I’ve written about how horrible the Family Research Council is and how unbelievable Tony Perkins is with the things that he says, and he’s back at it again after saying in an interview that Pete Buttigieg is a victim of certain circumstances which made him gay and that because he’s an Episcopalian his faith is flawed, according to Pink News.
During a speech that he presented on April 7th, Buttigieg said “Speaking only for myself, I can tell you that if me being gay was a choice, it was a choice that was made far, far above my pay grade. And that’s the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand” in response to the Vice President’s negative views on marriage equality. As a response, Tony Perkins said “I think Mayor Pete has an issue with the words of scripture… there’s just no evidence to support that… God does not create people that way” and that “Now, there’s circumstances that lead one maybe down that path, and I’m not saying anyone would choose that lifestyle.” He goes on to say that the scripture doesn’t support the idea that someone can be born gay and that Pete is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” who is simply a smooth talker. It is very apparent from just listening to Perkins that his religious views are extreme and that he believes that evangelicalism is the only way to worship God so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that he would say things like that.
My biggest problem with Perkins’ statements, aside from the ridiculous notion that “circumstances” can make someone gay, is that he doesn’t know Buttigieg personally so he couldn’t possibly know how he grew up and whatever said “circumstances” that led him to be gay were.
Another religious figure, Michael Brown, said that it is ridiculous that Pete professes to be a Christian while being married to another man and that he ” must discard the entire testimony of Scripture since every single reference to homosexual practice in the Bible is condemnatory…” Brown is basically saying that Pete is not a real Christian because he’s gay which is ridiculous – someone can absolutely be gay and a Christian; my boyfriend is a gay Christian. Conservative pundit Erick Erickson (certainly no relation to the famous psychologist) claimed that because Pete is Episcopalian that his “faith is flawed.” I’ve never claimed to be a Christian or believe in a god, but I am very familiar with the tenet of Christianity that claims that one must not judge other Christians, which is exactly what Brown and Erickson are doing. all the while claiming to be good Christians. Pretty hypocritical, don’t you think?
Like I mentioned above, one can absolutely be gay and Christian and loving God doesn’t mean that you can’t also love someone of the same sex. I’m a firm believer that no one can choose their sexuality – it’s an intrinsic part of who we are so Perkins claiming that there are certain circumstances (he never specified which ones) can cause someone to be gay. Being gay, straight, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, etc., is not something that can anyone can become. I don’t have a problem with people practicing their faith, but if they’re going to use it to attack other people (who, I might add, worships the same deity), then that’s when I draw the line. I can’t say I’m particularly surprised that someone like Tony Perkins would say something like he did, however. For every one Tony Perkins, there are hundreds of people who stand by Buttigieg.
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h/t: Pink News