Equal Signs and Dividing Lines

I changed my Facebook profile picture to the red marriage equality sign yesterday.  I wanted to show my support for gay marriage.  I am bisexual and could have easily ended up in a committed same-sex relationship, but I fell in love with and married a man.  I am friends with people who hold belief systems on a continuum from the extreme left to the extreme right.  I was fortunate that no one confronted me about my beliefs.  I saw others attacked for displaying the equal sign.  I don't understand this.  Why must people be so divisive, derisive, and shaming?  For instance, I support gay marriage.  Many of my friends don't.  I respect that.  I have a right to state my beliefs and so do they.  We don't have to fight about it.  If you are my friend, I like YOU.  I don't care what you believe.  That's your choice.  What I believe is my choice.

And that's okay.  Really. 

I also saw people post signs against marriage equality.  I am certainly not offended by those who posted the pictures because everyone has the right to state their beliefs.  Just because I disagree, doesn't make the opinions of others unimportant or "wrong" to me.  This represents one main message I am trying to get across; they are all opinions, not matters of fact.  Therefore, they are neither right or wrong, simply different.

Just because I believe differently than you makes me no less a Christian.  I believe in marriage equality and God has blessed me greatly in my life.  I fully believe God made me who I am for a purpose.

I thought it was rather interesting that on Facebook, the "opposite" of the equal sign picture was either a "division" sign or a "not equal" sign.  That is a powerful message coming mostly from the Christian right.  Essentially, those who posted the "division" sign are stating or suggesting (likely without thinking) that they wish to be divisive.  Those posting the "not equal" sign are stating or suggesting (also likely without giving it much thought) that LGBT individuals are not equal to heterosexuals.  In the Bible, it is recorded that Jesus treated everyone the same.  And I don't think God gave anyone the right to judge.  He can do that when we meet Him.

My problem with the "division" and "not equal" signs have nothing to do with the non-support of gay rights.  It has to do with equality and human rights.  Who is anyone to say that anyone else is a lesser person.  I have learned over and over again in my career as a professional who works with individuals who are intellectually and developmentally disabled and mentally ill that the people I serve are no less than I am.  They are merely different. Each one has a God-given purpose on this earth.  

As do we all.