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Yesterday I read this email and I was angered, but I wouldn't let myself respond out of anger. So I waited until this morning, it was still bothering me so I decided to respond. <BR>
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First, let me tell you the worldview I am coming from, I identify as a transgender person, I have a female body so the easy categorization for me is a lesbian woman, I will spare you all the thesis long discussion of how gender and sexuality are different things. I also grew up in a conservative christian church, went to a conservative christian college and majored in religion. I was going to work as a youth leader for a while then go to seminary and be a pastor. I tell you all this because I don't want to be accused of not knowing anything about christianity and the church. <BR>
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I have been hurt and betrayed by people in the church and when things like this post form J it opens old wounds. I find this particular post in very bad form given the attacks on the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) community in the last month. Emails like this only whip up fear, allowing people to justify their horrible actions against the GLBT community because after all <EM>those (GLBT)</EM> people are freaks, they are disgusting, they deserve to die. <BR>
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The Christianity I know, the Christianity that I taught my students, was about love, peace, understanding, not fear and hatred. It saddens me that some christians have made it their mission to make my life, and the lives of GLBT people across this country, a living hell. People are getting beat up, threatened, and killed because of this hatred. It is not okay to hate another person, no matter how different they are from you. Hate is not good for you, it will eat you up inside and make you sick. It cheats you of your life and takes away your future. <BR>
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I could go on, but I should really stop here. <BR>
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-Mo Hendrickson<BR>
Not afraid to use my own name<BR></body>
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