I was a victim of abuse and

hatred from my family and from the community in which I lived. Why? Simply

because I was a homosexual. At 13 years of age I looked to the church

for my salvation. Just as Jeff Ellis's son prayed for God to take his

homosexuality away, so did I. I prayed for eight years.

During that time I was beaten

not to be someone worthy of God. So, what have I done?

I've given in to what I know

God has meant for me to be, and that is a homosexual. I do not feel any

shame, nor do I feel any less than human in anyone's eyes, and that includes

the eyes of God. I've grown from the child who was beaten so badly that

I swallowed my teeth to that of an adult who finally found some self esteem.

Most heterosexual men and women

do not understand life as a gay individual. Perhaps if they knew a gay

person or educated themselves on what being gay is actually like, then

they may change their opinion.

A gay individual cannot change

his sexuality; it is impossible. It is wrong for the church to assume

that being gay is a lifestyle. Riding a bike or baking cookies, now that's

a lifestyle. However, having sex with someone of the same sex is not a

lifestyle, nor is it a choice; it is something you are born with. I can

remember having gay thoughts as early as 5 years old.

Right-wingers will slam the

Bible in your face and quote scripture claiming that man shall not lay

with other men, it is an abomination. How is it an abomination? The entire

Bible never uses the words homosexuality and does not mention same-sex

couples in it anywhere. The old story of Lot's wife does not say anything

about homosexuality.

It is a shame that people in

2002 use this book to shape and destroy lives. Unfortunately it is a book

used to attack and condemn what people are most afraid of.

If you honestly don't know

anything about homosexuality, wouldn't it be easy to simply educate yourself?

If you just don't like homosexuals, so be it, but live and let live. Back

to that book again, the Bible says if your kids act up that you should

stone them to death. Do you take that scripture literally? Is that practiced

in today's world? If not, then Christians should prevent using the Bible

as a shield for their actions.

Heterosexual people can hold

hands in public; can get married numerous times; can hide their sins under

the cloth of the church; can be protected by law; however, gay people

can't marry, nor do gays have protection from losing a job or housing

in many states. Some states have laws to where gays can be arrested just

for being who they are gay. Alabama has a sodomy law and labels homosexuals

as criminals if they choose to have sex. Would you actually want a law

in your bedroom telling you what you can and cannot do in the privacy

of your home?

Gays in the rural South seem

to be more subject to violence because of their sexuality; they are ridiculed

by "so-called" Christians so bad that they sadly shun religion;

and finally gays are portrayed in the Southern mass media as vile and

evil people.

I'm neither vile, nor evil.

I'm a very loving and caring person who happens to be gay. I have learned

to live my life in a way to keep from harm's path; however, I shouldn't

have to. I should be as free as any American citizen, free for the pursuit

of happiness and equal liberties. In reality, I'm not, but in my heart,

I am.

I commend Jeff Ellis for taking

an educated stand towards gays. I wish he and his family a joyous life,

free from bigotry.

Steven W. Pope

Sharpsburg