9:49pm
Thursday, November 10, 2016
I sat down to begin writing around 7:45 tonight: a little over 2 hours later and I’m STILL
trying to pull my thoughts together so that I can effectively convey my
feelings.
So much has transpired over the past week, culminating in election
results that have turned our country upside down. Interestingly enough, the results of our
recent presidential election will absolutely tie to the reason I even started
to write this tonight.
In the not too distant past, Jen Hatmaker (Christian author
and HGTV star) made a stand for the LGBTQ community that caused a bit of an
uproar. Her vocal support of the gay
community, and same-sex marriage, appeared to be the catalyst for the Christian
community to alienate and “stone” her for her views.
As a follow-up, which I posted to my own Facebook page, her
husband Brandon responded with details about their time and research into homosexuality and marriage, and it’s biblical meaning. I’m
posting the link below for you to read his response.
The bottom line in their message is one of love…and this is their
opinion, as well.
What I find astonishing about this situation is that the
Hatmaker’s belief and support of the idea of my marriage being holy has turned
the Christian community against them.
Can I just allow the irony in that statement to sink in for
a moment? Aren’t we supposed to love one
another, as commanded by God? I don’t
think it reads to love one another, but…
The research & OPINION of the Hatmaker’s, that my
marriage can be holy, has caused churches to turn away from using their bible
studies now. As if their support and
unconditional love (as commanded by God), now negates their ability to share
God’s word. Churches are actually
leveraging verses from 2 Peter and Romans to ACCUSE Jen and Brandon of being
false teachers.
These actions are exactly why the gay community feels out of
place in churches today. This JUDGMENT,
which is reserved for God alone, is why we struggle to bridge the gap in the
Christian community. The love, that
churches “claim” to have for the LGBTQ community, clearly comes with
conditions…and that is NOT God’s love.
Please listen, and clearly understand my next words: I am a Christian woman, who is married to a
woman, and lovingly raising an 18 month old child. My marriage is Christ-centered and full of
love, and NO ONE can tell me otherwise.
Please refrain from comparing my love and marriage to sin, as this seems
to be the most popular way for some Christians to say “Hey, it’s okay, we all
sin.” This statement helps nothing and
no one, and contrary to popular belief, does not show support.
If I might take a moment to transition into the most recent
election for a moment as well, my hope is that you will be able to see the
correlation that I am seeing…and if we’re lucky – I’ll be able to open your
mind to create your own dialogue.
I will caveat this section with something I’ve said
before: the beauty of living in our
democratic society is that we EACH have the right to vote according to our
wants/needs in life. Unfortunately,
people don’t seem to understand that if a vote is opposite of your own, it
doesn’t mean it is personal. For
example: I vote for Hillary Clinton –
but that doesn’t make me Pro-Choice. In
actuality, PERSONALLY, I am Pro-Life, but I believe the government should NOT
have a choice about my body, making my alignment Pro-Choice. I actually had someone tell me that my
“piece of paper” legal marriage is not more important than babies living. Can you even compare these two things??
What we have lost in this society is respect. There is a lack of respect for EVERYONE’S
most basic rights: to vote, to bare
arms, to marry, to feel protected in their job, to NOT be discriminated against
based on so many different things. There
is no respect, and without respect, LOVE ceases to exist.
What this election means to my family, is that we now live
in fear: Fear of the uncertainty of our
marriage being overturned. Fear that we
can lose our job based on whom we love.
Fear that the country that should protect its citizens will only do so
based on the qualifications they deem worthy.
The GOP platform for the president elect was clear:
“We condemn
the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor, which wrongly removed
the ability of Congress to define marriage policy in federal law. We also
condemn the Supreme Court’s lawless ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which in
the words of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, was a ‘judicial Putsch” — full of
“silly extravagances” — that reduced “the disciplined legal reasoning of John
Marshall and
Joseph Storey to the mystical aphorisms of a fortune cookie.’”
Joseph Storey to the mystical aphorisms of a fortune cookie.’”
What is even scarier, is that the president elect has
promised to replace Justice Scalia’s open seat with someone that shares his
views. Please take five minutes and read
these comments that Justice Scalia once made:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/03/scalia-worst-things-said-written-about-homosexuality-court
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/03/scalia-worst-things-said-written-about-homosexuality-court
I don’t think it is a far stretch to say that Scalia did NOT
support the LGBTQ community in any fashion.
For that matter, the vice-president elect does not support our community either. Do you know that he wanted to use funding for HIV/AIDS to support Conversion Therapy? Did you know he referred to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as “Mainstreaming Homosexuality?” Did you know that he wanted to ban civil unions? Did you know he opposed a bill that would have encouraged foreign governments decriminalize homosexuality? He also opposed hate crime protections based on sexual orientation.
For that matter, the vice-president elect does not support our community either. Do you know that he wanted to use funding for HIV/AIDS to support Conversion Therapy? Did you know he referred to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as “Mainstreaming Homosexuality?” Did you know that he wanted to ban civil unions? Did you know he opposed a bill that would have encouraged foreign governments decriminalize homosexuality? He also opposed hate crime protections based on sexual orientation.
Given that the president elect will be leaning heavily on
his vice-president, since he himself has NO political experience, can you
understand why my family lives in fear now?
I haven’t even touched on the crude, sexist, hate-filled,
and disrespectful comments made by the president elect through the years, and
I’m not going to go into detail there.
I’ve watched most of America make excuses for his words and temper for
months now. I will just say this: my son will NOT grow up to say the things I
have heard our next president say, or act the way we have seen him act. He will
be respectful of ALL people, and kind and loving to those he meets along the
way. He will be strong in spirit and uncompromising in his drive for
equality. It is my hope that he will
have all of the qualities and characteristics I would HOPE for in the leader of
our great nation.
As you go to bed tonight…say a prayer, or send out some
positive thoughts, for all of us that are fearful of uncertainty right
now. Pay close attention to what is
happening around you – and read the hate that is already seeping into the
streets of our nation…even more so than was already there. Pray that the days ahead are better and
brighter than many are able to see at this point in time. Above all else, be loving and respectful of
those that agree and don’t agree with how you may think and feel. Don’t feel the need to offer a defense or
response to someone’s fear – but just love, compassion, and support.
Regardless of your beliefs – we will forever be, STRONGER
TOGETHER!
Jaci, you are a such a gifted writer. I am moved by this post as I was by Adoption Day. I am sorry I only had you write literary analysis essays. Please don't misunderstand me; you were a fine writer of those essays, but I cheated myself of your gift of expression on matters of greater importance to you. I hope you will save your writing for Liam.
ReplyDeleteJaci, thank you for sharing your wise words. Myra and I share your fears and are angry that those who profess to love us do not share nor understand our grief over this election. So many do not understand the importance or significance of this election and the vial example our children now have in their president elect. We fear not just for ourselves, but for all those whose liberty and justice and freedoms and rights may now be in jeopardy. We fear the unleashing of hate followed by violence against those who are seen as different, unlike the right whites. This is not a Christian stance, Jesus taught us better than this and those that choose to use their Christianity as the reason or defense of a Trump vote are hypocrites and more unChrist-like than a marriage or lifestyle that affects no one else could ever be!
ReplyDeleteJaci, it takes a lot of courage to pen your thoughts. I am truly moved by your blog post. My love, support and prayers are with you and your beautiful family. We are stronger together ..
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