God’s will in the legislature

I don’t go to church, and I don’t watch much baseball anymore. I can sleep in on Sundays and leave the TV off when the Cubs play, thus saving electricity. If I keep my mouth shut, I get by without making new enemies. But homophobia intrigues me, and there has some recently in both settings.

Why do some people care so much about other peoples’ private lives? Why do they spend so much time and passion solving problems that don’t exist except in their own little minds?

The Toronto Blue Jays just dumped a relief pitcher who posted anti-gay words on the web. I applauded his being called out.

But, when our Legislature recently passed their version of don’t say gay and don’t read about people who are different from them, evangelicals and a few others in the mainline religious community cheered. Hate triumphed over Christian love.

I wish Gov. Kim Reynolds, her followers in the Legislature and some other Iowa clergy understood that when they follow their compulsion to dismiss and disdain God’s children in the LGBTQ+ community, they are apostates.

I’ve tried for decades to understand why some people care about other people’ sexual orientation. And most of all, today, why the governor and many legislators are intent on taking books away, silencing discussion and demonizing innocent kids. I don’t care what heterosexual couples do unto one another. I always kept my own shades drawn. Sexual activity is a private matter, not a religious emission, not a topic for the state, except when harm is done. Between consenting adults and experimenting minors, sexual orientation is simply not a state matter, nor a religious one.

Legislators who would sell their mothers for political victory shouldn’t spend their time on the private lives of Iowans. Why is that so hard to understand by our pubic servants?

I don’t think I, with several wives and a few girlfriends in between marriages, I ever asked a legislator for permission to do anything. Yet, today, in Iowa as well as some other states led by conservatives, members (and I use the word carefully to avoid another expletive) want to demonize decent men and women (and that is what they are) who don’t really choose an alternative lifestyle, but simply follow what their own body tells them.

Gay people have been around on since the beginning of time without any impact on others. People of the LGBTQ community are in every religious group, including pastors and priests who are themselves gay, some openly, some not.

If I had to choose between a child who would grow up as part of a LGBTQ community or as a Republican like those we see today in Iowa, I’d pray, “Please God, spare me another Reynolds Republican.”

Some place in Iowa, a teenage boy or girl will understand they are not the sex others had assumed at birth. They didn’t become who they are because of any discussion in class or from a book in the library. They found it looking inward.

If the governor and her cronies continue to get their way, there will be isolation, fear, withdrawal, and even suicide for young people who only want to be themselves.

Norman Sherman of Coralville has worked extensively in politics, including as Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s press secretary.