CHICAGO – How one prefers sexual intimacy is moving to a place of priority consideration in Illinois, according to current news headlines:
- "Does Lori Lightfoot have a path to victory in crowded race for mayor?" A black lesbian is expected to announce her bid for Chicago mayor on Thursday – promoting her sexual preference as one reason she'll get substantial support in a multi-candidate race.
- "Gay rights advocates want Illinois schools to be required to teach LGBT history" The Illinois General Assembly is considering making it mandatory for public school students to study figures notable in US and Illinois history, based on their sexual preferences.
- "Aurora approves city's first gay pride parade for June" And the state's second largest city – Aurora – will be celebrating non-heterosexual lifestyles in its first public parade on Father's Day, 2018.
The Illinois Human Rights Act protects persons from discrimination based on an array of reasons – including, most recently, sexual orientation. It says:
"Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity, whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at birth. "Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.
Historically, moving from an "anti-discrimination" class to a "protected" class has normally included one particular demand: immutable characteristics. An immutable characteristic is the easiest way to define a protected class, which is why immutable characteristics are the most protected under the law.
Persons are generally not considered "protected" based on their education level, economic class, social membership, alien status, or criminal history, and the laws do not protect them from discrimination based on those characteristics because they can be changed.
That raises the question that most policy makers do not want to address: Is sexual orientation unchangeable?
No it is not, says a young man that escaped the 2016 mass shooting at Orlando's gay Pulse Club.
Luis Ruiz, 34, shared his experience before a march last Saturday in Washington D.C. He is giving credit to Jesus Christ for setting him free from his past, including homosexuality.
Liberty Counsel shared Ruiz' words:
"I believe the time is now to bridge the gap that was broken between the church and the LBGTQ community – and without compromising the truth of Scripture, they can come as they are and allow the Holy Spirit to take care of that."
While every Christian struggles with sin of some kind, it has not been easy for Ruiz.
"I feel there still is temptation, and some days are tougher than others, but I feel free from it. I am not doing it on my own – I'm letting Christ guide me in that."
Did gay rights activists gain protected status when sexual behavior can change? Should that be addressed by the religious community before they lose the freedom to teach and preach about the negatives of living apart from Scripture?
Should public school children be forced to learn about historical figures based on their sexual choices? Should candidates be chosen because of their sexual preferences? And should sexual preferences protect persons and cause the public to celebrate their choices in the form of taxpayer-subsidized parades?
While the average citizen has much more to do than contemplate these issues, they can no longer be ignored, and though uncomfortable, religious leaders should focus their congregation's stand on the issue.
After all, sexual orientation is now in headline news.
