Christian pretends to be gay for a year, see what happens

Timothy Kurek is a young man from Nashville. He grew up in a very religious Christian fundamentalist type home. A home where gays were despised or demonized. He decided to spend a year, being gay. He didn't become gay as did a young man in England who had a stroke did. He became the first person who did what fundamentalists always say about gays. He chose to be gay. Well, at least he chose to live a year as someone who is gay.

He came out to his mother, who didn't take it well of course. He pretended to date a gay friend. He went to gay bars. He stated that he danced with man at a gay disco who was very frisky and he wanted to beat the guy up. But over time he changed. He joined a gay softball team. He became a different man. No, still not gay, but more understanding of gays.

When someone called him and his fellow softball teamates "f-ggots", he was so angry that he had to be held back. He broke into tears. He had experienced what gay men have to live through. Gay men aren't out bashing heterosexuals. But those who are hostile to gays often think it is perfectly fine to do just that to those different from them. Tim Kurek has written a book about his experiences, nicely named, The Cross in the Closet.

That brings me to a somewhat related story. The Southern Poverty Law Center is an organization that fights for tolerance. They have had an annual day since 2002, where students "mix it up" with those of different groups. So jocks mix with goths. The socially awkward mix with cheerleaders. Well the American Family Association is a Christian fundamentalist organization that hates and despises gays. They want other people to hate and despise gays. So, this anti-gay organization is stating that a day to co-mingle with your fellow classmates is about promoting homosexuality.

Groups like the AFA really believe that gays in the U.S. have recruitment drives, like college fraternities. So, they want parents to ensure that schools don't take part in "mix it up", because not hating gays is the first step to not being a member of an anti-gay group like the AFA, I guess.

How pathetic of those on the far religious rightwing to actually condemn an event that promotes tolerance and understanding. I guess they want people to just hate gays and homosexuality. This is Christian? I would hope not.