now since it is placed in the states constitution it will make it almost impossible to have it removed. On top of that, couples of the opposite sex will have to commit and get married in order to share benefits, including life insurance, and child custody if one of the parents were to pass away.  May supporters of Amendment One says that Amendment One safeguards the sanction of marriage and the teaching of the Bible. That's where I have an issue.

I believe in the Bible, (although I am not a devoted Christian nor have I ever claim to be) but I also believe in separation of church and state. This was a political issue not a "Church issue".  But since we are talking about what the Bible says, lets look closely North Carolinians.

We sure do love our crabs and shrimp don't we?

Leviticus 11:10 reads, "But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming of life of the water and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you."

Lets not forget all of those tattoo parlors around here...

Leviticus 19:28 reads, "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord."

When will we ever realize that we are all human and that we all aren't perfect in the eyes of the Lord? With everything we say we will not do, or is not acceptable to do, we find something that is not acceptable to do, but we do it anyways. i cant tell you how many Church goers I saw in line at the local Scotchman's when the lottery was up to 350 million. But I guess that was okay tho.

So the next time you sit around a table of steaming boiled shrimp and crabs after Sunday service, or you are looking through the portfolio of the a tattoo artist searching for you next piece of ink, just remember there is a gay or lesbian couple out there that just wanted the chance to love. That tattoo of a cross on your chest or wrist makes you just as much of a Christian as watching Will & Grace makes a person gay.

Until next time Sweeties!

References
http://www.11points.com/books/11_things_the_bible_bans,_but_you_do_anyway
Local news Channels WECT-6, WWAY-3