GLBT "For the Bible tells me so" Extra Credit

I attended the Safe Schools Seminar on October 30th, 2008. I was very glad I was able to make it to this one, along with the last one because each one was a little different. This seminar allowed me to think about GLBT issues surrounding Christianity. I enjoyed the introduction on families in the beginning of the seminar however what really struck me as being powerful was parts 2 and 3 about what the bible says and unconditional love. The movies talked about the ability to procreate and how that was a violation of the norm in homogeneous relationships. Then it talked about how a man who sleeps with another man should be killed because god said it and we should obey. When I heard this comment, it made me sick to my stomach because I call myself a christian yet, I would never, ever think about believing someone should die if they were gay. In the unconditional love part of the seminar, I was also so shocked by the story about the girl who committed suicide because her family did not accept her. I cannot believe how some families beliefs stretch so far into making your own child commit suicide. I learned though this seminar that they are 3-7 times more likely to commit suicide. This just makes me very sad to think that people out there are saying that being gay is preventable and that their can be treatment to get rid of it. I just cannot believe that in today's society people are still showing so much hatred for GLBT members. This seminar opened my eyes to these issues going on today centering around religious beliefs. As teachers we need to make sure that our students feel safe and secure in our classrooms no matter what our religious beliefs are.