From: cho@ucbeh.san.uc.edu
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton
Subject: More On Sexuality
Date: 31 Dec 92 18:14:33 EST
Distribution: world
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati

Greetings,

I'd like to add my comments to this very interesting topic of homosexuality
vs. heterosexuality.  It's a topic that has really bothered me for a long
time.

Seven of my closest friends in college were supposedly straight then, and
10 years later, all have 'come out of the closet'.  Since then two have
died of AIDS.  They have their names inscribed on the famed 'quilt'.

I have the following problem with the homosexuality.  Not to get
trite, but 'the Bible says' that homosexuality is perverted.  This is
in Romans, I think 12 or something, I'm not good at quoting exact verse,
but I saw it.  If someone has a 'MacBible', maybe they could help me
out with the exact verse.  I also read something similar in the old 
testament, and again, it's an early book, in the pentateuch I believe,
but I don't know the exact verse.  Can someone pinpoint the verse for me?

So, OK...the Bible says it's perverted.  If we assume that God is telling
us this, then we assume that God is telling us it is perverted.  Of 
course, immediately, you think...well, is eating ham perverted? etc., etc.
So the usual recourse, is how much of the Bible do we take as cold hard
fact of law and moral truth, and how much of it is taken with a grain 
(or a pillar!) of salt due to the customs of the time?
So do we take the Bible as God's word?  How much and how little?

Homosexuality 'feels' wrong to me...but it is only because 'I' feel that
way....does my feeling that way mean everyone should also feel the same
way?  So, another dilemma.  My college buddies mentioned above were
Catholic...does this doom them of eternal life because they chose a
different way to love?  Yet my minister tells me that people, being people,
will alter what the Bible says in black and white to suit themselves.
If the law is too harsh, it won't matter what the Bible says...people
will rationalize their actions, even if it's a direct command from God.
People want to be comfortable, and will ignore a law that is too restrictive.

Some people feel that AIDS is a direct message from God, telling us to
stop promiscuity, drugs, homosexuality.  Is this true?  God certainly
sent some hefty plagues in the old testament!  Does our God express
his wishes to us through death?  Some people say a loving God would 
never do that, while others feel it is a direct command aimed at us,
giving us the BIG HINT.

If homosexuality is a genetic trait, then has God condemned these people
to a loveless life?

I honestly live in a state of tormoil over this subject, because on one
hand, I feel it is an immoral act, it goes against what scripture says,
and it 'seems' corrupted to me.  My own family members think I am very
closed minded when I talk this way.  I have wanted for years to 'talk'
my friends out of it....which is probably nuts.  But I feel it's like
watching your friends go over a cliff, while I stand back and watch.

Yet, I have been steadily reminded that homosexuality, while not socially
acceptable, should be an accepted form of love between two adults.  I
was raised in a super-strict family....so I still have my Victorian
feelings of disgust when I imagine homosexual sex.  Yet heterosexual
sex gets pretty grimy as well.

Back to law...should it be integrated into law?  It's one of those areas
that has slipped through the cracks for many years, and now, must be
dealt with.  

My personal opinion is that homosexuality is and must be a personal choice.
I don't like it, and yes, it makes me uncomfortable.  But...between
consenting adults, how can you argue in a lawful context that it is wrong?
This is without looking at the religious overtones, merely the lawful ones.

The important point in law is, does homosexuality harm others in society?
Certainly the spread of AIDS has killed many....but sexual disease in one
form or another has always been around.  Should we condemn multiple sex
partners as they do in the Middle East?  Does anyone know the law regarding
sexual practices in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the like?  It is common knowledge
that abstaining from sex, or only having one partner highly reduces risk of 
sexual disease.  Why?  Doesn't anyone think that is interesting?

If the peole of law decide to accept homosexuals, which must ultimately
happen, then the only area that would be in question is the area of 
privacy.  If homosexuals are around, then I would think people would demand 
areas of privacy in the locker rooms, shower areas.  Other than resolving the
privacy issue, what else is the problem?  It would be no different than
having both female and male in the military, which is already the case.
I'm not comfortable with it, but there it is.

In fact....it may help in subtle ways....to curb the 'tough guy' cracks
that are always so prevalent.  I can just picture a gay or lesbian sargeant 
yelling 'Some of you act like women!'....anyway....it would be interesting.

Regards,
-Pamela Cho-
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton