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Greetings. Today in Lexington Fred Phelps and his followers demonstrated their hatred for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. But there is a hatred that is far greater and far more dangerous to gay people. It is the hatred that exists in the hearts of some of our gay brothers and sisters. It is not hatred of others, but hatred of self. And it is every bit as much a destructive cancer as the hatred that Phelps holds on to.

Young people who grow up to realize they are not heterosexual do not need brightly colored signs to tell them they are sick and sinful. That message is proclaimed on a regular basis by many of our own religious institutions. We are called abominations, a threat to society, intrinsically evil, and objectively disordered. Moderate churches that do not condemn us outright from the pulpit still have anti-gay policies in place. Leadership roles, ordination, and marriage all have signs over them stating, "Heterosexuals only."

These teachings and polices perpetuate a false sense of superiority on the part of the heterosexual and a false sense of inferiority on the part of the homosexual. It communicates that we are "less than" and it is a message I fear that many gay youth are internalizing. For I am convinced that the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas is not the real problem - no not really. The hatred that they hold on to is merely a symptom of a much larger problem. If indeed we are serious about putting an end to hatred in Lexington, then we must work to negotiate an end to the anti-gay teachings and policies that envelop our religious institutions right here in Lexington, Kentucky.

Many who are otherwise people of good will often say, "It is my opinion that the homosexual lifestyle is wrong." Or perhaps they will say, "I am a Christian and the Bible teaches me that homosexuality is sinful."

There is much that needs addressing in such a statement, such as the implied sentiment that sexual orientation is chosen or that one's sexual orientation has anything to do with one's lifestyle. But what needs to be confronted above all else is the false notion that there are two equally valid sides to the gay issue and that anti-gay prejudice can be hid behind personal religious views. There are not two sides - there is only justice and injustice. Oppression is never just an opinion - oppression is oppression! And the God of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob is forever on the side of the oppressed, working throughout history so that all people might be free.

The only solution is for our heterosexual brothers and sisters to accept gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people as equal human beings.

Those of us who are gay have been taught for too long that we are "less than." That is coming to an end. It is coming to an end not because the heterosexual community is voluntarily giving us our freedom but because the gay community is rising up with a new sense of self worth and demanding justice. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "…history reveals to us that once oppressed people rise up against that oppression, there is no stopping point short of full freedom."

And so lets keep on walking. Lets keep on talking. And ain't nobody gonn'a turn us around! Thank you.