I'm Baaaa-ack! And I brought Pat Robertson with me.

Good grief. Uncle Patty is at it again...only this time we've been thrown in the pool with murderers, rapists, and thieves. 

Seriously? 

Let's see here...people who kill others, people who force themselves sexually on others, people who steal from others, and people who are in love and simply want the right to live their lives with the same respect and regard as is given to others. 

Do any of you remember the game on Sesame Street - One of These Things is Not Like the Other? Take a minute and read the above paragraph again, and let me know if you can find the thing that is not like the others. Go ahead. I'll wait...

What's that you say? You're already done? And so quickly, too! Surprising, given that Mr. Robertson seems to think they're all so similar.  

The irony in his little pitch would be hilarious if not for the fact that he means every word. At one point, he even encourages his viewers to stand up for 'freedom' against those who might 'take away their right to free speech'. And all the while, it is he and his cronies who are fighting against freedom for any who think differently than they. Amazing that someone could build such an enormous, multi-million dollar empire and not be intelligent enough to recognize the double standard under which he operates.

Listen, you can think whatever you want about me and my 'kind' on your own time and in your own home. Knock yourself out. But once you put out a public statement like the one put forth by the ESPN contributor whom Pat is referencing, you stand to reap the societal consequences of such hateful and bigoted speech. You want to despise all illegal immigrants? Sit around the dinner table and talk about how the wetbacks are completely screwing up our country and we oughta box 'em all up and ship 'em back? Fine. Go ahead. You absolutely have that right. But you want to go on television or radio and say those things? You're gonna get called out - and rightly so. 

See, the real issue here is that our dear Mr. Robertson and his ilk continue to believe that sexual orientation is 'fixable'. Yes, human sexuality can be and often is fluid (see: Kinsey Scale), but the ever mounting pile of scientific evidence (and the personal statements and stories of untold amounts of LGBT individuals) all point to what we who live this life have known all along...you are who you are. And nothing can change that. In fact, there are numerous studies that have shown how dangerous reparative therapy (a.k.a 'conversion therapy' or 'pray the gay away') actually is. These, of course, are from rather reliable sources - such as a little group known as the American Psychological Association. And then there's this article by Dr. Doug Haldeman, which has the best line I've ever read regarding the reason some LGBT people actually seek out reparative therapy, "Many of these individuals are vulnerable to the idea of repairing in themselves what is actually society's problem: a history of rejection and discrimination based upon socially instituted homophobia." 

Our sexual orientation is no more fixable or changeable than yours, Pat. We were made to be exactly who we are, and our existence is not harmful to any but those who are afraid of what they don't understand. You claim that the 'power of God' can change anything, and that may well be true. But the point to remember here is that in this instance, there is nothing that needs to be changed, so your argument is invalid.

It will only be when people such as this man either fall away naturally, open up and allow themselves be educated, or care enough to search out the answers on their own that the hate speech will stop. Because make no mistake - that's exactly what it is...language full of fear and judgement and hatred and assumption. But we will win out in the end, because our weapons in this fight are love and community and steadfast compassion; and when we open up the floodgates to let that light up our way, there is no hate that can stand against it for long. 

So get out there, be brave, and shine.