Christian army wages war on gay equality laws

Tuesday, December 19th, 2006

A coalition of 15,000 Christians is taking Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland Secretary, to court in an attempt to force the government to back down on new gay rights legislation.

The new regulations will outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods, services and education on the grounds of sexual orientation, leading Colin Hart of the Christian Institute to argue that the concerns of religious people have been ‘trampled over’.

“They almost appear to establish a right for homosexuals not to be disagreed with,” he said, adding that the regulations would give preferential treatment for gay people. “It is a preferential status which will drive a coach and horses through religious liberty,” he said. “We’re taking action to protect the many Christian people in Northern Ireland who will become victims of frivolous accusations if these regulations become law.”

Does anyone really believe that Christians or any other religious people and groups will be taken to court for referencing gay people as sinners? Christianity is a belief system centred on the concept of original sin. We are all said to be sinners irrespective of who and what we are, and what we do. I and many others do not agree with this idea but that does not mean we are without morals or ethics, far from it. Sometimes, the concept of inherent flaw, of sin, can be used as an excuse as well as a means of social control.

If the most vociferous and hateful Christians engaged in more Bible study, they would see that they really have no right according to their own rule book to have a go at anyone. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone? Man, some of these people are throwing boulders every single day while kicking back in easy chairs congratulating one another on their virtuous lifestyles.

It really is time for decent Christians everywhere to take back their religion from these bigots, and realign the public perception of their faith with the ideals of love and compassion, not hatred and violence in words and deeds.

The new laws are not attempting to dictate what people can and cannot believe. They will give preferential treatment to no-one. They serve to provide some measure of protection, and to dictate only that those beliefs cannot be couched in hateful vocabulary and used to incite or approve of violence. Evangelical Christians will still be intolerant and objectionable. They just won’t be free to call on others to do their dirty work for them, to smite queers in the name of the Lord or work to make gay people second-class citizens.

For the record, whatever the law of the land, this homosexual is perfectly content to accept that people will sometimes disagree with me on an infinite number of topics. I promise I won’t take you to court for doing so, even though we queers will soon assume complete authority over this country. One nation under a rainbow flag. You will bow to us. Breeding will be forbidden. Heterosexual liaisons of any kind will result in beatings, executions and shameful exposure in the media. All male firefighters will be required, whatever the weather, to do their jobs topless (and to work out every day). Naff clothing will be banned.

Ahem. I think it’s best to leave such fantasies to closeted gay evangelical pastors and other devout fundamentalists. Don’t you? Except the bit about firefighters. No, really. It’s a great idea. If your house is burning down, at least you get some eye candy to drool over while you’re stood outside in bunny slippers and dressing gown…