God and America Support Diversity

Abstract

Same-sex couples won federal marriage recognition in the early third millennium ─ a victory however which is not likely to dishearten those who opposed it. In 2013 the U.S Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) ─ a law which defined marriage as only between one man and one woman. This definition excluded legally married same-sex couples from receiving approximately 1,138 federal benefits and also allowed states to reject their marriages. The majority decision read by Justice Anthony Kennedy found that DOMA’s goal was to undo the “essential part of the liberty protected by the Fifth Amendment” by demeaning couples “whose moral and sexual choices the Constitution protects and whose relationship the State has sought to dignify”. The court also found that DOMA humiliated and confused 40,000 children trying to understand the “integrity and closeness of their own family”. The death of DOMA appears to be a final legal hurdle for gay marriage, but it is not. The Republican Party, thousands of politicians, religious backers, and millions of conservative voters remain committed to preserving “traditional marriages”. Most of these individuals adhere to Judeo-Christian dogma which states that homosexuality is wrong. Since these views are rooted in a religious belief, legal arguments will not change their minds about gay rights ─ only their own faith and hearts can. This paper will show that a Judeo-Christian God bestowed a much greater task upon mankind rather than the enforcement of moral or sexual practices. Moreover, that America defends this responsibility which includes the protection of human and civil rights for homosexuals.

Diversity

Creationists, evolutionists, and all others in between must acknowledge the true diversity which nature creates in both sex and gender identity (i.e. sexual orientation). When it comes to identifying the sex of a human being there are not just two categories. The “third gender” refers to those who do not possess all anatomical features of male or female, or their gender identity does not conform to a societal role. For instance, variations in chromosomes can lead to a blending of male/female organs and genitals resulting in an intersex condition. According to Intersex Society of North America, approximately 17 biological conditions can identify a third sex person (FAQ; Intersex Conditions). Therefore, third gender persons are allowed to exist as all others simply by virtue of being a human being.

Gender identity on the other hand is to express and experience ones true self regardless of their physical form. For example, Native Americans referred to homosexuals as “two-spirit” people when the body is not congruent with the soul. In fact, for centuries many societies refer to “two-spirit” people in one way or another, and some even consider the merging of feminine and masculine a blessing (Brannon 97-8). To illustrate that this is truly an expression of the soul and not a conscious decision consider the following; in any research study, the sexual orientation of a human is exempt from use as an independent variable since it cannot be altered for the sake of the experiment (Brannon 24). This demonstrates that if homosexuality cannot be directly induced then it can neither “infect” (for lack of a better word) other people, nor be “cured”. These genetic/biological variations coupled with the widespread cultural history of homosexuality are why most professional organizations support the rights of third gender persons. For example, the American Psychological Association (APA) declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder on December 15, 1973 and remains devoted to removing the prejudice and stigma it suffers.

Religion and Government

Although the Judeo-Christian faith may view homosexuality as sinful in the King James Bible (Lev. 18:22, 20:13, Rom. 1:26-27, Deut. 22:5) its practice remains lawful. For example, in Romans 13:4 it states that “rulers are not a terror to good works (deeds), but to the evil (deeds)”. This means that governments have only the authority to protect its citizens from being harmed by other people. A test for this model of government is offered with the verse ‘would you be afraid of your government?’ (Rom. 13:3). Since it does create fear and misery when laws on sexual morality are enforced any government doing so does not meet this standard. Furthermore, Paul the Apostle writes to “owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8). Protection and love ─ these are the overriding responsibilities we have been given for each other by God.

After the law, all that remains is what is owed to the self (morals) and what is owed to God (worship) ─ personal responsibilities which cannot be fulfilled through coercion. With human rights mankind is simply born with autonomy which allows one to exist, love, and worship (or not) in any way one chooses. In Judeo-Christianity man is also granted autonomy when allowed the choice to bite the apple. Whether Genesis 3:6 is taken literally or figuratively, it illustrates God’s endowment of freewill onto mankind in order to guide his own life and soul. If this were not so, then men would be “puppets” and thus hold no accountability for their actions in this world or any another. This is not to say that homosexuality is a “sin” worthy of damnation. It does however beg the question; ‘if God Himself did not interfere in a man’s choice which led to an eternal consequence for all of mankind ─ then why would He want governments to?’.

