“Nearly 60% of white evangelicals between 18 and 34 believe homosexuality should be accepted, according to a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center. By contrast, about the same share of white evangelicals over 65 said homosexuality should be discouraged.”

USA TODAY

It’s axiomatic that white evangelicals are vehemently opposed to LGBTQ rights, for generations Republican politicians have used homosexuality as a wedge issue.

White evangelicals favorite refrain is that they hate the sin but love the sinner. Bullshit! It’s difficult for gays and lesbians to feel the love when they are cudgeled over the head with Old Testament verses, and televangelists rail against same-sex marriage.

It would be different if white evangelicals had the mindset that homosexuality went against their interpretation of the Bible, and they respected the fact that we live in a pluralistic society, and simply live and let live.

But the times they are a-changin’ as a notable poet once said, younger evangelicals live in a more religiously and culturally pluralistic environment, and they are much less prone to label their gay and transgender friends as perverts or hell-bound sinners.

It should be noted that most of the prominent white evangelical leaders are Generation X’ers and Baby Boomers, and many of the younger people in their congregations are less likely to share their homophobic views.

Evangelicals who were against were pro slavery and mixing of the races died out, and in a generation evangelicals who are fervently opposed to gay, lesbians and transgenders will die out.

But already the vast majority of Americans, including many white evangelicals, are accepting of same-sex marriage, and it’s incumbent upon us to vote against homophobia in 2020