As Parents and Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) become more open and visible in the community it is good for county residents to understand their agenda. They are now sponsoring youth meetings and parties and pressuring the schools in the valley concerning the gay agenda.
This group and their supporters’ central philosophy is that homosexuals are “born that way” and cannot change. Their message is that anyone who speaks out against homosexuality is causing a high incidence of suicide in those who are considering and are involved in that lifestyle. While the evidence is that those who tell the youth and adults that there is no way out of homosexuality are responsible, in most part at least, for the statistics.
PFLAG has a right to what they are doing and it certainly isn’t bad but the hundreds of thousands of people who have made their way out of that lifestyle is proof that they were not born that way and they can use the Grace of Jesus Christ and their God to overcome those tendencies and live normal heterosexual lives.
A group of people in Montana are considering forming a Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX). If you would like to help please contact me.
As the local PFLAG pushes the addition of “sexual orientation, gender identity” into the local school discrimination rules and bullying rules it is important to think this through. Certainly it sounds good on its face but a closer look reveals their true desire to shut people up that are opposed to homosexuality because of the great health dangers involved in such acts and for moral and religious reasons. If those words were inserted into the school’s discrimination laws it will cause discrimination against those who have strong convictions against it. Research on that issue will prove the point.
Should there be discrimination against someone because of their homosexual lifestyle? I certainly think so if a teacher, for example, wants to work with youth in sports teams. Many homosexuals tend to look for jobs where they have access to young boys. Recent headlines have shown the danger of allowing access to our children of those who may have homosexual tendencies.
Adding this new classification also gives them special protection that many categories of people do not have such as foster children and parents to name one of dozens.
As far as adding the categories to the bullying rules, what is the point? Is it to give them special protection as well? If we are going to add this new classification then we should research and include all classifications of people so we don’t allow bullying for anyone. A better alternative is to take out all classifications in the bullying rules so as to not give anyone special treatment. Is it okay to bully anyone?
A class of people that are bullied by the homosexuals and their supporters are the ex-gays, to the point that the media will not even carry an article about them or admit they exist because if they did so the homosexuals would swamp them with threats and hate as they are known to do. If anyone can come up with a positive article in any of the Lee Newspapers or local papers about ex-gays I would sure like to see it. You have to go to the web to read about the joy that former homosexuals have found in living a heterosexual life.
We know that the homosexuals are pressuring school boards in the Bitterroot for this special treatment. It is important for parents to contact those schools and state their concerns.
Before someone accuses me of hate towards homosexuals and those who are confused about their gender, it is important for you to know that I believe that scripture clearly points to homosexuality as sin in the line of adultery and fornication. I believe that God loves homosexuals and those committing the other sins that I mention but he does not condone such acts and never will. How should we treat adulterers? Clearly, with love and leaving the judgments up to God. Should we teach against it and not fear God’s words about adultery? That is our charge. Because we have family members or loved ones involved in these sins does not allow us to say that God condones them. We need to show them, lovingly, how they can repent and can find happiness in God’s Plan that is very clearly meant for heterosexual sex between one woman and one man (as Montanans stated in our Constitution), in the marriage covenant, and for the purpose of bringing God’s children here to Earth to enjoy the great blessings of his plan.
Some have a tendency to want to commit adultery or fornication, for example, but our God warns against it and people can make a choice. A study of those involved in such sins would clearly show a relationship to a higher incidence of suicide for we know that sin can never be happiness. We know that studies have shown that if you want peace and happiness and a more fruitful life, there is no substitute to marriage when each partner treats each other with love and selflessness.
The homosexuals keep marching on with their agenda and while they do so we need to arm ourselves with truth and love to show the ugly consequences, here and in eternity, of such choices. Just like the ugly consequences of adultery and fornication. God knew and that is why he gave us the Ten Commandments.
Dallas D. Erickson
Stevensville
Joel says
Oh honey. No one is going to want to drink from this man’s Kool-aid.
Chris says
Using God to spread hate is not what was intended. Some Christians have the worst agendas.
Ricardo Ramos says
Even though everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it is sad to see the way you deliver your message. Words are easy and simple, but actually living something is completely different. You can’t understand what LGBT people have gone through. Why would someone randomly “choose” one day to be gay and have to go through all the prejudice and discrimination that is out there. Of course people are born this way. Your comment about homosexuals wanting to work near children to take advantage of such situation is stupid. I agree, there are people out there who do unimaginable things, but you can’t generalize. It’s like saying that all members of a certain group or culture perform immoral acts simply because of who they are; your point is invalid. You don’t have to agree with us, but we just want you to respect us and recognize that we’re here, and we’re here to stay.
