Actress Gwyneth Paltrow Wades in the Homosexuality Debate and How Interpretations of the Bible Can Affect People's Positions

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow wades in the homosexuality debate framed in Biblical interpretation, which has been a sore point for the religious right and the some members of the black community.

Some things are better left alone, like actress and wannabe singer Gwyneth Paltrow wading in the homosexuality debate framed in terms of the Bible. At least that's what some people think. Since she regularly graces the silver screen, her ticket sales can be hampered one way or another by "kicking the hornet's nest" on this issue. We know homosexuality has been around since Biblical days and one's interpretation of whether it's a sin or not is based on one's religious beliefs. Personally, I could care less what people do in the confines of their own home and I am not here to judge anyone's choices, so was Ms. Paltrow right to wade in this debate? To be fair, homosexuality isn't an issue the black community, of which I am a member, readily embraces. The views of many blacks where homosexuality is concerned is also framed in their interpretation of the Bible. Here's an excerpt from her Goop website:

A few months ago, in the heat of the tragic teen suicides that came about from intolerance of homosexuality, I saw a man on television who was apologizing for wishing death on gays from his facebook page. This member of an Arkansas school board was contrite for the violence in his words, but maintained that his values pertaining to homosexuality would remain, as he felt homosexuality was condemned in the bible. This concept, while foreign to me, is interesting, as it used to justify so much judgement and separation in our society. When my daughter came home from school one day saying that a classmate had two mommies, my response was, "Two mommies? How lucky is she?!" What does it actually say in the bible that will cause some people to be upset by my line of thinking?

I must admit, there was a time when I also held the viewpoint that marriage should be between a man and a woman, particularly if you interpreted the Bible where the main goal of marriage was concerned -- procreation. Two mommies or two daddies can't bring children into the world. But I have changed my position on the basis of why do I want to interfere with two people who love each other, no matter their sexual orientation. That's not my dogfight and who am I to tell another person who to love? So, my views on the subject changed. Yeah, I still cringe a little when I see two women locked in a French kiss on the streets of my city, which is Southern and Christian to the core, but I shrug it off, since I also cringe when I see two heterosexuals all but disrobe on a public street as they carry on.

Here's my question, if the religious right claims the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was in part because of homosexuality, then why did it still exist when the dust settled? Or did Jesus specifically address homosexuality during his ministry or maybe that wasn't such a big deal to him, since his focus was on spiritual living? While I have never considered Ms. Paltrow to be the voice of reason in any debate, except in a movie role, she does ask a series of valid questions. To the religious right and overly self-righteous, explain why having two mommies or two daddies is such a sin? I'm not sure if Ms. Paltrow's views on homosexuality will lead to a backlash from the religious right, but I will say, it is a discussion worth having.