There is a great deal of impassioned debate and little dialog. There are often geographical divisions, with north eastern groups being liberal and southern groups being conservative. A major split is often between those who view homosexuals as a group, and those who personally know a gay or lesbian as a close friend. Religiously conservative groups , like the Southern Baptists , the Assemblies of God , and other Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian denominations, have also resolved the issue. They work towards maintaining special rights for heterosexuals, defeating hate-crimes legislation that would protect gays and lesbians, and promoting legislation to prevent homosexual marriages or civil unions.
Many denominations consider homosexuality to be a special type of sin.
They refuse membership and ordination to sexually active gays and lesbians. They have no expectation of changing their policy in the future. They teach that all people are sinners. Thus, gays and lesbians should be accepted with open arms as fellow sinners. However, in practice, it does not necessarily happen.