Equality.

All of the buzz yesterday about gay marriage rights (as if that's never in the news, am I right?) had me thinking about my own experience with equality and the like.

My best friend is gay. That's definitely no secret. Colby and I have been friends since I was 16 years old. We were in a local production of The Music Man together, we played "lovers" in one scene together. ;) But from the start, he was my best friend; he was the funniest, most compassionate and loving person I had ever met. He's always had my back, he's always been there for me, through thick and thin.

And then I went through this phase that, looking back on, I am incredibly ashamed of. I texted him one night letting him know that I did not support the fact that he was gay, and that it was a major roadblock in our friendship for me. As a Christian, I could not be his friend.
I think, as Christians, we all go through these phases. We read certain passages in the Bible, form our own opinion, and then fire off on anyone who does not agree with our take on those verses. I was this way for a short while, and geez, I'm surprised no one seriously injured me during this period of my life.

I came to realize that I was not put on this earth to judge Colby - and during this period of time, that is exactly what I was doing. I was going against everything that I am supposed to be as a follower of Christ. Jesus has simply called us to love each other, and be good to those surrounding us. And that's definitely not what I'm seeing lately from Christ's Church, and even from those that I am close to. Yeah, we are supposed to "love the sinner, hate the sin," but just because we hate the sin, does that mean we need to put them down every chance we get?

I think the thing I have struggled with the most is that we are all sinners. All of us. And no sin is more horrible than the next. All other sin is absolutely no greater than mine. And you know what? God forgives us and loves us all the same. I stand by the fact that if Jesus were here today, He would not befriend those who carry their Bibles everywhere and are relentless crusaders for Christ. He would be the first to go up to the gay man, the prostitute, the woman who just had an abortion, and He would say, "How are you doing? How can I help you? How can I show you I love you?"

I see all these people say that gay marriage ruins the definition of marriage, and that it hurts the straight married couples. (Or the worst argument: it messes up the kids involved in a gay marriage. Tell me, how can it be any worse than kids involved in their parents divorce?)
I have known Colby for 7 years; I know his personality through and through, I know his character and I know that he is a fantastic person inside and out, that loves God - just as God loves him. And all I want for my best friend? I want him to be treated the same as I want to be treated when I get married in September. He deserves it.

I think when you know someone so well, as if they were your own family - how can you look them in the eye and say, "you do not deserve the same treatment and equality as I do." How is that fair? How is that being a vessel of Christ?


I'm not afraid to say that this is something I struggle with daily. I do know that my views have changed over the years, and probably will continue to change. But in this moment, knowing that my best friend - the person I confide in, the person who knows more about me than anyone on this planet, the person who will never let me down - does not have the same rights as me, a person who sins no greater than he, I cannot support that. He deserves every bit of happiness and every bit of equality that I do.

/rant