June 21, 2016 6:30 AM

That awkward moment when one realizes that treating people with dignity and respect means ALL people

A pride flag waving outside the Hillsborough County center was meant to be a sign of respect and remembrance for the victims of the shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando. But just a day after it was raised, Commissioner Stacy White said it may be offending Christian employees and questioned whether it should be taken down. In an email sent to the the county human relations director Peggy Rowe on Thursday, White said he received an anonymous complaint from a county employee that the presence of the flag was “nearly unbearable” for her to pass on her way to work and created a “hostile work environment.”…. Calling the rainbow flag a “divisive, politically-charged symbol,” White asked Rowe if it could become an HR problem for the county. If it does, then White said he wanted a special meeting of the county commission to consider removing it.

There are few things that piss off good, God-fearing, Bible-believing, Conservative Christian patriots more than having to acknowledge them there homersexuals as actual, legitimate people- you know, with rights and everything. All this diversity and love and rainbow flags hurts the baby Jesus, knowhutimean? I mean, what are we supposed to do when we see two guys holding hands and kissing (seeing women doing it is kinda hot, though)? How dare they flaunt their sin and licentiousness in the face of good Christians who respect God’s laws? Why can’t they just accept that they’re “less than” in God’s eyes and go away?

It’s truly astonishing that, even in the wake of the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, there are those good, God-fearing Christians experiencing all manner of butthurt over the idea of honoring the unimaginable grief and suffering among the LGBT community. 49 people (most of whom happened to be gay) were brutally murdered in a place where they should have been able to feel safe and secure. It was the worst mass shooting in this country’s history…but it’s still not enough for some righteous Christians to shed a tear for the people who died. They were gay, they lived in violation of God’s law…and so they got what they deserved. In fact, some are sad because Omar Mateen didn’t kill MORE people.

I’m not trying to be a champion for LGBT rights, though that’s certainly a good and honorable thing. I’m trying to be an advocate for HUMAN rights because yes, gays are people just like you and me. Who knew, right? They may live and love differently, but in a free society that’s their right. You and I don’t have to agree with their lifestyle, but neither do we have the right to pass judgment and treat them as “less than.” People are people. Love is love is love. None of us have the right to deny others the right to love in a manner that feels genuine and authentic to them. We should all be able to be who we are and love whom we choose…because in the end, it’s not important who or how we love; it’s only important that we DO love…because love makes the world a much better and more joyous place.

Oh…the rainbow flag, that “divisive, politically-charged symbol?” It’s only divisive and/or politically charged if you choose to see it that way. Some of us have found our way clear to see it as the symbol of a community struggling for acceptance and the right to live and love in a manner of their choosing.

And since when are hatred, homophobia, and discrimination considered to be Christian values? If you’re offended as a Christian by the display of a rainbow flag intended to respect the victims of the worst mass shooting in this nation’s history, I’d suggest you need to get your Christianity checked ASAP. It’s clearly broken and dysfunctional.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on June 21, 2016 6:30 AM.

The National Rifle Association: Proof that monsters walk among us was the previous entry in this blog.

Beating the rush before President Trump trashes the place is the next entry in this blog.

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