Gay Activists Are Flat-Footed Now That the Shoe Is on the Other Foot

From celebrations focused on black history to women’s history and various other special interests, America in the last half-century has observed and celebrated certain themes and causes for extended periods of time – but perhaps never more controversially than “Pride Month” each June.

That designation was sparked by the infamous Stonewall Riots in 1970, the aftermath of a police raid on a homosexual bar in Manhattan. A quarter-century ago, President Bill Clinton officially designated June as “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.”

Events are now year-round, a fact that sparks tension when socially conservative Christians feel compelled by employers or others to celebrate what the Bible has long instructed is sin.

Cunningham Goes to Court

One such believer faced with just that conflict was Cosby “Corey” Cunningham, whose employer, Eaton Corp, went all-in for “Pride Month.” They raised the rainbow flag and encouraged employees to wear T-shirts supporting the celebration. In fact, the company even offered some shirts for purchase.

In an effort to politely counter the campaign, Corey began wearing to the office his own T-shirts featuring Bible verses. The shirts included such Scripture as: “Pride goes before destruction, an arrogant spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18.” Then there was, “Taking back the rainbow. Genesis 9:13.” (That verse reads: “I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”) Another T-shirt read, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6.”

Cunningham’s boss asked him to stop wearing the T-shirts and declined his requests for a religious accommodation. He was even sent home twice and told the shirts were inflammatory. Corey was eventually fired.

Late last month, Cunningham reached an out-of-court settlement with his former employer. Neither side disclosed details.

The Natural Family Gets a Month

In Ohio, homosexual activists are protesting a bill that designates the weeks between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as “Natural Family Month.”

Ohio state Representative Josh Williams defended the bill by citing the overwhelming benefits of traditional families.

“H.B. 262 is about more than policy — it’s about promoting the economic and social stability that comes from raising children in healthy, two-parent households,” he said. “We must use every tool at our disposal to support the families that are building the next generation of Americans.”

Activists are objecting to use of the term “natural family,” given that it represents a family unit consisting of a married couple and their children.

Pushback from these activists exposes a glaring double standard now that the proverbial “shoe” is on the other foot. For decades, gay rights and same-sex marriage activists campaigned for tolerance and acceptance. They regularly claimed they didn’t want to silence the traditionalists but simply to earn a seat at the table.

Tell that to Liam Morrison, who as a seventh-grade student at Nichols Middle School in Middleborough, Massachusetts, wore a T-shirt supporting the commonsense truth that there are only two sexes – male and female. School officials demanded he remove the shirt or be banished from class. He refused, sued – and lost.

Last week, the United States Supreme Court declined to take up the case. Justices Samuel Alito and ClarenceThomas dissented; Alito stated, “This case presents an issue of great importance to our Nation’s youth. The First Circuit’s decision [against Liam] calls out for our review.”

He is absolutely right.

A homosexual activist once asked me, “When are Christians going to leave behind their medieval beliefs about sexuality and come into the twenty-first century?” He was referring to the Bible, of course – which confronts all of us with some pretty powerful ideas that are not always easily digestible.

I responded, “Christians are followers of the Bible, not editors. We’re compelled to follow God’s Word because it’s His truth, and we believe Jesus when He says the truth sets us free” (John 8:32).

The escalating intolerance toward Christians this “Pride Month” demands a thoughtful and fair reconciling between reasonable and rational people. I pray those who disagree with our biblical convictions will respect our position in the same way they expect us to treat and respect them.

Jim Daly is president of Focus on the Family.