Terry Moran says
I wish to thank all of the allies of PFLAG for your supportive comments. I’m inviting you all to become members of PFLAG. Your membership supports the mission of PFLAG which is the following, to promote the health and well-being of gay,lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Our website Pflaghamiltonbitterroot.com will soon have all of the details. Sadly, not only do we have ill-informed people to educate but we have to cope with people who will lie to promote their homophobic agenda. Thus, let it be know PFLAG Hamilton-Bitterroot has a policy that any minor who attends our meetings must be accompanied by a parent. However, there is a separate for LGBT youth group which meets every fourth Thursday at 7:00 pm at Chapter One Bookstore in Hamilton. Please communicate to other people the danger of PFOX, whose founders are parents whose son committed suicide and they are at peace because he is in heaven, as he did not act on his affectional orientation. As a community we must advocate suicide is never an okay. Also, save the dates of September 21-23 for the PFLAG Pacific Northwest Conference which will be held in Hamilton. Please consider attending and/or being a sponsor for this conference. And for crystal clear communication on what the “Gay Agenda” is, it can be stated in one word, “EQUALITY”. Terry Moran, Chapter President of PFLAG Hamilton-Bitterroot
Nichole Mitchell says
It is commentary like this that makes me embarrassed to be a Christian and to be from the Bitterroot Valley.
Danny Mitchell says
As a Christian, I am saddened by this vulgar display of ignorance and intolerance. I wish you were more Christ like Mr. Erickson. Where in the new testament did Jesus ever preach on homosexuality? It’s backwards thinking like yours that is stunting progress in our religion.
Luke 10: 27-28
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
Practice what you preach.
Roger Williams says
I am saddened by the ignorance of Mr Erickson. This person obviously is reality challenged. I expect Mr. Erickson is doing the best he can, but that makes me even more sad. Such blatant ignorance.
Signed,
Roger
Nicholas Reiser says
Mr. Erickson, this propaganda is irrelevant. Judging by every comment left in response, you have devoutly wasted your time writing yourself into an inarguable corner of vapid opinion. Get over yourself and your pitiably narrow views. There is a beautiful world outside of your prison of philosophy ripe for your enjoyment. You squander your fleetingly brief journey through this universe by wallowing in your fear of others.
Sean Jeffrey says
I completely disagree with you and think you need to spend sometime with LGBT folks to truly understand they are no different than you or I. Homosexuals are born that way but their are also people that can choose their sexuality (the HUGE majority being the prior)Let me ask you this. If you could completely choose either to be accepted into society as the norm and receive no negativity, bullying, hate etc. OR you could choose to have a lot of people hate you, be little you, make up statistics about you raping children!? Which you choose?
The bottom line of scripture is to love others and accept them regardless of their sinful choices. According to scripture ALL SINS are of equal value. So that would mean, when you download a song illegally from the internet, when you have a sexual/lustful thought about someone your interested in but not married too, when someone masturbates (aka 95% of males and 50+% of females) then its the exact some of equal value as homsexuality etc.
Explain to me these “health” dangers you speak of? A recent study just came out and it stated that heterosexual people participate in anal sex more than homsexual couples do. STIs exist in both populations but when it comes reproductive health. LGBT folks can’t just get drunk one night or have a one night stand and get pregnant! Heterosexual people do that and then create problems of overpopulation and not being able to raise children in a healthy environment (of course exceptions to everything)
For the discrimination rules, it should be added into them. “It will cause discrimination against those who have convictions against it”?! Are you kidding me? So when the minority population 10% or less gets a rule that says don’t beat me up you automatically assume that means the minority group is going to retaliate and take over the majority group?! I see no logic in anything with that argument.
Many homosexuals tend to look for jobs where they can have access to young boys?! How many heterosexual teachers and PRIESTS get caught for sexually molesting children? Way more than any homosexual individuals.
You also say that homosexuals are pressuring school boards for SPECIAL treatment!!!! Explain to me what is “special” about that? They want to be treated equal like all of the heteros. What are they asking for that is giving them an advantage over heteros? Oh so they want to be treated like humans beings and not be bullied and discriminated against, yes that is so “special”.
I am so frustrated and angered by this uneducated, irresponsible, pathetic argument against getting rights that should be granted to all individuals regardless of race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc. We are all people, we all bleed red, and we all have feelings and they should be respected and treated as such. Actually do some LEGITIMATE research, get to know a few gay people (there are some among your friends and family who are some of the most loved people you care about they are just to afraid to come out because if people like you could have their way they would be forced to do things against their will, hated on, and discriminated against) and then come talk about this. You are a “god fearing christian” and are a Gay hater. How dare you call yourself otherwise. Grow up and learn to love. That’s what god would really want you to do.
