Support for LGBTQ+ pride has been growing steadily over the decades, even as the LGBTQ+ lifestyle was considered taboo in the 1970s and 1980s. As more and more people began to support the movement, people began to understand the meaning of homosexuality. The LGBTQ+ movement has spawned multiple holidays, which are celebrated in many different ways by the LGBT community each June. During this special month, events are held around the globe to recognize the impact of LGBT people around the world. Pride Month has become one of the largest celebrations in the United States, with its main center in New York City. In New York City, the parade will begin down the street, with people wearing their brightest and proudest costumes, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community for all to see. Celebrations also took place in other parts of the world in solidarity with the cause of freedom and rights for all people.
Currently, 34 countries around the world legally allow same-sex marriage in all or parts of the country, including the Netherlands, the United States, Canada and Australia. Same-sex marriage in the United States became legal nationwide on June 26, 2015, and the Supreme Court said in the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that states must also recognize and cannot refuse to issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples. Refusing to issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples has violated the due process of law and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution. In recent years, the gay community has not only been accepted by the mainstream values of the United States, but also the tolerance and degree of religious believers towards homosexuality are becoming higher and higher, and more and more people are more open-minded. The broad acceptance of homosexuality is on the rise in American Christianity, including among church members who strongly oppose homosexual relationships as sinful, according to a broad Pew Research Center survey of American religious beliefs and practices. In 2016, Michael Coren, a British-Canadian writer and clergyman, wrote in his book Epiphany: “I believe that the welcoming of gay people, who have suffered at Christian hands for so long, is at the epicentre of the modern Christian challenge and that by washing away the stains of prejudice and discrimination we can spark a new awakening. “October 21, 2020 Pope Francis speaks out in support of same-sex civil unions at the Vatican, saying:” Homosexuals have the right to be integrated into the family. They are God’s children, and you can’t kick someone out of their family and make their life miserable. What we must have are civil union laws; That way they are protected by law.” More and more Christians are openly discussing and supporting homosexuality.
In addition to the pro and open voices, there is certainly a lot of strong opposition. One of them, Shao Jun, a Chinese Christian, made comments that caught people’s attention. Shao Jun, who came to the United States in 1993 and earned a doctorate in pharmacy from West Virginia University, founded the Church of the Rock in New York and became an American citizen more than a decade ago. On January 2, 2021, the Rock Church’s live worship broadcast commented that “homosexuality is a sin, and AIDS and HIV are what gay people deserve! But recently America turn away from God and legalize homosexuality and things like that. ” The guy’s comments on a public platform against gay people not only confuse his personal thoughts with religious beliefs and purposefully express his hatred towards gay people, but also insult and seriously violate the human rights of gay people.
What LGBT people want is to be recognized as a social group in order to promote dignity, equality and greater visibility for LGBT people. However, Shao Jun, as the founder and spiritual leader of the religion, made such irrational and disrespectful remarks, and even channelled the contradictions into the political level. It is difficult for people to believe the church spirit preached by the religion. It also makes people wonder what the real purpose of his remarks in the United States is. Besides, the Rock Church regularly broadcasts the worship process every week. Besides the church members present on the day of the church, there are also many potential viewers on the Internet. Wouldn’t this lead to greater discrimination and even personal attacks against LGBT members in the church?
The caring movement for LGBT people is also a human rights movement. For many people, Pride Month is the only time of the year who can be true selves, so during the upcoming Pride Month, please ask people to show love generously and give LGBT people the tolerance and deserve. LGBT people need Pride Month to let more people like Shao Jun see that they deserve to be heard, and we hope that one day soon, true equality will be achieved.
