Get Over The Rainbow

A funny thing happened to me today when I opened Facebook around 3pm. A "friend" of mine had posted Leviticus 18:22.

Not familiar with it? Let me refresh your memory:  Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

This verse is used by countless people and organizations to defend their homophobic views. When I confronted this person, they gave me this defense, and I quote:

"... (the usual Bible BS) I guess another way that I can explain is to give this example: I had a loved one who tried to get in their car drunk to drive. I personally took the keys away from that person and kept them from driving. I struggled to take the keys from them. They cussed me out and screamed at me for anyone who wanted to hear it. I took the keys away from them because I believed it was wrong, just like I do same-sex relations. They could have hurt themselves because they were doing something that was wrong. Some people call it wrong and some say it's just them being foolish in their 20's. I believed it was a sin and did what I felt was right."

So, let me get this straight, person who shall be known as TH... Being gay is like being a drunk driver? I fail to see the logic here...

The simple fact of the matter is that anyone, in this day and age, that still uses BIBLE VERSES to deny equal rights to everyone is, in my opinion, homophobic. You can say "no I'm just religious and you can't attack me for that" all you want - I'm an atheist. If I'm attacking you for being homophobic and you counter with religion, you just gave me (and my brethren) more ammunition.

If you want to quote Leviticus 18:22 as being good enough reason to deny equal rights to homosexuals, let's take a look at the OTHER items in Leviticus you should be following. Can't pick and choose, after all - the man in the sky would get mad!

• Leviticus 19:27 - Ye shalt not round the side-growth of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Ever gotten a hair cut or shaved your side burns or trimmed your beard? SINNER!
• Leviticus 11:8 - Of their (pigs) flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. Ever had pork? Bacon? Touched a football? SINNER!
• Leviticus 19:28 - Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you. I am the LORD. Got a cross tattoo? SINNER!
• Leviticus 19:19 - Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee. So, on a farm, no mingling cows and horses. No planting corn and potatoes. And no wearing cotton and polyester mixed together. Too late? SINNER!

There are a TON more examples like this throughout the Bible - these are just a couple, taken only from Leviticus...

It felt weird un-friending this person on Facebook, as I had known them for over a decade. Yet, in the moments after clicking that button - it felt right. Unless of course Leviticus has a verse against that too?

Now if everyone would just get over the damned rainbow, so to speak, the world would be such a better place...