Hans Fischer says
Growing up around the LGBTIQ community, I never once felt threatened by anyone of them, not only that but most of the community have mundane jobs in the our community be it a pharmacist, lawyer, or Someone working at the grocery store i find it very hard to believe that “most gays try to find jobs around children”. It seems that many try to find jobs in the Republican Party. People like you are the reason that I have to decide what matters to me. I have lived in the Bitterroot valley since i was 3 years old and have always loved it. The one thing that makes me want to leave and not invest in the future of the valley is ignorant people like you. As you say leave the judgment up to the Lord above. Obviously you don’t follow what you say. Do you follow what The Lord says?
Ray says
Mr. Erickson,
I respectfully disagree with you. Homosexuality is not a choice, and there are many studies that uphold that. For example : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/01/homosexuality-genetics-usa
This article from the Guardian discusses new studies that demonstrate the genetic and biological nature of homosexuality.
Further, if being gay or lesbian is a choice, why is the suicide rate so high among gay youth? If it was simply a matter of choosing, why would people not just decide to become heterosexual, and avoid the bullying issue? Surely young homosexuals are not killings themselves instead of switching to become martyrs for a “homosexual agenda.”
Additionally, your accusation that homosexuals seek jobs in order to be around children in unfounded and goes too far. Here is information from U.C. Davis: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html The psychologist who wrote this found that child molesters never developed a mature sexual orientation.
The truth of the matter is that homosexuals are just people like everyone else. And like everyone else, they want to be treated with respect and dignity.
Queta says
Mr. Erickson,
I recommend that you actually get real statistics when writing articles. First of all, being homosexual does not in any way make one a pedophile or make someone want sexual activity anymore than a heterosexual person would. Saying that they have a tendency to search for jobs near young men or vice versa is just plain wrong. Also, as a Christian, you should remember the story of Jesus Christ where he says that he who is without sin should cast the first stone. Basically, it means to not judge others, because we are all sinners, we’re human, it comes with the deal. As a firm supporter of gay rights, and a devout Catholic, I have to say your article disgusts me. Homosexuality had proven scientific basis, and it is wrong to hate in the way you do.
The Ten Commandments in no way state anything about homosexuality by the way. I suggest you get a better hobby, because you article is just not true in anyway.
Dan Jackson says
Seriously? I realize this is an “opinion” letter, but it should have had some editing by a reasonably sane human life form before being published. This really gives Christians a black eye. I don’t need religion to hide behind….I’m already a hypocrite.
BitterrootWire says
Shamed on you Bitterroot Star. Its one thing publishing a letter on opinion, but this letter will just breed fear and hate.
Seriously? You should be ASHAMED of your selves for publishing this crap.
Jim Wood says
Dear Dallas, I don’t even know how to to express what a ignorant piece of cow pie I think that you are. Equating homosexuality and pedaphillia is nothing short of fear mongering. The rest of your letter is full a opinions I wouldn’t even spread on a field. While being ignorant is not a sin, being ignorant on purpose is just plain stupid. So yes Dallas I am calling you ignorant and stupid. As documentation of my opinion I reference every letter you have ever written to a newspaper here in Western Montana. Would you please document the statements you make. Our children, my children, your children and all children need to be kept safe from abuse, neglect and persecution. Period. No exceptions, no excuses. We have seen in Minnesota what the climate you wish to create here in Montana has done to young people. I will do whatever I can to stop you from bringing that to my chosen home. As long as someones behavior does not infringe on the rights of another, it’s simply not my business. You infringe on someones right to live safely and in peace and it becomes my business. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke
Jake Delaney Wood says
Thank you for this wonderful article showing the intelligence and God fearing of a true American. However, I would like to clear up some points you have made.
I was just like you at one point; I disliked, nay, hated the homosexual community. I went to church, I looked down on Atheists and other non-believers. However, as I have gotten older, facts have begun to replace my superstitious views.
According to the Oregon Health and Science University, they have proven a correlation between brain anatomy and hormone balances in the body reacting to stimuli.
A second point you make is the predatory nature of homosexuals around young people. Research done by psychology department of UC Davis points out that it is not actually homosexual men that commit these types of crime. In fact, less than 1% of the perpetrators of the crimes were Gay Men. Conversely, we actually see higher problems of Straight men or women interacting inappropriately with the opposite sex.
A third (and tiny) problem I have with your views about God. If you believe in the Judeo-Christian God I assume you believe in, you surely understand that he is not a kind loving God. This God you worship demands death for men who disobey their parents or commit public drunkenness or if a wife is found not to be a virgin she shall be stoned. These are currently found in Deuteronomy. And yes, homosexuality is a sin in Leviticus. However, If you consider yourself a Christian, you obviously understand the New Covenant established in the Book of Jeremiah. Now, if we take that to be true, which you do as a good Christian, the old Mosaic Laws are eliminated with the coming of Christ as most all christian scholars believe. The only mention of homosexuals by the teachings of Jesus, which is what Christians follow, is the mentioning of the eunuch, where he says that they shall not marry a woman.
