Denny Smith, a former St. Cloud Tech teacher and now professional speaker, came into Todd Manninen‘s social problems class Monday March 28 to discuss LGBT and Civil Rights.
“Marriage is not about sex,” said Smith, ” it’s about love and commitment.”
Smith argued that marriage should be more about two people who love each other, and less about ensuring opposite-sex partnerships.
“People always say that God intended for marriage to exist only for heterosexual couples,” said Smith. “Yet [these people] also claim that God loves all his children equally, no matter what their sexuality may be.”
He talked about his family experiences who have struggled with gay rights; much of which he wrote in his book, “God Did Too Make Adam and Steve.”
In his book he discussed the four phases of how he wrote his book: Revelation, bashing, new spiritual path and “Can I talk to you?”; the latter of which helped him remain content when his eldest son came out with his own homosexuality.
“When my son [Kyle] told me and my wife that he was gay we all cried,” said Smith. “Not because he was gay but because of what he would have to go through because of his sexuality.”
His son had been with his partner Joe for 16 years, but due to the Defense of Marriage Act, they couldn’t legally be a married couple. As a result, Joe’s visa expired and he was deported back to the Philippines.
“I consider Joe to be my son-in-law,” said Smith. “We still manage to visit him a couple times a year for a few weeks at a time.”
“My dream is to one day have Christmas with the entire family again.”
The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted in 1996. This law forces the federal government to only recognize marriages between a man and a woman. While six states may have legalized same-sex marriage, the federal government will not recognize it, meaning the couple receives only state benefits and not federal benefits.
Smith also asked the class if they think homosexuals are born homosexual or if they chose to be homosexual.
“I’ve never met a gay person who said that they chose to be [homosexual],” said Smith. “And they would say, ‘Why would we choose to be something that causes us to be ridiculed and discriminated against?'”
Homosexuals are three times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexuals.
“Gays shouldn’t have to be ashamed of who they are,” said Smith, “but the homophobia in the world may cause them to be.”
Like the fight for Civil Rights in the 1950s and 1960s, the fight for equality among homosexuals will continue until they receive the same rights as everyone else.
President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. This law entitled all African Americans the same rights as all Caucasian Americans. Almost 50 years later and gays are still fighting for the same rights.
“Homosexuality is not new, and it’s not going away,” said Smith. “They will fight until they win.”
