MrFrankZito

Brokeback Mountain’s terrific reception has suddenly brought all the homophobes out of the woodwork. So now, here are three excellent counterarguments to present to homophobes and others who disapprove of homosexuality (Bible-based disapproval or otherwise).

1. Leviticus is morally bankrupt.

Here are two oft-cited passages from Leviticus that condemn homosexual activity:

"You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."
Lev. 18:22

"If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them."
Lev. 20:13

However, Leviticus also contains many more commands:

As for your male and female slaves whom you may have--you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you.
Then, too, it is out of the sons of the sojourners who live as aliens among you that you may gain acquisition, and out of their families who are with you, whom they will have produced in your land; they also may become your possession.
You may even bequeath them to your sons after you, to receive as a possession; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your countrymen, the sons of Israel, you shall not rule with severity over one another.
Lev 25:44-46

If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst.
Lev.20:14

Also the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by harlotry, she profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.
Lev.21:9

"Speak to Aaron, saying, 'No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God.
For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb,
or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand,
or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles.
No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the LORD'S offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God.
He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy,
only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them."
Lev.21:17-23

Further, you will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters you will eat.
Lev 26:29

By the way, Leviticus also has some flat-out factual inaccuracies…

Leviticus 11:6 states that rabbits chew their cud.

Leviticus 11:20-23 speaks of four-legged insects, including grasshoppers.

2. Homophobes might be overcompensating.

"The most manifest heterosexuals may have homosexual tendencies, too. Homophobic male heterosexuals showed more arousal to homosexual images than did nonhomophobic heterosexuals (Adams et al. 1996). Societal condemnation of homosexuality may contribute to its genes being propagated by causing latent homosexuals to behave heterosexually."
Source: http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB403.html

3. Homosexuality and bisexuality are pervasive.

"It should be noted that the question of explaining homosexuality is not limited to humans. Homosexuality exists in hundreds of animal species (Bagemihl 1998)."
Source: http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB403.html

The research of Bruce Bahemihl, PhD:

*Silver gulls (females)*
percent homosexual: 10
percent bisexual: 11
percent heterosexual: 79

*Black headed gulls (both sexes)*
percent homosexual: 22
percent bisexual: 15
percent heterosexual: 63

*Japanese macaques (both sexes)*
percent homosexual: 9
percent bisexual: 56
percent heterosexual: 35

*Bonobo chimpanzees (both sexes)*
percent homosexual: 0
percent bisexual: 100
percent heterosexual: 0

*Galahs (both sexes)*
percent homosexual: 44
percent bisexual: 11
percent heterosexual: 44