Last updated 2/21/2025
1. Among conservative Christians, it's believed that hetero marriage is supposed to be a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the church. The man plays the role of Christ and the woman plays the role of the church. For that reason, same-gender couples are seen as not properly representing this.
Uncritical examples
How We Dishonor God in Our Sex Lives by Glenn T. Stanton | Pure Intimacy (dated 2004)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive (latter two archives still work but have porn ads, which is hilarious)
LGBT Basics by Douglas Wilson | Desiring God (June 2016)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today and Ghost Archive
[video] Q&A on Womahood [sic] & Gender Roles | Julie Roys (April 2018)
Archived on Wayback Machine and Ghost Archive
Is the gospel good news for gay people? by Ashleigh Hull | Premier Christianity (October 2024)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive
Justin Welby has abandoned his own church's teaching on sexuality by Peter Lynas | Premier Christianity (October 2024)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive
Commentary
None yet
2. Some Christians who want to look more accepting say being gay isn't a sin, but you have to stay celibate if you are gay.
Uncritical examples
Catechism of the Catholic Church on Marriage, Sexuality and Same-Sex Attraction | Minnesota Catholic Conference
Archived on Wayback Machine
Commentary
The ease of celibacy | Adam's Linen Closet (November 2011)
On Mennonite intersectionality with asexuality. | sophia_sol (May 2011, this is from a queer Mennonite talking about how their asexuality might make their romances with women acceptable to their community and why that bothers them)
3. Some homoantagonistic Christians have gone so far as to make homosexuality illegal (and even punishable by death) in some countries. The Christian reaction to such laws may be whining about political correctness and not horror at the government-sanctioned violence.
Uncritical examples
Ugandan Pastors Call for Apology From Rick Warren by Felicia Mann | Charisma News (December 2009)
Archived on Wayback Machine
A Perfect Hatred by Joel McDurmon | American Vision (January 2010)
Archived on Wayback Machine
Commentary
American Supports Ugandan Anti-Gay Bill by Michael Wilkerson | Religion Dispatches (May 2010)
FRC: Pray For The Criminalization Of Homosexuality by Brian Tashman | Right Wing Watch (July 2011)
Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 | Wikipedia
GOP lawmaker told Uganda to ”stand firm” on its ”Kill the Gays” bill by Alex Bollinger | LGBTQ Nation (January 2024)
4. Right-wing Christians like to present homosexuality as evil on the basis that gay sex is supposedly unnatural and gross.
Uncritical examples
The Importance of Your Gag Reflex When Discussing Homosexuality and “Gay Marriage” by Thabiti Anyabwile | The Gospel Coalition (August 2013)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive
Commentary
Al Mohler's 'erotic liberty' rhetoric is a sinful, unbiblical, indecent, nasty lie | slacktivist (January 2015)
5. One argument against same-gender couples having children is that kids need both a mother and a father.
Uncritical examples
Key Findings of Mark Regnerus' New Family Structure Study by Glenn T. Stanton | Focus On The Family (October 2012)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive
Commentary
Gay Rights Group: Dobson Manipulated Data by Steven K. Paulson | The Washington Post (July 2006)
Dobson's FOF Distorts Research, Says Nyu Sociology Professor | Americans United (September 2006)
6. Some bigoted Christians believe AIDS is God punishing gay people. This attitude was especially prevalent during the AIDS crisis.
Uncritical examples
AIDS and Rationality by E. Calvin Beisner (1989)
Archived on Wayback Machine
Commentary
None yet
7. In an effort to portray gayness as a disorder, some Christians claim it is caused by daddy issues, a lack of proper gender roles, or even childhood sexual abuse.
Uncritical examples
Countering The Cultural Confusion: Answering Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality by Jeff Johnston | Focus On The Family (February 2014)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive
Uninvited | Chick Publications (skip to page 11 and 12 for examples)
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive
A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality by Joseph Nicolosi and Linda Ames Nicolosi | Pure Intimacy
Archived on Wayback Machine, Archive.today, and Ghost Archive (latter two archives include porn ads)
Commentary
None yet
8. In addition to fights against gay marriage and anti-discrimination laws, some Christians also want to prevent same-gender couples from adopting children.
Uncritical examples
Marriage: Our Position | Focus On The Family
Archived on Wayback Machine
Commentary
Georgia Senate committee passes anti-LGBTQ adoption bill by Patrick Saunders | Georgia Voice (February 2018)
9. A lot of Christians have claimed legal-recognized gay marriage will destroy “the santicity of marriage” and society at large.
Uncritical examples
[video] What's the Big Deal with Marriage? | CatholicVote Education (February 2023)
Archived on Wayback Machine and Ghost Archive
Commentary
None yet
More about Christian homoantagonism
When heteronormativity means there are no other options | Speaking While the World Sleeps (September 2014)
There's a theme that keeps popping up in conservative Christian accounts of human sexuality | David J. Prokopetz (August 2018)
Scalia's Son Says Homosexuality Doesn't Exist, Plans to Address Group that Encourages Lifelong Abstinence for Gays by Brian Tashman | Right Wing Watch (July 2013)
Queer Christian Baiting (And How to Avoid It) | Demisexual and Proud (July 2019)
Why Anti-Gay Bullying is a Theological Issue by Cody J. Sanders | Religion Dispatches (October 2010)
Bishop squirms on the hot-seat in Phoenix | slacktivist (June 2013)
Dialogue or Demonization? Where Gays are Concerned, Focus on the Family Wants it Both Ways by Cody J. Sanders | Religion Dispatches (April 2011)
That doesn't sound like attraction: what conservative Christianity teaches about the sexuality of women | Speaking When the World Sleeps (September 2014)
Further information
US conservatives are rallying around Uganda's "Kill the Gays" bill by Greg Owen | LGBTQ Nation (April 2023)
Are Most Child Sex Offenders Heterosexual? | Stop Abuse Campaign
New Family Structures Study | Wikipedia (this is about a study cited by homoantagonistic Christians; the article contains links talking about whether or not the study was flawed)
Accusations of 'grooming' are the latest political attack — with homophobic origins by Melissa Block | National Public Radio (May 2022)
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