Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Some other Bible verses for Thomas
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Hoback, of Vinton, works at ITT Night Vision and is a member of the Human Rights Committee and the Equality Virginia Community Action Team.
When I saw Cal Thomas' Aug. 18 column ("The new out: playing the gay card") in The Roanoke Times, I posted information about it on www.rainbowrag.com, Roanoke's gay and lesbian Web site. I felt it was important for the area gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community to be aware of his self-righteous writings.
Thomas wrote about New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey's gay affair, which resulted in McGreevey's pending resignation: "Now we have a governor playing the 'gay card' garnished with a little religion - a twofer in the self-justification Olympics."
My question is, what does Thomas know about playing "the gay card?" Unless you are gay you have no idea what it's like or anything about playing "the gay card."
I thought it was presumptuous and self-righteous of him to write in his column, "Gay-rights activists want to sell the notion that denying same-sex urges is to deny one's 'identity.' As a heterosexual, my 'identity' is determined by the God McGreevey misquoted and misrepresented."
Thomas was responding to McGreevey's statement that he believed "God enables all things to work for the greater good." As Thomas pointed out, that was a reference to Romans 8:28. He corrected McGreevey by completing the rest of the passage, then made reference to Romans 6:1.
Thomas probably doesn't need my help, as he seems to be an expert on the Bible. But I recommend he also read Romans 3:23, which will remind him, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of god."
Also, John 13:34 will remind him of the great commandment to "love one another." I would also like to remind Thomas to "judge not."
My point is this: If gay people had the right to be free and honest, to love and marry each other and not hide from society who they really are, they might not make some of these mistakes by trying to fit in and live the "normal life" that society demands. Maybe some day the world will love and respect us just because we are also God's children.
Do you really think McGreevey would have become a governor if he had been openly gay all his life? Gays have a right to their careers and dreams as do straight folk.
Thomas has probably never sat down and had a heart-to-heart with a gay rights activist. I volunteer.
