Dear Homophobes

Dear homophobes,
     My name is Natalie and I'm an ally. Since it's LGBT History month, I feel like now is the right time to open up a discussion about current and past homophobia in the world. Before I begin, I'd like to maintain that I don't hate or even dislike any of you. I simply disagree with your opinion, and while I vaguely understand where you're coming from, I think you've drawn the wrong conclusions from the right intentions. The purpose of this is to educate, not to alienate.
     First of all, although I'm sure you've heard this before, I don't think you're scared of people who aren't straight. I do, however, think you're scared in general. You're scared of change and you're scared for your own well-being and the well-being of the ones you love. Many of you think it's not natural to be with someone of the same sex, or that an LGBT person can turn either you or those who associate with them gay. I'm going to quash those notions right now. 'Gay' is not a disease, but rather, a congenital state of being. One does not choose their sexual orientation. Before you disagree, I'd like you to think back to when you decided you would be straight. You didn't decide, did you? You simply noticed one day that you were attracted to the opposite sex. For those in the LGBT community, the discovery of their sexuality went pretty much the same way. So no, homosexuality or bisexuality or anything in between cannot rub off on you or turn you gay, because just as they were born with their respective sexual orientations, you were born straight, and for the most part, this does not change at any one point in your life. Sure, people may realize or discover their sexual orientations later in life, but it's more of an epiphany than a decision, so if you're certain that you're attracted to exclusively the opposite gender, don't worry, you're safe. 
     Now that you know that the LGBT community does not seek to cause you harm, I'm sure you have other concerns too. Many of you probably think homosexuality is a sin. While I don't personally believe this, if you're a devout Christian this is a valid concern. However, there are a lot of things that are considered sins in the Bible, such as sex before marriage, gambling, and drinking alcohol, that are often blatantly disregarded in modern times. Additionally, the seven deadly sins are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride, all of which not a single human being can claim he or she hasn't committed at least once in his or her lifetime. If these sins, which are arguably significantly more important than the sin of homosexuality, are permissible in modern society, then why isn't it socially acceptable to love who you choose to love? According to the Bible, it is not your place, but God's, to judge those around you despite any sins they might have committed. Additionally, there is Biblical proof that Jonathan and King David were lovers. Not only does Jonathan leave his family to live with King David and his father, but Jonathan and David make a covenant before the Lord that they will be together forever that sounds suspiciously like wedding vows. After Jonathan's death, King David claims that Jonathan's "love for [him] was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women"(verse 26). 
     Homophobia can also be compared to racism. Throughout American history, African Americans, despite being the same inside save for their skin color, were consistently treated as lesser. It took years for an entire race of people to be granted equal rights, and even now, generations later, racism is still prevalent. Many of us look back a few generations now and, although a significant portion of people back then genuinely believed black people were lesser, we cringe at the bigotedness of our ancestors. A generation or two from now, maybe even less, we'll see in hindsight that everyone, even minorities who challenge social norms, are deserving of acceptance. According to the American Constitution, everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness, and until the LGBT community can claim to be equal, this goal cannot be achieved. I understand that you're scared, but please, for your own peace of mind and that of the LGBT community, I implore you to bravely challenge any predispositions you might have had about those who are not straight and accept people for who they are. Don't be on the wrong side of history.
~Natalie