Now yes, I can see where you are coming from with special treatment in bullying cases. I do however believe that you are missing the point of these actions. Just like in the 50’s-80’s there was a big problem with integration into society for the black community, we now have a problem for the GLBT community today. Shouldn’t a student be punished more for attacking the very core of a person? Should we not punish a student more for calling them a Beaner or a Nigger? I believe we should punish that student more, just like we should punish a student for calling a classmate a fairy or a faggot.
Besides the mistakes which I am sure anyone who doesn’t need facts (because facts are part of the liberal agenda), I think you make one good point; that your name is Dallas Erickson and you are from Stevensville. Have a pleasant day.
Brittany says
Honestly, this is outrageously offensive and
incongruous. No matter what your religion or personal beliefs are, it is none of your (or anyone else’s) business to judge the way people choose to live their life.
Your statement ‘Many homosexuals tend to look for jobs where they have access to young boys.’ Was a grossly inappropriate generalization. That depends completely on the individual themselves and NOT their sexual orientation. There are plenty of heterosexual predators; this statement in addition to many others was completely misleading and inappropriate.
This article was full of judgment (though you yourself said we should treat homosexuals ‘with love and leaving the judgments up to God’)
Who in their right mind would speak negatively against a group whose main goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for people to be themselves without physical or emotional harm?
Courtney says
The ignorance here is astonishing.
Julian De La Paz says
I am an openly gay college student, a devout Catholic, and an upstanding citizen in my community. I was raised by a loving family who instilled the values of love, respect, and acceptance for all people. I am not a mistake. I am not an abomination to the world. I do not have a job that exposes me to “heterosexual” children, I do not have an incurable disease, I do not bully what you call “ex-gays”, and I certainly do not fit any of the categories you prescribed in your above article. Most of all, I am a human being with dignity, honor, and integrity…not a second class citizen. Let me begin by saying, Mr. Erickson, that your passage above is fueled by nothing more than bigotry, hatred, discrimination, and most of all, fear. Fear of human beings with different sexual preferences, fear of your definition of “immorality”, and fear of granting acceptance and love to a group of individuals not so different from yourself. I find it interesting how you claim towards the end of your article that you write this with the utmost love and respect to the homosexuals of the world based off of your devout “religious” beliefs, yet, I am not so certain that you and I share the same beliefs in the same God. Because I will have you know that the God you speak of is not the God I know of. I know a God of love, not a God of hate. God made me in His image and likeness, and as it says in the Bible, He danced the day I was born, as He does for ALL of His creations. God does not look at me differently because of my sexual preference, and He certainly does not smite me because of it. I am who I am, nothing more, and nothing less, and it is at this point that I will thank you for your article. It has given me nothing more than a drive to continue in the push for equal rights for ALL people and to break the hateful stigma that individuals such as yourself maintain. But I will not look upon you with disdain and hatred. I refuse to. Because, like you, I am a Christian man, so instead, I will pray for you and your outrageous beliefs, in hopes that one day, God might open your heart and mind and free you from your ignorance. Finally, I will now speak directly to any gay adolescent reading this. You are a beautiful human being, and you should be very proud of who you are and who God created you to be. Never shy away from your true self, never doubt God’s love for you, and never think, for one second, that you are a mistake. It is quite difficult to stand your ground in any situation, especially as a gay young man or woman, but do not lose faith or hope in your person. There is a whole, wide world out there, waiting to rejoice in your beauty, so please do not let Mr. Erickson’s article discourage you. Stand up, speak up, and most of all, never give up.
josh says
This makes me sick.
Max says
Mr Erickson,
I believe that one major fault in your argument lies in your belief that all Americans must be subject to your religious ideology. The opposite is true, in fact, as ordained by the Constitution of the United States of America which promotes Freedom of Religion and, in turn, Freedom FROM Religion. Please try to limit the rights, livelihoods and freedoms of the LGBTQ community using MORE than the word of a thousands-year-old book, translated hundreds of times from Arameic, Greek, Latin, etc. So many Biblical passages are not practiced today! Do you eat figs? Go to hell. Do you intermix crops? Go to hell. Do you blend fabrics? Off to hellfire with you! Shellfish? Hell. Deuteronomy 22 states that if a woman isn’t a virgin at her marriage, she shall be taken to her father’s house and stoned to death. Surely you can’t say we should follow THAT commandment as well, or are you willing to denigrate the dignity and civilized nature of our society to this so-low a level? The fact of the matter is that religion should neither dictate the lives of the American populace, nor should it be the cannon fodder of your ignorant and backwater views of members of our Human race.
With love, kindness and a dollop of sass,
Maximilian H. Staebler
Florida