Religious conversions at pride

[zombiekiller]

As pride approaches, I am reminded of one consistent thing I've seen every year. Religious people handing out fliers at pride.

Don't they understand that pride is simply not a good place to recruit more homophobes?

 

[The Fly]

Some of the religious organisations at Pride events are gay friendly churches. I'm an atheist, but see nothing wrong with it, I may not agree with the message, but I support their right to say it. Freedom of speech is not just a right, it's a responsibility.

 

[JohnnyAnger]

Don't take the leaflet if you don't want it - i doubt they are the gay hating type anyway. If they are, they are spoiling for a fight - ignore them and try to ban them in following years (here pride is a ticketed event so they can't get in).

 

[star-warrior]

I say take their leaflets, then throw them away. The less they hand out to vulnerable people, the better.

 

[RaKroma]

Just because you have negative experiences toward religion it doesn't mean all lgbt people reject religion or have bad experiences. You maybe unaware, but many lgbt people are devout members of churches, mosques and synagogues. I could count at least 2 dozen various religious groups that march at Pride here every year. There is a gay Armenian church group that marches and last year I remember seeing a Muslim lgbt congregation and Hindu group.

 

[zombiekiller]

Just because you have negative experiences toward religion it doesn't mean all lgbt people reject religion or have bad experiences. You maybe unaware, but many lgbt people are devout members of churches, mosques and synagogues. I could count at least 2 dozen various religious groups that march at Pride here every year. There is a gay Armenian church group that marches and last year I remember seeing a Muslim lgbt congregation and Hindu group.

There are currently 3 groups of religious people:

(1) Those who go to gay events and hold up hate signs like "god hates fags". This group is of no threat to us and only serves as a distraction to divert attention away from the next group.

(2) This group extends their hands to con gay and trans people into joining their churches. What they say often times are very accepting and loving. A lot of gay people, having been rejected by their community at large, are conned into joining these groups. They will slowly start to try to turn gay people straight. I've personally known 2 guys that this happened to. One of them was an ex of mine. Always been gay all his life. Then all of a sudden, he was straight because he found jesus. I asked him if he liked girls now? He said no, but he found jesus so he didn't need to love anyone else

(3) Then there is the 3rd group that are the so-called gay christians. These are often times self-hate and unknowingly spread the christian message of hate within the gay community. These guys cause people to vote against their interest. Go jesus!

People are to fixated to group #1 to see what groups 2 and 3 are doing.

 

[Telstra]

As pride approaches, I am reminded of one consistent thing I've seen every year. Religious people handing out fliers at pride.

Don't they understand that pride is simply not a good place to recruit more homophobes?

Where there are people, there will be opportunities to recruit someone and convert ....

 

[Telstra]

Just because you have negative experiences toward religion it doesn't mean all lgbt people reject religion or have bad experiences. You maybe unaware, but many lgbt people are devout members of churches, mosques and synagogues. I could count at least 2 dozen various religious groups that march at Pride here every year. There is a gay Armenian church group that marches and last year I remember seeing a Muslim lgbt congregation and Hindu group.

I don't think many people have "negative" experiences.
Its just that the teachings are not true and unfair to others, therefore people will oppose it.
You can called it anti-religion supply means we oppose their opinions.

 

[The Fly]

There are currently 3 groups of religious people:

(1) Those who go to gay events and hold up hate signs like "god hates fags". This group is of no threat to us and only serves as a distraction to divert attention away from the next group.

(2) This group extends their hands to con gay and trans people into joining their churches. What they say often times are very accepting and loving. A lot of gay people, having been rejected by their community at large, are conned into joining these groups. They will slowly start to try to turn gay people straight. I've personally known 2 guys that this happened to. One of them was an ex of mine. Always been gay all his life. Then all of a sudden, he was straight because he found jesus. I asked him if he liked girls now? He said no, but he found jesus so he didn't need to love anyone else

(3) Then there is the 3rd group that are the so-called gay christians. These are often times self-hate and unknowingly spread the christian message of hate within the gay community. These guys cause people to vote against their interest. Go jesus!

People are to fixated to group #1 to see what groups 2 and 3 are doing.

 

[sixthson]

You simply say "no thanks" and no one will chase you down with a sword and force you to convert. This isn't Iran and you are free and so are the religious folks.

 

[zombiekiller]

You simply say "no thanks" and no one will chase you down with a sword and force you to convert. This isn't Iran and you are free and so are the religious folks.

Unfortunately, it's a lot more complicated than that.

