Hey! I have a thought in response to Jay’s request for arguments about (basically) progressive understandings/ beliefs from the perspective of conservative beliefs. I didn’t intend to come up with much of a big discourse at the moment, but as someone who grew up in a Pentecostal Christian environment there was one little thing that jumped up in my mind that I’ve always wished people would use more when discussing anti-gay sentiments. I’m fairly certain that many Christians who hold anti-homosexual stances believe that being gay is a choice. That a person is just dangerously subversive enough to decide to sexually pursue people of the same sex and fly in the face of all that is “natural” for the hell of it. I think this may be a fundamental issue to address with people before trying to move on with them to rights they should or shouldn’t have, etc. The fact that being gay is not a choice, any more than you choose your ethnicity or gender is something I think hasn’t occurred to some. That and why anyone would choose that in light of all the hardships and shame they have to endure for it. And why do some people commit suicide to escape rather than “choose” to be heterosexual?
Some years ago I brought this up to my Christian mother who has (had?) a “love the sinner, hate the sin” stance when it comes to gay people, and it definitely seemed to cause some pensiveness in her.
Thanks, Jay!

I appreciate this episode for the bravery you exhibit in showing us how to bridge gaps, not further widen them. For all the hurt, anger, feelings of betrayal and other negativity swallowing many of us at the prospect of having Trump as president (and all he represents), I can look at his win as a message to us. We must find a way to come together, to find common ground, and understand what hurt, anger and feelings the “other side” has experienced in their turn. Ironically, I feel the decision to choose Trump for many was a legitimate vocalization of frustration, but not with the intention of helping him win. I think we can find ways to connect with most of those who opted to cast their vote for him. There is, most likely, a relative few of his supporters who are following him blindly, that truly think his platform is legitimate.