International Gay Rights Advocate Denounces Bigotry Toward Gay Marriage - Omar Kuddus to the Opposition: "Get Your Own House in Order"

LEDGEWOOD, NJ, February 23, 2012 (Press-News.org) An internationally known gay rights advocate has written a formal and public statement denouncing bigotry toward gay marriage.

Omar Kuddus of the United Kingdom was spurred to write the statement when former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey claimed the proposal to change the status of marriage ''constitutes one of the greatest political power grabs in history''. Carey has also said that gay marriage would amount to "cultural vandalism".

Last fall, it was announced that the coalition Government would legislate for same-sex marriages by 2015.

Kuddus, who has worked via Everyone Group, Gay Asylum UK, and Gays Without Borders - and whose LGBT rights work has extended throughout the globe - decided he must make a statement to the United Kingdom - and one which is applicable also to the United States, and to all nations. Says Kuddus:

"After reading the countless articles and the discussions regarding the proposals of allowing Homosexuals to get married, instead of being in a civil partnership, and thus allowing the LGBT population to achieve equality, in "marriage" and not be discriminated against or be classified as second class nationals, in England, I felt compelled to comment on this subject.

I am disgusted by the hatred, bigotry and homophobia displayed by people in reference to the gay marriage issue, and especially after Stonewall published its draft proposals, for the government.

I find that the common argument and theme to be, how gay marriage is not a civil rights issue but a perversion, despite governmental opposition wanting not to deny British citizens a legal right in a country where its government and laws recognizes marriage, not as a religious commitment, but as a legal one.

All I hear is how the sanctity of marriage must be protected, especially by those from religious groups, organisations or individuals who feel that their religious beliefs are being violated or undermined.

We seem to be spoon-fed and inundated with Biblical quotes defining marriage, to be between a man and a woman. However, these are being picked at hock, and ignore the many passages that contradict that very sanctity cited, by them in their defence against allowing the change in law.

For there are many other Biblical passages about marriage, that are filled with references to concubines, polygamy, slave ownership, property acquisition from wives against their will, and all of which are considered acceptable and encouraged in the Bible, as per its scriptures.

And let us not forget arranged, loveless marriages that occur (in Muslim marriages as well as) in certain Christian, denominations.

Would those who oppose gay marriages also advocate (for that is what it means/implies), that concubines and polygamy and forced arranged loveless marriages, are in no ways perverse, whilst gay marriages are?

It was brought to my attention, that there is even a passage in Deuteronomy 22 that describes how a virgin must become a man's wife after she is raped, then must become the man's wife after her father is paid his 50 shekels. (There are similar practices in Muslim cultures as has recently been demonstrated in Afghanistan)

There are also several passages where men shall or can inherit women as prisoners of war and marry them, in the Bible, though they never seem to be referred to or quoted or mentioned. Do those who oppose gay marriages advocate that our soldiers fighting in the Middle East adopt such practices?

These examples of biblical marriage are seen to be acceptable and endorsed, but a gay marriage in modern free, secular, mixed multiracial Britain is not.

My understanding of the teachings of Christ and Christian values are that they are meant and supposed to be of love, compassion and forgiveness. However, all I see from those using Christ's name and religion to oppose gay marriages, are values or arguments of hate, bigotry and discrimination.

Thus the question is to those who oppose gay marriages, is if they are all so worried about protecting the sanctity of marriage, why don't they draft laws prohibiting divorce, annulment and adultery and thus put their own house in order, according to their own Christian and Religious values, before, casting stones, towards LGBT's fight for equality?

For I would argue with those who have issues with gay marriages, that these issues are more relevant and are and create a bigger threat to marriage, than allowing the LGBTQ population the same rights and privileges that heterosexuals enjoy.

It is time to wake up, embrace diversity and to end discrimination, homophobia, and embrace the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for what it is, a blueprint of standards for all mankind, not just for selected individuals.

For we all have one thing in common, despite our sexuality. We all belong to the human race - and are therefore entitled to all the privileges that are accorded to fellow human beings."

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