STICKS AND STONES AND BILLBOARDS

Have you see these billboards yet? Riding by them reminds me of driving down South with my parents when I was a kid and seeing signs on the restrooms saying "whites only". While that might sound like an unfair comparison to some people, it doesn't feel that way to me. The "men only" policy at the country club must give rise to similar feelings, as does my church's all male clergy... for lots and lots of people. ( watching the beautiful Easter liturgies from the basilica in DC with hundreds of men taking part but not one woman feels more and more uncomfortable to me ).

These billboards are sponsored by a vast number of groups who are hell bent on denying us gay folks the same rights that they have. I'm an adult, and I have no problem speaking up about things that I think are wrong in the world.
( DUH!), but I remember all too well how these messages felt when I was still struggling to find out just who I was.

Messages like these make it clear that there is something wrong with being gay, and that if you are, you have no right to ever fall in love and make a commitment to another person that society and your church will encourage and support. You are devalued, and less than your straight friends, and that you are only acceptable if you either stay celibate, or lie about who you are and do something (like marry a woman) that perpetuates your lie while the world around you lavishes you with blessings and approval of that painful dishonesty.

While the website PA4MARRAIGE.ORG is sponsored by the usual bigoted groups, it is also sponsored by

Catholic Dioceses
Allentown Diocese
Altoona-Johnstown Diocese
Erie Diocese
Greensburg Diocese
Harrisburg Diocese
Philadelphia Archdiocese
Pittsburgh Diocese
Scranton Diocese Many of these gave a considerable amount of money to anti-marriage campaigns in the past. While some deny those contributions, the NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER has the proof.

These words appear innocuous, but if you're gay, they hurt like Hell.

Dioceses major contributors to repeal same-sex marriage | National Catholic Reporter (conc. MAINE)