At BYU many people have different opinions then most people in Lexington MA especially regarding the same sex marriage issue. I think it’s okay for people to have different opinions, however I do not think it is okay to shun and stereotype against homosexuals. Derogatory comments such as “that’s so gay” are offensive and create an anti-gay atmosphere. I’m not saying that I’m pro gay marriage; I just think that an increase in friendliness would be an improvement to our campus.
Ethos: I have lived in a community where there is a gay straight alliance and several openly gay people. I have had several friends who were gay and I can say for a fact that they are not inherently bad and they should not be treated that way. In my time living in this community I have been able to accept people even though I believe they have made decisions that are wrong. I have also been a member of the church all my life and have studied their position on this issue so I feel like I have a good grasp on both sides of the spectrum. A prophet of the church has the most credibility on an issue, Gordon B. Hinckley said this about the issue; "People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God”.
Pathos: I think the idea of treating some one disrespectfully just because they have made certain decisions (even if those decisions are wrong) is against so many things that the church stands for. One thing that we should always remember is that religion should never be used to justify hatred.
Logos: Due to the horrible backlash against the church after the passage of proposition 8, it seems logical that if we are prejudice against homosexuals then tensions will only increase. Granted it doesn’t help that people have stained our name with awful accusations that the church is extremely anti-gay. However, if we work to prove these statements wrong then a family will be less likely to reject missionaries due to some awful preconceived notion about the church.
