re: Is anyone here really against homosexuality?

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Alabama isn't the most accepting place in the world. That's why I don't advertise my sexuality. I generally keep it private. When you have some great people around you and supporting you, it makes it easier though.

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Most of the South and a good portion of the rest of the country, especially rural areas, are still similar to much of Alabama regarding people who have sexual differences. Ignorance and fear of these differences is decreasng, however, and young people will not experience the level of exclusion and discrimination of older generations. That's a good thing.

Much of the epidemic of mental illness we see in our society today is caused or exacerbated by pigeonholing those who have biological differences from the socially approved norms. I can remember when people with physical abnormalities were gawked at and even ridiculed by insensitive, ignorant morons. There are, of course, many of those still around who don't understand physical differences but they are far fewer in number and it certainly is taboo for them to make fun of the physically handicapped.

Now our society is changing its mores pertaining to the treatment of those who have biologically sexual differences. Gays and bisexuals have advanced to the mainstream of society where their differences are considered unimportant, even boring, by the majority of people.

This will also happen for the other sexually different groups. Their numbers are very much smaller than for gays and bisexuals but this may work to their advantage. Once most people understand that their conditions are not elective and that they don't pose any threats to society, they too will be able to live without the social condemnation that threatens their civil rights.

It's difficult enough having to cope personally with being different. When society adds the dangers of physical harm and loss of freedoms, is it little wonder that many of these people suffer mentally?

I'd rather not answer that first question

As for marriage, I wouldn't mind, but I'm in no hurry.

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Not If I say so. Common sense. You think a guy wakes up one day and just decides he's going to like men? Knowing that it's just going to make his life hell? Not a chance. It's not a choice. You can't help who you're attracted to.

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I have lived this. Trust me if I had a choice from the get-go I would've chosen to be straight. That is a fact.

It took me just over a quarter century to come to terms with my sexuality and not hate myself for it anymore. Some people will never understand that my only choice was to accept my truth and come out or live a repressed life of confusion and lies. There simply was never a choice between being gay or straight.

Be what you want, but do it with the understanding that being gay doesn't make you special or exceptional. It's the other parts of your life that determine your character. If you are low character, I'm not going to like you regardless of who you sleep with.

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I don't know of any churches that are not welcoming to anyone who wants to attend.

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I guess that depends on how "welcoming" is being defined. I have a close friend that is gay, and has had a difficult time finding a Baptist church that is welcoming and accepting of him. Are the doors open for him to attend? Sure. Has he found a place where he can openly worship and feels a part of the church family? No.

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but is there anyone here who is actually still offended by the fact that homosexuality is accepted in modern society? It just seems like this whole thing is a leftover from a bygone era.

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The framing of your question forces blunt answers without any nuance or qualifications.

My objections to the practice are solely religious and biblical. Each man or woman who engage in homosexual acts do so without requiring my permission or earning my condemnation.

In the greater sum of all things I am not the offended party nor am I the great judge and arbiter of all things.

My sins and great failings in other areas of my life leave me no room or platform to judge men or women who have succumbed to temptations I have not had to struggle against.

Their quarrel and their lives are in the hands of the great judge and redeemer of creation.

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Are you trying to tell us that societal pressure to conform is causing all the mental illness in the world today?

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No, not entirely. "All the mental illness in the world today" has a myriad of causes. From brain defects to stress to, yes, being different in a society that is harsh on differences, mental illnesses range from the incurable to easily treatable such as depression.

For members of the queer (LGBTQIA) community, depression is still the number one mental illness. Even though society in general is now much kinder towards those with sexual differences, it's still a huge burden on a young person when he or she realizes that they don't conform to biological expectations.

40% of homeless young people are queer. Their families have rejected them or they have fled because they just can't pretend to live as someone they're not. In the past there wasn't a lot of support for them and they were abused, even killed, in the streets they had to call home.

Today there's a network that routes them to safe shelters. While it was built primarily for gay youth, it now caters to young people with other sexual identity issues such as transgenders.

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Because there used to be way more pressure to conform and there was way less mental illness.

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There was every bit as much mental illness then as now. The difference was that it wasn't talked about back then. We live in a healthier society now than then. Kids who realize that they're different can now speak about it.

Society no longer turns a blind eye when a young person is attacked for being different. The bully is now punished rather than being encouraged to abuse others.

Not offended at much as repulsed.

What's repulsive about it? I'm guessing you don't mind lesbian sex

Because the butt is made for poo poo not skeet skeet