Gay Bashing--A Christian Virtue?

 Just read on Yahoo News a story about a New Jersey waitress. After her customer paid the bill and left, she was shocked at the note the woman had left behind. There was no tip. The note read: “I am sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with your lifestyle and how you live your life.” The note-writer and her family skipped the tip on their $93.55 bill and only left her this pious explanation. The server reported that she had been waiting tables for ten years and that she never told the family she was gay when she introduced herself. “Just a normal introduction,” she said. “My name is Dayna and I’ll be taking care of you today.” She reported that the woman at the table replied, “I thought you were going to say your name was Dan.” “I didn’t know how to react,” she said,” ‘ I never thought this would ever happen.”

Most folk would not react this way—thank God. But we still have a long way to go. I’ve sat in the counseling room and heard story after story from gay people. They opened up their hearts and talked about the pain of discovering who they were. Hating themselves because they felt they were different. Sitting in church and hearing their preacher denounce the "gay life-style." Kids at school snickering about fags and queers. Or parents that often did not try to understand and turned their backs on them. I have had gay friends tell me that they have been with their partner for years yet they could not bring their loved one home. Some families did not even know the partner existed. The parents knew their child was gay--but they closed the door to this discussion years ago. Some said, “OK, we’ve talked about this—subject closed.”

I keep remembering that quote: “Be kind; everyone you meet is having a hard battle.” Straights, gays, everybody. Everybody.

   --Roger Lovette/ rogerlovette.blogspot.com