LGBTQ+ Rights and Religion

Suitable response: what said.

If marriage and children and women are so great, why is the Catholic Church run by a bunch of unmarried, childless, old men?

edited 28th Dec '12 6:35:21 PM by Lawyerdude

So, here's a question I've been toying with a for a while. I didn't want to start a thread for it, and I figure it best fits here. Transgender people believe they have a different mental/true gender identity than a physical one. But what is a mental gender identity? I don't honestly thing men and women are different on a non-physical level. Most "gender differences are cultural." I feel like most transgender people change, and end up acting out more a cultural stereotype of what a certain gender "is" than what a gender truly is.

Anyhow, do you think people are honestly transgender, as in, they are in the "wrong body" or they feel like they're in the wrong body because of cultural pressure for a gender to act a person way.

((Oh, yeah. I'm using sex and gender interchangeably, as I can't remember the difference.))

I actually did make a thread for this, though more geneeral.

There are observable differences in male and female brain structure and in how they process information. These are somewhat plastic until the age of three, when they become pretty much set as they are. A transman (female-to-male transsexual), for instance, basically has a male mind in a female body.

There has been a considerable amount of research on this - it's not just a matter of personal opinion.

edited 28th Dec '12 10:46:33 PM by Iaculus

Peer review or it didn't happen.

The APA site links dozens of articles that proved that homosexual parents are just as good as heterosexual ones.

The one I'm referring to is probably buried in there somewhere. The problem is that it was done about 2005 (I think) and the results are about the only thing I remember about it.

Thank you Shimaspawn.

It bears repeating, if you don't agree with the Pope's interpretations, one doesn't need to follow them. It won't stop those who do agree from following it.

He's not exactly practicing what he teaches there is he?

And there in lies the problem.

Because?

Because he's a pretty influential religious figure, and his beliefs are damaging for gay folks and transgendered folks.

And as long as the government keeps insisting human rights be put to a vote, ignorant people are going to be able to band together and manipulate the laws to suit their own ignorance, rather than the people's best interest. Just as we saw in California and other states.

I don't mind it if people, religious or otherwise, are loud about their views. I am as willing to take Boenhoeffer's Ethics as Christopher Hitchens's God Is Not Great as a valid source of moral or factual or social teaching. But as long as they remain just that - teaching.

I saw a post of yours on another thread (or it might have been this one) where you said, with your usual eloquence, that you are in favor of gay marriage for a similar reason - whilst you disapprove personally of homosexuality, as is your right, you disapprove even more of forcing everyone else to comply with your life choices.

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church does not share your view, and it is easier to change the Church's followers than change the Church.

edited 30th Dec '12 7:34:25 AM by Achaemenid

@Starship: Because he's encouraging others to disenfranchise and oppress a minority group. He's making the world a worse place. His speech doesn't just say homosexuality is personally bad. He's encouraging legislation against it.

edited 30th Dec '12 7:37:49 AM by shimaspawn

Assuming this is real and not staged, then I find it quite cool.

But there is nothing written on it! Where is the real paper?

@Starship.

Here, right here, is why its a problem.

For the link-impaired, the Pope has given his blessing to the Ugandan lawmaker behind the "Kill the Gays" Bill. I genuinely can't express how angry this makes me.

It’s defiantly accurate if that’s what you mean.

edited 30th Dec '12 1:18:00 PM by Silasw

While I'm no fan of the Pope or the lawmaker, there is a difference between blessing the woman and blessing the bill.

Hate to be devil's advocate (ha, irony) here, but in the past this thread has tended to run amok a bit if someone doesn't clarify the Pope's actions.

Not sure if that's much different. People are defined by their actions. Blessing the woman is, unless specifically stated to be otherwise, endorsement of the bill.

I too fail to see a substantive difference between "I support this highly bigoted piece of legislation" and "I support the person who wrote this highly bigoted piece of legislation." While there might technically be a difference, if someone you like/respect is doing something so vile, and you're speaking up in their support, then you are saying you also like/respect their vile actions.