The lgbt community especially has many vulnerable youths who's been rejected by family, friends, and communities. Why do you think suicide rates among our youngsters are so high? Going after these youths is a sure way to pick up some desperate souls.

Try to look at it this way. We know for a fact that the elderlies are the most vulnerable group to the various scams out there. Sure, our elders can always turn away from the scams, but are you seriously suggesting we let the scammers run rampant doing whatever they want?

I've seen first hand how religionist scammers ruin lives and make people hate themselves.

 

[peeonme]

My friend, one great thing about America is that if one doesn't like something, they can work to change it.
In this case it would take an Amendment to the constitution.

 

[zombiekiller]

My friend, one great thing about America is that if one doesn't like something, they can work to change it.
In this case it would take an Amendment to the constitution.

Thank you for demoing group 3.

 

[Taz]

Thank you for demoing group 3.

Are those villainous Christians out to get you again?

 

[Kahaih]

You simply say "no thanks" and no one will chase you down with a sword and force you to convert. This isn't Iran and you are free and so are the religious folks.

As I understand it, American Christians are the number 1 reason for homeless gay children – they kill kids/people much slower, these days.

 

[peeonme]

Thank you for demoing group 3.

If you are so obsessed as to categorize your "enemies" I suggest that you seek help. It's just unhealthy to think of religion more often than religious people do while professing to be an atheist.

 

[thewiz]

In the DC Pride parade, there are a number of gay-friendly churches that sponsor floats and other entries. Last year, Westboro tried to protest on 17th Street -- which is kind of the "gayborhood." As they began chanting "Got hates fags", the religious floats were about to pass by and started a counter chant "Jesus Loves Us, This We Know" and completely drowned out the Westboro quartet. They became frustrated when everyone ignored them and turned towards the Baptists, Methodists and others so they stomped away to attempt their hate someplace else.

Last night, I was honored to welcome folks to the Interfaith Event sponsored by Capital Pride which was the 32nd such event (and Pride in the Nation's Capital is celebrating its 40th this year!). The church was full and there were representatives from Catholic, Methodist, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, Spiritual, Unitarian, and a host of others participating. It was truly beautiful to see the worship and words used by so many faiths; like a grand choir, all the voices combined made a truly enjoyable evening.

I'm sure there are some that would like to convert or "heal us." I was one of those trapped for so many years and kept thinking I could pray the gay away. I found that it only made the situation worse and it was only when I said three words -- "I am gay" -- that I was really free. I also found a new relief and satisfaction that I didn't have to hide from anyone; least of all the God that I claimed to know all and create all. Jesus didn't bash with commands that you had to do anything except for two things -- love God and love your neighbor. All the other crap has been human-made and often masks the true words that were designed to be freeing; not enslaving. I also didn't see him saying we wouldn't need companionship (he did send his male disciples out in pairs), he did not tell people to not have sex (and enjoy it since it was created for us), and he never said one word about LGBT (but did warn about divorce).

 

[G-Lexington]

The lgbt community especially has many vulnerable youths who's been rejected by family, friends, and communities. Why do you think suicide rates among our youngsters are so high? Going after these youths is a sure way to pick up some desperate souls....I've seen first hand how religionist scammers ruin lives and make people hate themselves.

Seems to me I've read something of this sort before. But it was used to explain how homosexuals lured lost and confused children into their ranks.

Lex

 

[MakeDigitalLove]

Zombiekiller you are a bit of a hypocrit when talking about religious people trying to recruit or get people to join their belief system when you yourself said in a different thread that you did the same with your boyfriend. You said he was Christian or Catholic and that it took you years to change him, how is that any better or different?

As for gay religious people. I have been with a man who is Catholic for 9 years, he has yet to try to convert me. I guess he is biding his time.

 

[zombiekiller]

Zombiekiller you are a bit of a hypocrit when talking about religious people trying to recruit or get people to join their belief system when you yourself said in a different thread that you did the same with your boyfriend. You said he was Christian or Catholic and that it took you years to change him, how is that any better or different?

As for gay religious people. I have been with a man who is Catholic for 9 years, he has yet to try to convert me. I guess he is biding his time.

The difference is I never actively try to convert my b/f. He did that on his own. Yes, nowadays I jokingly say all the time that I've created a monster, but in reality never once did I try to persuade him to leave his faith. I even encouraged him to go to church and went to church with him. I gave him reading materials and asked him questions to make him think. I encouraged him to take a philosophy of ethics class, which he did.