Even if you disagree with the cause, it’s usually easy to see why social conservatives involve themselves in certain LGBT issues. Typically it’s because they think that marriage, the army, their own church, their talking point machines, fundraising efforts, smug heterosexism, etc., are under some sort of direct threat, and therefore they see a need to step in and run defense. It can be annoying, frustrating, *facepalm*-inducing, and oftentimes even deeply offensive. But at least the “why” is generally apparent, as far as that goes.
But other times, the involvement constitutes undeniable meddling in matters that are of absolutely no concern to the “pro-family” life. As is the case over at the the University of Southern California, where the school’s library is receiving a large shipment of archival books, films, and magazines all about LGBT history. Now, even for those who don’t have a need in their heart (or country) for LGBT lives and loves, the history of the people and the movement is obviously a concrete thing. And in fact, LGBT history also includes anti-LGBT history, something that has come to define the religious right over the past few decades. So it’s no surprise that an educational library, the place where a plethora of information is something that is kinda, sorta valued, would see it in their interest to collate and house these resources. No controversy warranted.
At least it shouldn’t be a surprise or a controversy:
Sarah Dean, a Christian who is on staff at USC, is encouraging students and parents to pray rather than react to the donation with hatred against homosexuals.
“I would hope parents would react in prayer and students would react in prayer, and just that they would be aware of it,” she notes.
As a member of Campus Crusade for Christ at USC, Dean shares that she has seen the issue of homosexuality become more prevalent on campus. She believes Christians should care for and understand the pain that many homosexuals have experienced in their lives.
“The way that we’re going to get at the heart of the matter is through love and discussing it…that way,” she contends.
Dean feels that Christians should offer hope through Jesus to homosexuals who are looking for freedom.
LGBT donation more reason to pray, love [One News Now]
Hey, here’s an idea: Why not react in intellectual respect, or at the very least, tolerance? Don’t care to read the materials? Then don’t visit the LGBT archives, the same way many evangelicals surely eschew the works of Christopher Hitchens or Sam Harris, ore that one-off edition of Curious George where the title monkey starts asking too many questions about evolution. Why must every little thing be seen as opportunity to pray for the socio-political adversary?! Especially on a college, where knowledge and the quest thereof deserves an even more heightened premium?
It’s situations like this that have alienated so many people from the evangelical church, as well as opened so many others’ eyes about the true goals of the organized “pro-family” movement. It’s a generalization to say that theirs is an anti-“live and let live” force. But generalizations are formed based on demonstrated efforts — and far too many “pro-family” efforts seek to save the soul of anyone who so much as laughs at Cam’s “Modern Family” antics without following it up with a “…sinner!” protestation.
