Homosexuality. Equality or privelege

I have been following two parallel arguments, both featuring how society should handle  a subject just a few years ago was felonious behavior. Now most of us have become used to   the assimilation of what used to be referred to in law as sexual deviation. The issue? Homosexuality. Should they be treated with respect? Absolutely! Now comes the complications.

We here in North Idaho, a bright blue state, have, in Coeur d'Alene, a quaint medium sized town that happens to be a destination resort. The Coeur d'Alene Resort, a five star destination hotel and marina dominates the downtown waterfront. We have the usual coffee houses, specialty cafe's, wine cellars and the like. It wasn't always like this. Back in the 1970's our tourist trade was on it's lips. Mining, which is what built the town along with logging had slumped into recession. The mines were shutting down, the mills were disappearing at an allarming rate, and Kootenai county was looking for  a new identity.

Duane Hagadone, Jerry Jaeger and others in about ten years turned the town into a tourist destination resort. Some feel, with justification that the Resort tended to bully the rest of Coeur d'Alene. That happens when you obtain power. Most like power and find no ready reason to surrender it.

Over all, Hagadone, with some notable exceptions, has rescued this city from the doldrums. It, of course would have eventually happened anyway, but since he owned most of the downtown waterfront, hey, he led.

OK, I didn't intend to relate the entire history of coeur d'Alene, just what has at led to the present. The serious recession a few years ago brought huge numbers of immigrants from the cities of California. We here, were not quite ready for this culture shock. Over the years. One of the imports was the acceptance of what we considered deviant sexual behavior. Sodomy.  We even have specialty bars that cater to the lesbian/Gay community. No problem there. Everyone should have the right to associate with those of their choice.

Now, our town has erupted with extremism from both sides. The National council of Boy Scouts has allowed gay boys entrance. Now six year olds most probably are not aware of their sexuallity, but as you climb into puberty, these things appear.I was a cub scout, a boy scout and an explorer scout as a young man and enjoyed the associations with others my age,that we had on camp outs and other activities.

Now come the do gooders in our current society. Those that weren't around during my formative years. I have no problem with giving respect within the community equally to hetero or homosexual people. It is when it hinges on privilege, rather than equality that I say, Whoa!.

Currently, the city Council of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho has passed an ordinance that has not just red necks in an uproar, but the Christian community as well. Mike Kennedy, (no relation) and a man I normally respect, has kicked over the traces and authored this ordinance that tromps all over the religious community which holds that the bible condemns sodomy.

At the same time, the sponsorship of boy scout groups are being dropped by many organizations, with most being churches. I am 75 tears old and have seen much. Good and bad. I have never seen basic principles of the religious community being tromped on with impunity. Congregations are being ripped apart all in the interests of social engineering. Undoing in that last thiry years what took 2013 years to establish, and more if you include the Jewish old testament. Christ has been outlawed.

The text of the penalties clause is attached.

 http://media.spokesman.com/documents/2013/06/2720_001.pdf