I never said there weren't homosexual students that were bullied. Bullies need to be placed in jail; my beliefs are Draconian when it comes to punishing them. It is not Christian to bully people.
That's fine, and I agree with you.
Unfortunately, you are not in charge of the numerous Christian groups that are actively opposing anti-bullying work in schools. Many of your faith
do feel that bullying is Christian. More accurately, they feel anti-bullying legislation promotes homosexuality, or at the very east, doesn't take a stand (their stand) against homosexuality. You have to come to terms with the fact that a large segment of society, conservative religious groups, are actively attacking a turning social tide of tolerance of gays. It makes people of faith look ridiculous, and gives guys like Dan Savage somewhat-legit ammo against them.
Dan Savage has been a gay activist for years, and he's most likely encountered numerous anti-gay Christian groups in his years. As one who has been interested in such topics, I can absolutely see where he's coming from. At every level of society, there are shrill religious people who oppose something on their own personal moral grounds and demand that others conform to it. They are idiots, and frankly are given far too much leeway by hiding behind the otherwise respected idea of faith.
One can give their opinion that homosexuality is a sin, yet do so in a way as to not bully others. I also don't think these instances of homosexuals being bullied by some "Christian" bullies should be used on an attack against Christianity; to me it seems like some are using these tragedies to further their own agenda.
First off, it's funny how you put Christians in quotations. I'm assuming that means you don't feel people who act like that can call themselves Christians?
Second, of course it's possible that events are spun to further a cause. You have seen American media before, yes? It doesn't make what Mr. Savage said any less inherently true; a segment of the American religious population is actively working to keep homosexuals from being fully accepted in society. When a religious group takes issue with anti-bullying rules because they think that not explicitly condemning homosexuality is equal to actively
promoting it, the sad fact is you are now dealing with backwards morons and frankly, you have to basically run them over to get anywhere.
Whether you are gay or not, you shouldn't be bullied, you do have the right to civilly leave, and I fell you shouldn't be insulted for doing so. Also, whether a gay activist or a Christian activist, I don't think you should act like an ass when trying to spread your message.
Maybe Savage could have been more respectable in tone, especially in front of high school students. I suppose my issue with this is how he showed younger people that in respectable debate, name calling and mocking is a tactic to use. If he had said this to me in private, I would have high-fived him.