Chris Jepson: Wearing women's clothes

How do you argue with someone who invokes the “God” card? By argue I mean rationally discuss an issue by citing “facts” and asking the quite legitimate questions of “What do you mean? How do you know? And, what then?” What exactly do you mean when you say, “Homosexual marriage is harmful and must be opposed?”

I Googled “Arguments against Gay marriage” and the first two results offered were from the Family Research Council and the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP Student Action). Both provided a list of 10 reasons as to why “Homosexual marriage is harmful and must be opposed.” The arguments are what you would anticipate from such organizations and, as would be expected, the major objection to Gay marriage is “It offends God.”

According to TFP Student Action, “This is the most important reason. Whenever one violates the natural moral order established by God, one sins and offends God. Same-sex “marriage” does just this. Accordingly, anyone who professes to love God must be opposed to it.” Is there a logical retort when conversing with an individual claiming to be speak for God?

I’ve determined over the decades that those attempting to argue logic and God are on a fool’s errand. My eyes glaze over and I look for a polite exit, “Oh, I’m out of champagne. Let’s talk more about this later.” As in, never. When dealing with the anointed (I take the same tack with a Republican), I quickly dispense with “What do you mean and how do you know?” and get to the real nitty-gritty of, “What then?”

Homophobia is an interesting fear or concern. I’ve thought at times that being bisexual would be the “ideal.” And, why not? The Urban Dictionary explains the term as, “The ability to reach down someone's pants and be satisfied with whatever you find.” Alas, as “they” say, I don’t swing that way. I was recently listening, however, to a discussion of particularly enjoyable lesbian practices. As chance would have it my brother was with me and we both determined, “We very well may be lesbians.”

I was in St. Petersburg last weekend visiting the Dali Museum (well worth the trip to see the Picasso exhibition) and purchased a T-shirt in the gift shop. Outside, sitting on a bench, I showed my acquisition to my wife and we quickly determined a large was too small. I returned to the museum to exchange my purchase for an extra-large. I asked, in passing, to the clerk, “Was my purchase considered a woman’s T?” For the record I take an extra-large in a woman’s T.

So, I wear women’s clothing, oh, and I like interior design and decorating, wall coverings, furniture, art, flowers, architecture and Disco music. Any other stereotypes I can disabuse?

My typical response to humanity and how each of us live in America is MYOB (Mind Your Own Business). But when your God prescriptively tells you that how others live is your business, I think it is up to the rest of us to say, “Not in the United States.”

The issue of gay rights and gay marriage is, for all intents and purposes, over. Oh, there will be rearguard attempts (by Republicans) to sadly impose “God’s will” — good & hard — on the nation. Today, we’ve arrived at the conclusion of the “what then” stage and America has affirmingly said, “Time to move-on, pilgrim.”