Homosexual -vs- Gay Lifestyle?

I am being bombarded by folks asking what it means to "live a gay lifestyle?". Apparently I have set myself up as the Anne Launders of MoHos, the heavyweight-sumo-ski-bum of Mormon-SSA-dom, the Dr. Ruth for the...really gay people.

I kinda like being bombarded. But it is times like these that I wish I had listened in class - any class. There are many choices out there, and there are a whole lota possible working definitions. I think that I am being asked this question because I have, for my life, differentiated between "gay" and "gay lifestyle"

My personal homo-antidote is not going to change or shift it's focus because it differs from that of the general populace, be it known. Though I may understand choices made by other gays, I obviously do not agree with a whole lot of them as I may or may not agree with "straight" choices made by those darn straighties. Nor, by the way, is it my place to agree. And though I would not necessarily present these choices as alternatives on my blog or in my Quorum, I would fight for the right we have to choose them.

Living my Homo life will be different than yours. So?

What are "the life choices" for which we fight?

Regardless of my feelings, you lead your life and I lead mine. I would not choose to call your life style choices into personal judgement - though, collectively I do judge and than make decisions for my life as we all do.

How do I know what is right for me and mine?

I'll tell you how I know. Here goes.

Yeah,...I don't know. Sometimes I make my best guess and go with a gut feeling. Though I am a hardy proponent of Personal Revelation, I am hardly expert at it. I cant go running to you to see what answer you got. There is no cheating on the test. It is given to a single person for the benefit of that person. There is a line of authority.

And I am hopeful. The few times it has happened in my life have been quiet and subtle. I could easily have missed the message. Had I missed the message, would the Lord have sent me another one? I hope so. He may have sent a few to me that weren't read until he got a bit more bold, or I got more sensitive to things of the spirit. That I was lead to marry does not mean that you will be so lead, or that you should be so lead. If I believe in personal revelation for me, then I believe in it for you, and I must accept that the lord may tell you something different for your life.

Believing that the information or council He gives to me is universal would be arrogant.

I don't know the leaning of the church at large. I would be bowled over if LDS land came out to permit homo marriage. As a whole, the Churches place in the world is to protect families and children, and families and children do not appear to be at the for thought of gays an lesbians. - an observation. Gay marriage has a politically self serving reputation at this point in many large circles. I don't know if it is possible to change that perception or reality, or if the whole of the gay community even wants to change it. There are many loud, parade going folk that wish to use coming-out as an excuse for behavior that can be shown on TV news only with editing. These people over-run the family-going, marriage-wanting homos greatly in the public perception meter. Again, this is from my perception. If I was a professional image consultant, I would tell the parade-goers to put something on.

Begs the question, do we think all straight people are best represented by the bed hopping on prime time. No we don't. I hope not. But straight people ore not the ones trying to change things up. Gay people are. So put on pants - whether they zip at the front or at the side - and go to a meeting. "Out and Proud" does not have to mean "naked and hanging." "What have you done with the kids while you're parading?" is what family promoters and defenders want to know. I want to know.

As I write, I see the steam rising, and some of it is mine. "Who does he think he is..." I am not now, nor will I ever be in a situation to morally judge others. - excepting the every day decisions that come with every day life. (Do I let my kids hang with the dealers across the street, do I ask the man with bulging pockets and price tags still on his jeans to come back into the store for a look-see, do I wear my "PETA" button to a bar on deer-hunt weekend, has Sean Hanty calmed down enough today so that I won't throw something at another radio.)

There are some judgments we make daily because God has given us both a brain and people to take care of. I tend to stick with my experience or my feelings and private study on any matter. I do believe in personal revelation as you have read.

Two reminders at this point - revelation can originate from two differing sources so make sure you understand the differences, and two, personal revelation does not supersede that of the living prophet. I believe in clearing out the pipeline to allow Heavenly Father, through his spirit, to communicate with me. I think everyone can and should do what it takes to be in a position to hear the lord. What that may mean for you may not be the same for me.

I am a gay man. I have never been anything but. I had a lot of gay sex. I liked it. I even had a relationship or two...well one and a half... that I considered to be lasting and healthy and based on more than just sex. Because of that I realized for me that there was something else for me. Based on my experiences and on personal revelation, I made a decision. I wanted a family and a Household, and a relationship with someone who needed and loved me and counted on me. I found the way for me that most successfully facilitated this. I got confirmation from the Lord that what I was doing was right for me.

From the Lord through the Spirit to me. Or you. Or anyone who seeks to know the will of God. Line of authority.

And back to the question. What is the difference between a gay lifestyle and gay in general? For you, I don't know. You have to find out for yourself. For Me?

Homosexual is being sexually attracted to ones same sex. Living a gay lifestyle could be defined as acting on that impulse. In my life, I define homosexual to be one of the things I am, living a Gay lifestyle is what I would choose to do.