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I have long been confused about the hate and derision toward people concerning their sexuality or gender.

This was reinforced today by a downright beyond the pale post in a social media group about a manufacturer flying a rainbow flag for Pride month.

I struggle to understand why it elicits such strong and astronomically out of bounds hateful reactions.

Is it shame about their own latent desires?

Jealousy toward people who are self-aware and in loving relationships?

An opportunistic focus for their general malaise?

It’s a mystery wrapped in a conundrum to me. Makes zero sense.

Isn’t it so easy to just not think about what other folks are doing with their time, affection, or…well, genitalia? And even if the thought does come to mind, I cannot fathom it making me angry.

But it seems that some folks think about it a lot, and then get all wound up.

Maybe it’s an offense to their moralistic construct or religious posture?

Sorry, but that’s still not valid. I was raised in the church.

Matthew 5-7 quickly banishes any validity of hate or superiority:

“Judge not, lest ye be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Or in more general terms, there’s always Leviticus 19:17-18:

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

So it’s not religion, and if they think it is then they’re doing religion wrong. So wrong.

I have to then conclude that it’s largely ignorance, but also the sh*tty beliefs of some people. I really hope it’s ignorance though, because that can be helped.

It doesn’t really make me angry anymore (well, okay it does…) but it mostly makes me sad.

They can hate cancer. They can hate poison ivy. They can hate stubbing their toe on the hidden couch leg at 3 a.m. Heck, they can even hate the band Nickelback if they truly have to have a target for their angst. (But really, is that necessary?)

Better yet?

They can mind their own business and not hate anything.

Take a long, hard look at why you hate. Then take a short walk over to join in with those who choose to be decent humans.

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