Does Gay Matter?

I'm gonna put this out there. Probably most people will just call me a homophobe, but I don't really care. I challenge those to enlighten my thinking.

First; I don't really care what people do in their own bedrooms. Gay, straight, bisexual, none of it matters to me since it doesn't affect me. As a religious matter, I believe that while many things are condemned in the bible, it is our responsibility as Christians to love each other no matter what. I don't think the bible says we must agree with each other, but we are to love each other.

Second; as a matter of equal access/treatment of gays, I don't think hospitals should prevent "partners" from access just because they're not legally or biologically declared family. Additionally, I've worked for companies that allowed benefits coverage for members of the household, regardless of their marital status.

It appears my family will now face dealing with the issue of having a gay person in a leadership position at our church. On the surface I don't really care about someone's sexual preference. And if this were a situation where it was, say a school teacher who comes in each day, does their job and goes home, I say it wouldn't matter. But, this will be a situation where this leader will be a member of our church, attends regularly with their partner and their adopted child and therefore my child will have significant exposure to someone living an openly gay lifestyle. Who will be the influence in my child's life on the matter of gay lifestyle/marriage? Plus all the questions about somebody having two mommies or two daddies.

Many people argue that if you're gonna restrict gay people, what about divorced people? They'll say; hey, the bible (strictly interpreted) doesn't allow for remarriage. To that, I say the big difference is that while we can love those people as Christians, it isn't so obvious on the surface whether or not someone has been divorced. This may sound crazy to some people, as in; so now we have to go back in the closet or keep quiet about facts about our personal lives? I'm only trying to make the point that there IS  a difference. A very obvious one.

Until now, it didn't really matter to me whether or not someone was gay. I find it interesting that it isn't people like me openly condemning gays. It is quite the opposite; the gay lifestyle is being forced on us. Don't believe me? Tune into the new tv show Smash. It isn't just suggestive scenes, it is full, on-camera men-on-men, open-mouth kissing. We have the freedom to change the channel when it comes to television. Not so easy with the church.

Currently we have no tolerance for adults having sex with children under the age of 18. In past centuries, people married at a younger age. What will we do if/when society decides sex with young teenagers is acceptable?

But back to the original point; I will now have to accept the gay lifestyle and agree with it in order to remain at my church. Sorry, but I've been a member of this particular church for about 8 years and am somewhat offended that WE are being forced into this.