A city council subcommittee in Seattle, Washington, has approved legislation to ban “conversion therapy” for minors. This extremely controversial practice has been approved by the Republican Party, as religious extremists continue to claim that being gay or lesbian is a choice. Scientists and clear-thinking Americans have proven it is natural, normal, and begins at birth.
Across the nation Christian religious extremists support conversion therapy; attempting to “turn gay boys and girls into straight boys and girls.”
This is sad, but even more disappointing is the fact that one of our nation’s major political parties believes in this ‘treatment.’
I should not be surprised; Donald Trump’s vice-presidential candidate, Mike Pence, signed some of the first anti-gay legislation in Indiana. Threatened with fiscal repercussions, he reneged and revoked the law.
One of the worst things to have happened in our nation is the joining of a single religion and one party. Although the first amendment denies any effort by a single religion to become our nation’s religion, Republicans refuse to take any action without the approval of the Christian religious right.
Councilwoman Lorena Gonzalez introduced the Seattle bill. “It’s absolutely offensive to me, that instead of providing these children, who are going through perhaps a moment of confusion … instead of providing them the support that they need, there are people out there who believe it’s appropriate to convince these children that their same-sex orientation is somehow a disease, or an illness, or something that can be cured.”
Of course Republicans are not in favor of the legislation. They are ignoring the fact that the majority of Americans support the LGBT community and believe that same-sex marriage is acceptable. They prefer to add to the confusion and fear of our nation’s young; that’s the “Christian way.”
California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and the District of Columbia have passed laws to prevent licensed mental health providers from offering conversion therapy to minors. Young men and women who have been forced to endure conversion therapy are eight-times more likely to commit suicide, and more likely to have problems in school.
Religious extremism is the greatest danger to mankind. In the name of religion, suffering and death has haunted the world throughout history. Although America is concerned today with terrorist groups who slaughter innocents in the name of Islam, around the world terrorists who claim to be both Muslim and Christian kill men, women and children in the name of religion daily.
Blacks and other minorities have been murdered and maimed by our own terrorist group since 1866; they call themselves the Ku Klux Klan. They claim to be Christians, when in fact they are no more than white supremacists.
America must become a better country. There is much talk about our nation’s ‘greatness,’ but no nation can be great if it fails to support the freedom and individual rights of all of its people.
It’s time to support every American, whether they be gay or straight, black or white, Christian or Muslim. Our Constitution mandates equality, but only our people can guarantee it. Ignorance, fear, and hatred must be replaced by compassion, understanding, and tolerance.
Only then will our nation have an opportunity to become great.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 