A rant on homophobia

Often times, Christians complain that the word “homophobia” gets thrown around too easily and too quickly. They argue that they shouldn’t be labeled a homophobe simply because they believe same sex sexual relationships sinful. And in some cases, they may be right.

But let’s be honest, here. A significant number of Christians — even those who complain that the word “homophobia” is used too quickly — don’t stop ab believing same sex sexual relationships are sinful. And some of the things that they go on to say and do definitely qualify as homophobia.

Take for example what happened to my blogging buddy, Pomo last month. (Sadly, I didn’t find out about this until today.) Pomo was a teacher at a Christian school. Last month, he was called into a lengthy meeting in which he was told he was being let go (though they’d greatly appreciate it if he’d resign so they don’t have to look too bad by firing him outright). The reason for this meeting? The principal of the school had recently been informed that Pomo is gay.

Interesting, said principal learned this information from someone he had never met before, who knew Pomo from two years ago when Pomo was involved in an ex-gay ministry. (Pomo only recently decided to embrace his sexuality.) Pomo didn’t tell the principal. None of Pomo’s coworker’s told the principal. None of Pomo’s students told the principal. (To the best of my knowledge, no student even knew Pomo was gay, and I’m not sure any co-worker did either.) Some trouble-maker from another city with an axe to grind with Pomo (said trouble-maker was upset that Pomo decided to quit trying to de-gay himself or live a life of celibacy) told the principal.

Now bear in mind the following things:

1. Pomo had been an excellent teacher and did his job well.

2. Pomo also served as a football coach and did a great job there as well.

3. Both Pomo’s students and his football players adored Pomo. He had built powerful relationships with them.

4. Pomo is a devout Christian (and before anyone tells me you can’t be gay and a Christian, they better be prepared to show me the canonical creed that mentions sexual orientation that any orthodox denomination of Christianity endorses and recites regularly), and modeled Christian values for his students regularly.

In my mind, a decent principal would’ve looked at Pomo’s teaching record and reputation at the school and told said trouble-maker to take a hike. But this principal had other thoughts. So he started looking into the matter. And that investigation soon led to Pomo being out of a job. Allow me to list the resulting consequences:

1. The school is out a great teacher.

2. The students are out a great teacher they came to respect and admire.

3. The football players are out a great coach they came to respect and admire. (One football even quit football when he first learned Pomo wouldn’t be returning, though another coach convinced him to stay with it.)

4. Pomo’s fellow teachers have lost a known and reliable ally in their efforts to educate the students at the school.

5. Pomo is out of a job and now has to find new work.

All of this is because some busy-body told the principle that Pomo is gay. All of this is because the principle decided that the possibility that Pomo might be gay was too “important” to ignore the rumors of a trouble-maker out to hurt someone else. All of this is because the entire school administration involved in the decision-making process decided that the fact that Pomo is gay is more important than all the good he has done as a teacher and coach and all the people this decision has hurt.

Dear readers, when someone decides that the fact that Pomo is gay is more important than everything else I have mentioned, that is homophobia. In fact, I’d go one step further and say that it’s idolatry.

I think what makes this whole thing even more scandalous is the fact that after telling Pomo he would not be allowed to teach, the administration asked him to resign so they could save the public embarassment of publicly admitting why they’re forcing him out. That additionally puts their cowardice over their supposed principles. If they were doing this on principle, they should have the courage to publicly admit that. But they don’t.

But then, homophobes aren’t known for their courage.