For Jesus, people came first. For most contemporary religion, the institution comes first. People are crushed and destroyed under the churning wheels of demanding controlling religions institutions. The pope is just as much a victim of the destructive power of abusive religion as is the gay man who tries to develop and maintain a mature loving relationship with his partner. Religion is no respecter of persons.
Religion abuses everybody.
In the life of Jesus, many people who were oppressed by religions laws and exclusive spiritual rules were set free from abusive religion and decided to follow Jesus instead. Even the high priest who ordered the crucifixion was a victim of the religions abuse of which he was a part. Jesus did not try to tame or imprison the judgmental legalism of his day. He abandoned it. Jesus knew, just as you know today, that to take legalism captive and try to dress it up to be attractive and respectable is impossible.