Ellen Grandstanding

Way too many instances of Eleen's video deploring the recent spate of gay teen murders and suicides have been showing up on my friends FB pages.

It is horrible when a teen loses his or her life for any reason. And much worse when the teen is murdered by peers who hate gays enough to kill. And tragic when someone thinks that being outed is something to thrown himself off a bridge for - though I doubt it was more than just the final straw - suicides are rarely over a single issue. Still tragic, though.

But Ellen's video does nothing to help. As an openly gay individual, she will be ignored and maybe even reviled by the people who most need to be reached - the haters.

It is a sad fact that the Bible is crystal clear that homosexuality is a capital crime, and this is taught in all three of the most-practiced religions in America. If you think Jesus was in favor of it, read the book of Matthew, and think again. Jesus says that marriage is between a man and a woman, and it's eternal. ( Text behind the cut )

I don't have an answer to the problem of gay bashing. Parents need to play a huge role, I expect teachers already do. But when the basic ideas come from church and synagogue and mosque, it may take a messiah. I don't think Ellen qualifies.

As for teen suicide, self esteem has to come from the inside. The best we can do is be supportive and teach peers to be supportive. Yeah, right, try to get kids to be nice to each other. That will probably take a messiah too.