Gay Martyrs.

The first recorded gay martyr is Saint Sebastian.

But history has crucified gay people to this day.

From Oscar Wilde to Matthew Shepard we have witnessed the persecution, torture, and death of gay people in modern times.

The coming of the AIDS Pandemic heightened and hardened a prejudice which was already present in our conscious and unconscious minds.

But none of this justifies the hate speech put out by Christian Churches like Westboro Baptist Church and the Truth of Jesus Christ Church.

Hate speech inspires and justifies violent crimes against gay people.

It is unacceptable and it should be banned.

Talk of religious freedoms should not justify the vilification and persecution of gay people.

Not all Christians believe that gay people go to hell.

The Episcopalian Church in America and the Uniting Church in Australia allow gay marriages in their churches.

It is clear that God does not discriminate.

Those tortured and killed because they are gay will be remembered as gay martyrs in the future.

Photo Credit: Scooter Lowrimore Flickr via Compfight cc