Just Because I Oppose Gay Marriage Does Not Mean I Am Homophobic

Actress Ellen Page

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that liberal progressivism really is some sort of mental disease. I’m not a Harvard-educated doctor or world renowned psychiatrist, mind you. I’m just your average southern-born, sweet tea-drinking, guitar-pickin’, college-educated human being with eyes, ears and the capacity to think critically and make observations. (Which is more than I can say for some people.) So, when I see politicians like Hillary Clinton cracking jokes about their own corrupt actions or folks defending an organization that murders innocent babies and sells their body parts for profit, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a neurological illness to blame. I’m not sure how else to explain it when a person can shed tears over a dead lion, but won’t condemn the senseless slaughter of infants; or blame guns rather than the evil human beings who pull the triggers; or toss a woman in jail for opposing gay marriage, but ignore the crimes committed by our leaders in Washington. 

Speaking of gay marriage, as you may have recently heard, actress Ellen Page decided to blast Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee over the weekend, labeling them as ‘homophobic’ because of their views on gay marriage. In an interview with the Daily Beast, Page, who is openly gay, very pro-abortion and an all-around flaming liberal, said she has a “genuine curiosity” about people like this:  

I’ve seen multiple videos and read multiple quotes of Ted Cruz discussing gay issues, as well as Mike Huckabee, and it goes exactly as you’d expect. They don’t answer the question. They say you’re cutting them off when you try to ask the same question again because they’re not answering it, because the reality is that they might be homophobic people. To me, it seems like they’re homophobic people. It can seem comical to people and people can say, ‘Well, Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee, they’re obviously not going to be president,’ but no, these people have influence and there are specific areas and communities where they’re popular. The thing that makes me sad and angry in these situations is, look, anything can be said to me and it’s going to go in one ear and out the other. I’m a very fortunate person — just as a human in general I’m privileged, and as a gay person I’m privileged. But I think of the most vulnerable. I think of kids that are gay growing up in that environment and the level of toxicity and shame, and it’s so destructive. It causes a lot of pain. And the ripple effects of intolerance are catastrophic for everybody. Those are the points where it’s like, ‘This is not funny. Stop devaluing our love.’” 

Of course, Page mentions nothing here about Cruz’s and Huckabee’s deeply held religious beliefs. Nothing about their Christian faith. Nothing about God, Natural Law or simple morality. Just observations based on a few interview soundbites. (Someone give this girl a gig at MSNBC.) I mean, if she really has seen “multiple videos” and read “multiple quotes” from these two men, you would think that she would, at the very least, be aware of their Christianity. Then again, maybe she is aware, but doesn’t care: 

…religious liberty arguments have been used to discriminate with regards to gender and race. It’s not new. That being said, has religion been used for propelling beautiful movements? Of course. But this is not new and it’s destructive, and it’s sad…If you’re a gay couple, the amount of energy and things you need to do just to be able to adopt kids, you clearly want to be a parent! You’re clearly someone who’s thought it out and really wants to be a parent. And now we’re seeing statistics where, particularly if it’s two women raising children, let’s just say it’s working out quite well.” 

It’s worth mentioning that Page had a nice little showdown with Cruz at the Iowa State Fair a couple of months ago, when she tried to grill the presidential candidate on gay rights issues (while he was grilling pork…or something.) I guess she doesn’t know that Mr. Cruz has argued before the Supreme Court and basically has the equivalent of a level three black belt in political debating skills. Their little chat lasted for about five minutes and suffice it to say Ms. Page was mercilessly obliterated along with her weak, pathetic liberal talking points. Might need some ice for that burn, Ellen.  

