But before we look at the debate over homosexuality and the Bible, we must focus on the cause or the movement of the gay rights. In our research on the history of gay rights we come across an individual by the name of Jerry Sloan (keep in mind he offered no evidence for his statements). Jerry Sloan traced the history of

On Friday evening, June 27, 1969, the police in New York City raided a Greenwich Village gay bar, the Stonewall Inn. Contrary to expectations, the patrons fought back, provoking three nights of rioting in the area accompanied by the appearance of "gay power" slogans on the buildings. Almost overnight, a massive grassroots gay liberations movement was born. Owing much to the radical protest of blacks, women, and college students in the 1960s, gays challenged all forms of hostility and punishment meted out by society. Choosing to "come out of the closet" and publicly proclaim their identity, they ushered in a social change movement that has grown substantially. By 1973, there were almost eight hundred gay and lesbian organizations in the United States; by 1990, the number was several thousand. By 1970, 5,000 gay men and lesbians marched in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots; in October 1987, over 600,000 marched in Washington, to demand equality.

Does the Bible condemn homosexuality? There are those who say that the Bible doesn't condemn homosexuality. Various verses are cited out of context to prove that homosexuality is not wrong. An example of this is in the sin of Sodom in Genesis 19. In this passage, Lot entertains two angels who come to the city to investigate its sins. Before they go to bed, all the men surround the house and order him to bring out the men so that "we may know them." But this story isn't saying that homosexuality is okay. The Bible specifically says that Sodom was involved in gross immorality and going after strange flesh. Sodom was one of the two cities that God destroyed because of their perverse sin and rebellion against God.

It is important to consider what Jesus would do in this situation. I believe that Jesus would have treated gays and lesbians like anyone else. He was not ashamed to allow Mary Magdalene to wash his feet and she was a woman of sexual immorality. Jesus valued every person as his son or daughter. God created man in his image (Genesis 1:26). Never once does the Bible mention that certain sins will make one fall short of being created in the image of God.

As Christians, we need to ask ourselves, "How will I react to gay and lesbians within my community?" Looking at the facts about gays and lesbians within our community, we know that there are individuals we will interact with that struggle with this issue.

The Bible does condemn homosexuality as a sin. Leviticus 18:22 says, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." Leviticus 20:13 says, "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually

Some common words found in the essay are:
Vietnam War, God Bible, Bible Homosexual, Bible-specifically Bible, Inn Contrary, NIV Loving, NIV God, Sodom Genesis, Cain Cain, Jerry Sloan, gay lesbian, lesbian youth, gay lesbian youth, gay rights, condemn homosexuality, gays lesbians, jerry sloan, bible condemn homosexuality, david jonathan, lies woman, lesbians community, live christ, lies woman detestable, anti-gay harassment violence, history gay rights,
Approximate Word count = 1909
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)