America Employed by God

America was the first nation to protect the well being of its citizens and their God given right to freewill. In the 1700s Thomas Jefferson was among others attempting to gain their independence from Britain. He sought a philosophy to replace the “divine rights” of royalty and the coercion of the church which had controlled mankind and led to much death (Stanford 21). Jefferson finds this alternative philosophy in a theory known as Nature’s Law ─ the belief that God does exist, but that He does not interfere in the natural world. This theory also views the human realm as a place of innovation and change instead of a fixed set of unwavering moral truths (Pickett 1). Although Jefferson embraces nature’s law he remained a deeply religious man who follows the spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ. As future author of the Jefferson Bible he was no doubt familiar with the scriptures where Christ is synonymous with freedom. For example, “…where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (Cor. 2:12), and “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…” (Gal 5:1). God, Christ, protection, and liberty ─ these are the principles Jefferson places within the greatest human rights decree in history. The 1776 U.S. Declaration of Independence secures the rights “endowed by their Creator” to life, freedom, and happiness. It also speaks to the third gender when affirming that “all men are created equal”. The First Amendment to the 1789 Bill of Rights then bars Congress from making any laws influenced by religion that would obstruct that decree. These two U.S. documents understood and affirmed that core human rights are not hindered by the religious, moral, or sexual choices of other human beings.

Third Gender Parenting

Homosexuals are just as capable as heterosexuals when it comes to loving and rearing honest, law abiding citizens with the right to spiritual freedom. “Responsible procreation” is a religiously inspired concept (Genesis 9:1) used to oppose gay marriage because homosexuals cannot biologically repopulate. It is also linked to other misconceptions such as same-sex couples make better parents, and that since government offers marriage as an incentive to pregnancy then homosexuals do not need it. First, the ability to reproduce is neither a prerequisite for marriage, nor a requirement for legal parentage. If either were the case, marriage licenses and adoptions would be denied to those who are sterile, incarcerated, beyond childbearing years, or bear a physical disability. Second, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, and adoption all provide the means to legally and lovingly parent for many non-homosexuals who cannot biologically reproduce. Most importantly, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement on March 20, 2013 affirming that no relationship exists between the sexual orientation of parents and the well-being of children.

Conclusion

This paper sought to change the hearts of politically active Judeo-Christians who restrict the human/civil right of third gender persons to marry. In order to accomplish this, the authority of a pious person to deny others these rights had to be challenged. An important way to accomplish this is to enlighten them to the variety of third gender persons created by God through nature. Although this is sufficient to grand third gender persons their human and civil rights, the point was also made that a soul does exist with an identity seprate from a physical form. This dichotomy proves that mankind neither knows God’s will, nor can claim the power to subjugate the vessel of where He places a soul. Therefore, the use of government to restrict the human and civil rights of homosexual’s is not only unjust religiously and legally, but a sad misplacement of ones faith. In a world where some religions persecute women, homosexuals, minorities, and others, any Judeo-Christian denomination ought to promote a God which embodies free will, love, and protection. Additionally, on the pride that America’s forefathers held His principles and purposes as the noblest plan for mankind.

Works Cited

American Academy of Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics Support Same-Sex Marriage. March 21, 2013. Print.

American Psychological Association. Discrimination Against Homosexuals. January 24-26, 1975 <http://www.apa.org/about/policy/discrimination.aspx>;.

Brannon, Linda. Gender Psychological Perspectives. Pearson Publishing’s. 2011. Print.

Intersex Society of North America. FAQ; Intersex Conditions. 1993-2008. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. <http://www.isna.org/>;.

Pickette, Brent. Homosexuality. Stanford Encyclopedia of Homosexuality. Substantive revision Fri Feb 11, 2011. Print.

Stanford, Charles. The Religious Life of Thomas Jefferson. Library of Congress. 1984. Print.

The Holy Bible. King James Version. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1989. Print.