Thanks for your comment, but as the concept of homosexuality was not around in ancient times, and as scholars smarter than myself have argued the translation of  languages years ago, I believe that the Bible is more of a guide and not to be taken literally (except perhaps the four Gospels). I belive it is impossible for the word of God to come through man without being distorted by man. Even your example of Adam and Eve… some scholars have said that ‘Adam’ translates to man, and ‘Eve’ to life, so really it is a story of how man was tempted by life to gain knowledge, and not a literal couple. Even if I’m wrong and much of it is real, there are many things that were admonished in the Bible that today – as the world has become more understanding – is accepted – things like eating shrimp, shaving, charging interest on a loan, and wearing clothes of blended materials.

Specifically, you cited Romans. These translations generally interpret the Greek words “malakoi“ and “arsenokoitai” as referring to homosexuals.  We can be fairly certain that this is not the meaning that Paul wanted to convey. If he had, he would have used the Greek word “paiderasste,” that was the standard term at the time for male homosexuals. We can conclude that he probably meant something different from persons who engaged in male-male adult sexual behavior. Down through the years, Christians have interpreted these words as referring to people of lacking a high moral standing, or to masturbators, or to men who sexually abuse boys, or to boys who are the victims of sexual abuse. Interpreting these passages as referring to sexually active homosexuals is simply the latest in a long series of attempts to make sense out of obscure words. The precise meaning is unknown.

You say you have seen people struggle due to their inner suffering. I did, and you know what I came to realize? I couldn’t help being gay. I could think about robbing a bank, and not do it. I could think about having sex with someone and abstain. But could I be with a woman? Not without disobeying God by lying; not without feeling like I was betraying myself. I know robbing a bank is wrong and it feels wrong to me, but not allowing myself to be gay felt just as wrong. I wondered if this is something that felt as part of me as my brown hair, why would God make me this way if it was a sin? And then I realized he wouldn’t. People choose to rob a bank, but they don’t choose to be gay, whatever factors contribute to this. The reason gay people suffer is because of individuals like yourself telling them it is wrong, when their heart and soul are telling them that this is who they are. Our brains have listened to all the anti-gay stuff out there, and wants strongly to be straight. I live in rural Iowa, do you think it’s easy to meet a partner here? Once I was in a public restroom and some random guy, no idea that I was gay, starts talking about how a gay person could give someone AIDS just from them looking at them. Do you think I want to be afraid of being beaten up due to others’ ignorance? Have you ever felt degraded by the government? I pay my taxes and abide by laws, and yet my own president makes me feel like I’m not a human being, not an American. I might as well be a terrorist in his eyes! Sadly, though I’ve come to accept myself, I haven’t had the courage yet to tell my dad. When a relative-in-law brought up having seen “Brokeback Mountain” and said it was basically a love story, my dad said, “There is no love in that.” Do you think I want my dad to look at me like that, as if I’m incapable of love? I CAN LOVE. You might not be able to accept it, but I can. Why would I choose the hurt, pain, prejudice, inequality? I want to get married but can’t, why would I choose that? This is why people struggle. It’s not because it’s a sin. It’s because people tell them it’s a sin, and yet they can’t change how they feel. I’ve known people abandoned by their families; and the suicide rates can be high because people tell these teens that these feelings they have make them worthless. Do you ever see someone in that much anguish over self-pleasure, which is also considered a sin but more accepted? NO, you don’t. These people that are struggling need people to tell them that their feelings are normal, and luckily I realized that through cable and the Internet during college (I had neither during high school, and truly felt alone).

I’m also pretty sure that Romans, Greeks and other ancients also had the concept of marriage before the birth of Christianity, so I do not understand your insistence to keep it solely as a Christian idea. It can be both. You do seem like a nice person as well, but as you can see, I’m pretty passionate about my beliefs as I’m sure you are. Whatever else we might have in common, I’m not sure if I could be your friend. Perhaps that makes me prejudice, but I need to be friends with people who accept me for who I am – including as a gay man. I want friends who won’t make me feel worthless or like a huge sinner (yes, we’re all sinners, but gays are especially made to feel like perverts and criminals). You might say you’re not against homosexuals, but when you quote something that says, “suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved” then clearly you are. That doesn’t make me feel ‘respected.’ I don’t want you to be silenced, for I do believe in free speech, but this will probably be my last comment on your site. Feel free to post whatever you like on your site, and I’ll do the same with mine.

Before I go, to answer your question: My dream for the future is simple. To find a love that lasts a lifetime, and to enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other couple in love. I also hope to someday make a difference with my writing, as I truly believe in diversity, tolerance and doing good. As for being gay, it’s a struggle that is mine to struggle with. Just to be clear though, most of my friends are heterosexual Christians who know about who I am and truly accept me.