Editor’s voice – I don’t owe you respect

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I am in this business for over 9 years and if there’s anything that I’ve learned so far is that people will do anything to hang on to their beliefs, regardless of how malicious can be within their small community and, on a larger scale, in the entire society. I’ve got the chance of talking to all sorts of people, coming from all corners of the Globe and from all social grounds. This is how I’ve discovered that, when it comes to one’s homosexuality, there are two stances that people reason from:

It is unnatural and abominable
It is contrary to God’s will

Every other secondary reasoning is strictly linked to these two main arguments which it’s why I always wanted to know what makes people so virulent against their fellow men, concerning aspects that to me always seemed private. Especially when it comes to sexuality. You would say that who one fucks is his own business, but people are more than concerned to find out every detail and, if possible, state their opinion on the matter, like it would actually count. By far, the most ardent antigay individuals are religious figures and I have always noticed that the stronger their faith is, the more they want to impose it on others.

I know it is a sensitive matter, which is why I don’t care about anybody’s feelings, because no one cares about mine or others’ like me. You think you are entitled to tell me what to do and how to live my life? You’re not and let me tell you why.

I am an atheist and, aside from being gay, this is another aspect that positions me in a conflictive stance regarding your ideology. Let’s make it clear. You cannot tell me that my sexuality is against “God’s will”, because it means nothing to me. I do not believe in God. So I will take that my sexuality is against your will, because, even if I were to believe in God, that would have been between me and Him. You have no part to play in this matter.

You say I have to respect your faith? No, I don’t.

Respecting others’ opinions based on…mere civility is what gets us in trouble in the first place. I have no reason to respect your beliefs if they interfere with my freedoms and rights so next time when you’ll ever try to bash gays for their private life, think about these aspects:

Would you like to have someone impose their will on you, regardless whether it’s valid or not? Then don’t do it to others!
Sexuality is a personal experience between two grownups. You, as an uninvited third party, have no business in it.
Your God rejects my sexuality? Let me deal with the situation and keep it to yourself!

As far as I’m concerned, your religious beliefs are a personal choice. You want me to respect them? I’m sorry, I can’t do that, because you are using them to limit my constitutional freedoms. I don’t owe you any respect, because you claim to know what love is and you claim homosexuality is not about love. But do you really know everything about love?