Liberty Counsel has released a message
in which it says gay men and lesbians deserve respect but their
actions are damaging society.
Liberty Counsel is the Christian
conservative law group representing the National Association for
Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) in its legal attempt
to block the start of California's ban on “ex-gay” therapy to
minors.
(Related: Federal
judge refuses request to postpone start of California's “ex-gay”
ban.)
The message, posted on the group's
Facebook page, comes on the heels of a CNN appearance by its
chairman, Mathew Staver, in which he claimed that neither Liberty
Counsel nor NARTH stigmatize gay people.
“We believe that those involved in
homosexuality are created in the image of God and, because of that,
deserve respect,” the group said. “However, their actions are
damaging both to themselves and to society as a whole. Just like
smoking or drug addiction, this behavior should not be encouraged or
promoted by our government.”
“We believe that those involved in
homosexuality are complete personalities who should not be confined
to a label because of a sexual act. To do so is as superficial as
labeling an adulteress wife or husband because of a sexual act.
These actions are seeking the same love, validation, and acceptance
that all of us seek, yet an answer will not be found in repeated
unhealthy interactions or societal and governmental improvement of
these actions. We believe this deep hunger can and will only be
satisfied in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”