Anyway, I wouldn’t even be discussing Ms. Page (a woman who once rejected pastoral help) unless I believed her comments were indicative of a much larger societal problem, one that has become all the more apparent since the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage. This idea that conservative Republicans and, more specifically, Christians, are bigoted ‘homophobic’ zealots for opposing gay marriage is utterly nonsensical and ignorant — and really borders on some sort of psychological disorder. (Let’s call it Liberalism, shall we?) Moreover, it’s deeply insulting to assume that just because someone follows the teachings of Jesus, they must naturally hate gay people or be terrified of them. In fact, for the vast majority of Christians, it’s precisely the opposite. Most Christians love their gay friends and co-workers (I know I do), but simply disagree with their lifestyle choices. ‘Love the sinner, hate the sin,’ right? In other words: I can disapprove of your actions, but still love you as a person. I do not support or condone what you are doing, but I genuinely love you and want to minister to you as Jesus would. Is this such a difficult concept for liberals to grasp? 

Every Republican presidential candidate who has voiced their disagreement with the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage has been brutally lambasted by the liberal media and repeatedly criticized by Hollywood elites — to the point that notable gay rights celebrities are calling for boycotts of Christian businesses. Former “Star Trek” Actor George Takei is even telling fellow gays on Facebook to avoid certain companies. Is this really what it’s come to? Boycotting chicken sandwiches and waffle fries? 

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These companies are free to have their own opinions, but we consumers are equally free to decide where to spend our money.

Posted by George Takei on Saturday, September 12, 2015

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That Lieutenant Sulu is one hilariously ignorant buffoon, isn’t he? 

Hey, this company is owned by a Christian! Boycott them! 

Don’t eat at Chik-Fil-A until every American is gay!  

Conservatives are homophobic! Off with their heads! 

I guess it’s just not enough that gays were awarded a constitutional right to marry nationwide. I mean seriously, if Chik-Fil-A was a ‘homophobic’ company, do you think they would be serving gay customers? Or hiring gay employees? 

This is pathetic, folks.

By its very definition, ‘homophobia’ refers to a hatred (or fear) of gay people — “antipathy,” “malice,” “negative attitudes,” “repugnance,” “dislike.” Let’s be clear: there is a very strong difference between having an opinion on the definition of marriage and actually hating a gay person. There is a difference between opposing gay marriage and opposing gay people. Being anti-gay marriage is not synonymous with being homophobic. And it never will be.

Ever. 

For God’s sake, this would lump Christians in with the Nazis and Islamic extremists. To demonize millions of Americans for adhering to their religious convictions, and to subsequently classify those people as ‘homophobic,' is the start of a very disturbing, very troubling trend. Not to mention it’s just plain irrational and illogical. It completely ignores the very definitions of the words. (Something liberals love to do.) Even worse, it usually inhibits any opportunity for civilized discourse, which is what so many gay marriage proponents claim they want to have.

The mature Christ-follower knows that a person’s identity is not found in their sexual orientation or their gender. It is found in their soul and, more importantly, where that soul will spend eternity. My gay friend’s worth and value as a human being is not found in her ‘gayness.’ Her sexual choices are not the most fundamental component of her identity. Believe or not, I can ideologically disapprove of her gay lifestyle, while still choosing to love, respect and value who she is as a person. Of course, the liberal argument would be that her gayness is somehow intrinsically tied to her personhood and her identity. So by rejecting her gayness, I’m really rejecting her. This is a false notion and is utterly absurd. Yes, our body, mind and soul do make up our “self.” But our sexuality (not to be confused with gender) and sexual attractions and sexual choices are not intrinsically tied to our “self” identity, because attractions and choices can change. Our “self,” though, cannot change. I love my friend not because she is gay, I love her in spite of it. 

I think this is all pretty simple logic and reasoning, really. So at times, I can’t help but wonder: Why are we even still having these conversations? I don’t know. But, I guess as long as liberal actors continue to spout uneducated falsities about Christianity, I’ll keep reminding everyone of the truth, because, well, someone has to. 

And the truth is: Opposing gay marriage does not make you a homophobe in any sense of the word. 

But, you already knew that, right? 

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