So much division

Where is the light

There’s so much division in our world right now that seems to grow as each day passes. The space between the division, fills with hatred of the most vile kind. Where threats to life are commonplace and vile words are slung at innocent people who are trying to live good and loving lives.

I’ve had numerous conversations around trans issues just now, where people are trying to bury the discussion by using a simple biological binary issue, which it is anything but simple and anything but binary!

I’m reading about politicians who are using their religious beliefs to pass off why they wouldn’t vote for same sex marriage, abortion, sex out with marriage etc. Yet when laws have been changed, they go back in time and say if they had been a politician back then, they wouldn’t have voted for it! So here was my response to the candidate for First Minster of Scotland who uses her religion to back up her archaic beliefs:

“@kate_forbes_msp resistance to your words yesterday were inevitable. What you said hurts. Words hurt. But our words can also repair any damage that you have done.

I believe that your conservative religious views don’t make you the best candidate for the SNP leadership. Your politics cannot and should not be led by your minority view on same sex marriage.

As a Christian gay man, I am a little frustrated with what you say is mainstream teaching. I’m afraid mainstream teaching has changed, as have attitudes towards the LGBTQIA population. So for you to say what you said, is something that takes us back by decades.

So many LGBTQIA people who have Christian values do more to support those who are marginalised in our society than those “mainstream” Christian teachings you talk about. Jesus sat with those who were marginalised in society and showed them their worth and their space in Gods world. That is a teaching you can not change.

Religion aside, I believe that it is those who say these things who are now in the minority, and I want to invite you in to sit with those who are marginalised. So whilst you may believe same sex marriage is wrong, it unfortunately weakens your ability to be a leader for the majority and for those who are willing to learn and reflect on the prejudices that they may have. I am far from being innocent of prejudices, but I will stand up and be counted when it comes to folks like yourself and those who are shouting the loudest, to put us back in to our boxes where we are not welcome to equal rights.

If the SNP backs you as their leader, then I will stop voting SNP and seek a party that accepts us equally.

As an artist/musician/creative, I will use my words more carefully to ensure my prejudices can no longer harm those around me and will fight this capitalist conservatism that leaves our countries in the mess that they are in.

Lead with pride. Lead with love. Lead with acceptance. That’s what we need most in these broken systems that seem to be destroying everything everyone really wants, which is to be accepted for who they are, as they are.”

So, I don’t know how we go forward, other than have hope. And within that hope, find the light and shine it brighter than the voice that are shouting the loudest.

Let’s find real humanity in that hope and light. Maybe, just maybe, we can find a world which settles down and accepts us all.