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I would really like to say something to both points of view about marriage equality. I realize this is a very touchy subject that may spark debate. I am please asking that any comments are not negative, malicious, or rude.

To Christians: This has most likely ruffled your feathers or made you uncomfortable. In an attempt to stick up for your beliefs, you have trampled over other people. Many Christian's are reacting in a non-Christ-like manner. If you are commenting on people's "=" pictures or their pages with Bible quotes: just stop it. You are quoting Bible verses to someone that feels like it has no authority over their lives. Especially if you are just googling bible verses on homosexuality and picking the first one you find in Deuteronomy or Leviticus. Also, quit saying things like "abomination to God." You are in no position to say those kinds of hateful phrases to anyone. Yes, talk to others about your convictions but do not condemn someone or be judgmental in the process.

What really aggravates me is that this is the only topic Christians feel the need to address. What about sex before marriage? or divorce? or tithing? or not being drunk? or helping the poor, widow, and orphan? You like to say "all sins are equal in the eyes of God. Homosexuality is just as bad as having sex before marriage, or being unfaithful, or etc." You may be able to acknowledge this with your mind but you do not believe that in your heart. If you did, then you would not focus all of your attention on this topic and ignore all of the other things the Bible talks about. It's so easy to pick and choose which beliefs you want to stick up for. You find satisfaction in telling someone they're wrong for loving someone of the same-sex while you ignore the fact that you get drunk every weekend or have pre-marital sex all the time or are prideful. American-Christians have made being gay such a cultural taboo that they think it's okay to openly condemn homosexuality and make it seem worse than other things that people struggle with. Is that something Jesus would do? NO. After all, he did hang out with prostitutes and tax collectors and lepers. He rebuked the self-righteous Pharisees that oppressed the poor, widow, and orphan more than he rebuked the prostitute or other people society looks down on. Take a look in your overly-pious mirror and recognize there is a plank in your eye before you yell about the speck in someone else's eye.

In all truthfulness, it should not be such a crisis if the DOMA law changes. Biblical marriage is defined as a union between one man and one woman and Bill Clinton made this apply to American Law in 1996 with DOMA. However, America is not a Christian nation. There is a separation between Church and State. While your religious beliefs should show in your political beliefs, you have to understand that you cannot legislate morality. You cannot legislate anyone's morality. Whether or not something is a law in America does not make something right or wrong. You can live in America and be a Christian. Regardless of what American law legislates, the Constitution is not the highest law of the land for Christians. If you believe you are under God's law, then practice it. But you need to keep in mind that God's law is not acknowledged by everyone. For people who aren't Christian, they live by the Constitution. Throwing Bible verses at them won't make them change their beliefs. You need to recognize that we are all human beings. You are no better than anyone else. Know that this is the generation same-sex marriage will be legalized. And even if it wasn't, same-sex couples will still exist and be completely open about their relationships. As a Christian, what are you going to do about it? I hope you follow Jesus' greatest commandment: love your neighbor as yourself.

To LGBT and supporters: It is awesome that you are sticking up for your beliefs. DOMA will most likely be repealed and federal law will eventually acknowledge same-sex marriages. The next generation won't see it as a cultural taboo. People are going to be accepting and more loving.

For anyone who has had a bad encounter with a Christian, I'd like to apologize. I understand that it's frustrating to have these hypocritical and self-righteous people try to preach at you or throw Bible verses at you. It's understanding that you don't care to know about God and or their belief in fairy tales. But I would just like to ask for you to be understanding too. A few bad eggs doesn't mean that all Christians are rotten homophobes. There are Christians who have gay friends or family members and genuinely love them without looking at  them differently. A few dumb Christians shouldn't get to represent the beliefs of all Christians.

Lately I've been seeing these posts about verses from the Old Testament and ending in a quote saying, "Don't tell others how to live if you can't even follow your own shitty beliefs." Christians don't follow the laws in the Old Testament because they get updated in the New Testament through Jesus' teachings. Quoting radical laws from the Old Testament as a way to slap Christians in the face and make them seem stupid isn't fair. It's talked about in the New Testament and that's where they get their idea of marriage. There are those intolerant, stupid Christians who throw arguments at you and say people will eventually start marrying their cats after same-sex marriage is passed. But it's just as intolerant to say Christian's have shitty beliefs before you actually see what the majority of Christians believe. Ignore the rude Christians that try to shove Scripture down your throat. But at least give the benefit of the doubt to other Christians who aren't like that.

To both: The whole point of this blog is to try and get both sides to be more understanding. It's wrong on either side to be disrespectful towards the other persons beliefs. You don't necessarily have to agree with each other, but that shouldn't make you be rude or condescending. Bashing the other side's view doesn't make yours look better. Simply learn to love one another despite your differences.