Mayor Guillory Says "No" To Pride Month

At Tuesday's city council meeting Lafayette Mayor Josh Guillory denied another request to declare June Pride Month.  Thank you, Mayor.  You did the right thing.  Why does the mayor and city council need to declare such a thing?  The mayor represents the entire parish, and much of the parish believe that homosexuality is a serious sin against God.  The LGBGQ community can have their Pride Month.  They can celebrate all year long if they want to, but they don't need the mayor's, or the city council's endorsement of their lifestyle.  Just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean that doing it is right.  And it doesn't mean that the entire city should applaud your choices.  It is legal to be an alcoholic, to cohabitate, to commit adultery, to look at pornography, to visit strip clubs, to neglect your health, etc.  Should the mayor declare a month to celebrate each of these choices as well?  

While I appreciate Mayor Guillory's decision, I do disagree with something he said.  He said, "I believe we were born with a gender; we were born with a skin color and we were born with certain attributes that we have no control over and I believe sexual orientation is one of them. And this government under my administration will not discriminate against anybody based on their sexual orientation."  Guillory seems to believe in the "born that way" theory, which says that gay people are born with a homosexual orientation and they can't help but have homosexual feelings and carry out homosexual conduct.  I respectfully disagree for several reasons.  First, there are no scientific studies that prove there is a gay gene, or that homosexuality is genetic.  In fact, studies of identical twins point in the opposite direction.  If homosexuality were genetic, then identical twins would always share the same sexual orientation, but that's often not the case.  Second, many studies show a link between a person's upbringing and homosexuality.  For example, there is a strong correlation between homosexuality and the absence of a strong father figure growing up, as well as with abuse as a child or teen.  Third, there are countless examples of people who have come out of the homosexual lifestyle to a life of joyful heterosexuality.  Wouldn't this be impossible if homosexuality were genetic?  And fourth, being born with a certain disposition does not justify the behavior.  Genetics can cause us to be predisposed to certain behaviors, such as alcohol addiction, or a bad temper, or a negative attitude, but that doesn't justify these behaviors.  We all have the responsibility to conform our feelings, emotions, and behaviors to what is good and right. 

I understand that we have many gay people in our parish, and I do not hate them.  I love them and want the best for them.  We can live peacefully together.  But trying to push the mayor and city council to celebrate something that many if not most people in the parish believe is sinful is not the path to peace.  I don't expect you to agree with all of my beliefs and choices.  Don't expect me to celebrate Pride Month with you.