All the things that I am not...

As the mantle of marriage equality—and equality in general—continues to get embraced by a wider and wider circle, those on what will eventually be the losing side of the argument—and history, for that matter—continue their vocal tirades, throwing accusations of an increasingly wilder nature at LGBT people and those who support equality. While I'd like to believe that most rational, reasonably intelligent people can separate the truth from baseless hyperbole, I thought it might be helpful to let people know some basic facts.

1. I am not looking to "recruit," "convert," or "turn" people gay. While I believe every person has the right to live their life the way they so choose, I would never knowingly encourage people to "choose" a lifestyle in which they're treated with derision, persecution, inequality, and threats of violence.


2. A person's desire to spend the rest of their life with the person they love should not affect anyone else's relationship or marriage. If in some bizarre way my relationship affects yours, your relationship was not stable.


3. Allowing people of the same sex to marry each other will not open the floodgates to people marrying their children or other family members, their pets or other animals, or inanimate objects.


4. While I go to the gym six days a week, I don't ogle the others in the locker room. And I'm not interested in hitting on any of them, or any random person with whom I come into contact in any random public place. And you know what, Family Research Council? Letting gay kids into the Boy Scouts will not mean they will hit on other scouts either.


5. Demanding equal rights in all aspects of my life doesn't mean that I'm "persecuting" those who steadfastly cling to inequality. Contrary to what Newt Gingrich believes, religious rights are not being "outlawed" by equal rights.


6. Contrary to what Pat Robertson believes, I do not deserve to be equated with rapists and murderers because of my sexual orientation. And while people may hide who they really are, or choose to live a life in denial, you cannot "change" your sexual orientation.


7. Gay people are not "unclean" or an "abomination."


8. No matter what they believe in African countries like Uganda and Zambia (where a gay couple's parents turned them into the government just recently)—or how they act in nearly every state in the U.S. and many countries—gay people aren't deserving of death or violence against them. Oh, wait. No one is.

Thanks for listening. And if you're confused, try reading this again.