Should people of difference, any difference, be accepted in modern American society? If the answer to that question is, "Yes," then it also has to be "Yes, homosexuality should be accepted in modern American society. The idea that people are homogeneous,' or all alike, is a mythological norm that has been crafted over time to keep people of difference in cultural shadows.
Homosexuality has existed in every socio-economic and ethnic culture since recorded history. It is only modern religion that has chosen to label it as unacceptable. In ancient cultures homosexuality was recognized as part of the culture. The Biblical claim that homosexuality is immoral is based on the idea that the Bible is the inerrant word of God as well as the ultimate authority on all social issues. It is debatable at best regarding the authority of the Bible on this or any other issue.
Regardless of how much Christians would like the world to believe that the Bible, in its present form, is inerrant, substantial evidence exists to disprove its claim of authority. Legitimate bible scholars have written innumerable works dispelling the idea that the Bible is an absolute authority, but cultural myth and popular belief give it a great deal more credibility than it is due. Certainly the Bible is filled with fascinating history and practical philosophy, but that does not make it a book of scientific, medical, or psychological fact, nor does it establish absolute accuracy for all that it proclaims. Religious myth, however, has established in the minds of modern religion, that the Bible is the authoritative word on all things.
Scientific reality provides more acceptable evidence that homosexuality is of biological origin than can be found to support the existence of God, the virgin birth or the reincarnation of Jesus. Yet, religion chooses to state the existence of God, the virgin birth, and the resurrection of Christ as fact. It is difficult to establish religion as a credible reason to reject homosexuals from society, when significant scientific evidence continues to point toward a biological origin.
Religion claims that homosexuality is a choice; yet, it this is the same religion that claimed until recently that epilepsy is demon possession. This is the same religion that believes in the celebration of the Eucharist the wine and crackers "magically" turn into the body of Christ. This is the same religion that teaches God magically heals those who pray, yet we've never seen prayer restore the limb of an amputee. This is the same religion that believes in invisible creatures called, angels, demons, cherubs, seraphim. This is the same religion that teaches God led the Israelites fleeing captivity in Egypt to slaughter all the inhabitants of Canaan and take their lands.
Claims that homosexuality is abnormal lie within outdated tradition emanating from religious domination and persecution. Until the Eighteenth Century, the word "homosexual" did not occur in the Bible. It was translated into it at the will of the Church. There are references to specific sexual practices in both the Old and the New Testament that are described as sinful and unacceptable. These amount to males raping males, pedophilia, and idol worship. None of these references describes committed, loving homosexual relationships. The Bible is filled with inaccurate and erroneous translation in other contexts as well. It is filled with cultural references that fit a specific time and place but have little relevance when taken out of context. So it is with biblical references to homosexuality.
The same Christians who would use the Bible to say that homosexuality has no place in society completely overlook how they accept the changing role of modern women from that described for women in the Bible. According to both the Old and the New Testaments women are not to cut their hair, wear jewelry or makeup, and they are to remain submissive to their husbands. Yet, the same religions that claim homosexuality should have no place in society, based on biblical authority, also claim that biblical references to the roles of women are out dated , not applicable in modern times.
Certainly there is an element within the homosexual culture that is emotionally unhealthy, but that same unhealthiness exists within the heterosexual culture as well. Frequent any nightclub on a Friday or Saturday night and you will witness the same unhealthy behaviors among heterosexuals that are so criticized regarding homosexuals. Much of what is criticized as unhealthy in the homosexual culture is the result of social ostracizing that separates young homosexuals from appropriate sources of mentoring, family support, or psychological assistance that would otherwise allow them to grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults.
If the Bible is to be used as an authority, to exclude homosexuals from society, then it must also be used as an authority to subject women to male domination and submission. It must also be used to decry the taking of life in war and by capital punishment. It must also be used to stone adulterers to death. There is much in the Bible that is not relevant to modern society for multiple reasons. So it is with Biblical admonitions against homosexual love and relationships. Homosexuality has as much of a place in modern society as do people who are left-handed, blue-eyed, red-haired, short, tall, or outside the norm, whatever that is, for any reason.