[garbanzo]

Some people believe that sodomy is an unacceptible and harmful practice. Why should we respect those that practice and proselytize such behavior?

Because some people think that basing your entire belief system on ancient Near Eastern mythologies is silly why should we respect those people who annoy others with their silly beliefs? But seriously, there is a difference between tolerance or respect and acceptance. If you think same-sex sex is wrong, then fine, you can still respect people as people without accepting everything they do.

[Wormwood]

Sorry, some people don't deserve my respect. Junkies, cheats, criminals, and communists spring to mind.

I don't find it much of a stretch to add perverts to the list.

And ps. You don;t have to be a Christian to believe that the 'mainstreaming' of sexual deviance is detrrimental to the overall culture. I should know, because I haven't been a Christian in a long time.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Change what you have to respect and see if your theory works across the board. What about prostitutes? Should we be instructing kids to respect them, at least in states where it is legal? What about adulterers? Fornicators? People who have sex with their pets? Hey, there is a lot of "sexual diversity" out there in the world. Why should the kids be forced to "respect" one and not the others?

How about cheaters, class skippers, drug users, smokers...etc...lets take all bad behaviors and teach the kids to respect those who do them. Be consistent here.

I have a right to disrespect anyone I want. Or doesn't my freedom count anymore.

You can tell the kids in general terms not to do violence to ANYONE. But you shouldn't get specific. What if they are raped? Do they retain the right to do violence to protect themselves? Should they just respect that persons "sexual identity?

I think it is more important to teach kids to stand up for what is right -- values -- even when everyone else is doing what is wrong. Whatever happened to teaching kids to stand alone if they need to, but do what is right no matter what? We are teaching kids to be victims. We are teaching them to have no judgment at all on their OWN behavior, since it is WRONG to judge others, why yourself?

[jwalsh07]

If you think same-sex sex is wrong, then fine, you can still respect people as people without accepting everything they do.

Not really. I recognize that people have inherent human rights but there is no requirement, religious or otherwise, to respect that which one fines abhorent.

[NYer]

If you think same-sex sex is wrong, then fine, you can still respect people as people without accepting everything they do.

Vatican Document On Homosexual Unions

“Homosexual unions are totally lacking in the biological and anthropological elements of marriage and family which would be the basis, on the level of reason, for granting them legal recognition. Such unions are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race. The possibility of using recently discovered methods of artificial reproduction, beyond involving a grave lack of respect for human dignity,(15) does nothing to alter this inadequacy.”
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

[eyespysomething]

If you think same-sex sex is wrong, then fine, you can still respect tolerate people as people without accepting everything they do.

[stands2reason]

You don't have to be a Christian to see what is abnormal and unhealthy or not.