Well, it seems finally,
there is discussion about “taking back the Rainbow.” Unfortunately, few with a
voice are yelling for the right reason.
Miss the Point
One poor guy ventured
to say Christians need to take back the Rainbow because God created it. The LGBTQ community
jumped all over him because they don’t believe “God” owns the Rainbow. They almost have it right—the Rainbow doesn’t “belong”
to anyone.
But here at Rainbow
Genesis, we urge you to consider the underlying
problem behind the Rainbow as a cultural symbol for any faction—especially such
a large and culturally recognizable (and controversial) group as LGBTQ—once it
was claimed by them, the rest of the world consciously or unconsciously, has
identified ANYONE who uses the Rainbow as LGBTQ.
Wow—that isn’t
exactly fair to heterosexuals who simply love Rainbows, is it? But it’s a fact of life and has been since
the 1970s. That doesn’t make it right.
Underlying Problem You Cannot Deny
If you see a rainbow on a website, product brand, or even a
kid’s school notebook, you will immediately brand the owner as LGBTQ—that isn’t
any fairer than to tell the LGBTQ community to stop using it.
We all need to
recognize this issue and educate adults and children alike not to judge when you see a Rainbow or ANY “symbol”—until you know why it was used. It could be a mere
matter of liking the rounded design or pretty colors, or … please, inquire or
delve into the user’s meaning behind a symbol before branding them.
Won’t be easy, will it? The Rainbow has been bantered about
for decades, knocking knees with the words “gay” and “pride” until all are
barely recognizable in their original forms.
We displayed our Rainbows in the early to mid-20th
Century (and for centuries before) in a gay manner (happily and carefree); and
pride was most often associated with country, school, or achievements, without divisive
stigma.
The Problem Comes Not with “Christians vs. LGBTQ”
Anyone who is NOT LGBTQ and uses a Rainbow symbol, or declares their “pride”
(we’ve given up on “gay”) is automatically BRANDED as LGBTQ by those who do not
know them … THAT’S the problem.
I disagree with Mr. Ham (@aigkenham) who wants to take back
the Rainbow for Christians, and the
LGBTQ folks who responded with ridicule; or as one said, “Judy Garland gave the
rainbow to the gays & you can't have it back.” No, she didn’t. See Wiki, “In
the 1960s, a reporter asked how she felt about having a large gay following.
She replied, ‘I couldn't care less. I sing to people.’” And, “Over the Rainbow” also
belongs to ALL of us.
Rainbows belong to EVERYONE and NO ONE. A miracle of nature,
they should be enjoyed by all, with the innocence of a child, without prejudice.
I for one, would like to fly a Rainbow flag, or collect
Rainbows, or draw Rainbows, or WEAR Rainbows, without someone thinking I’m gay.
It’s just as offensive to me, as telling a LGBTQ person to go straight. Sigh …
Somewhere over the Rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Cheers to the power of
Rainbows,
Celebrating the Rainbow for what it was meant to be ...
and other liberating causes.
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