I grew up United Methodist. Did you know that? It's true. Every time we lived in the US we were a part of a large United Methodist church here in Greenville.
Currently, the UMC governing laws prohibits clergy from marrying gay couples. The United Methodist governing body has, to the best of my understanding, simply not addressed the issue at the last several conferences in which a rule like this might be examined or overturned.
I get it. It's a hot-button issue.
I don't, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, get why, though.
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If you aren't gay, don't marry someone of the same sex. Why should your preferences dictate someone else's life? It's been agreed upon by mental health professionals, scientists, and, ahem, GAY people alike (not that they really know, it's only their own brain) that sexual preference is not a choice, it is who you are.
One church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is currently refusing to marry ANYONE until the UMC changes regulations to allow marriage equality for all. You can read about it here.
FINALLY. Someone standing up for a group of people that society has decided aren't quiiiiite as equal as the rest of us. It makes me angry and sad that we have to even celebrate actions like these, but I'm grateful that there are people who are willing to. The spokesperson quoted in the article acknowledged that currently in NC the feeling on marriage equality is still one of inequality and prejudice, but that he believes the scales are tipping.
I hope he's right. I'm sick of the hate over nothing. Not a single reason people have offered for not providing basic rights to people who aren't straight has ever made sense to me.
What's the equality climate like where you live? Here in the South, things are pretty rough. I'd love to hear about different parts of the world!
Talk to me. What do you think?
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