When evangelizing to young people, terms and expressions will inevitably come up that wouldn’t normally be expressed with your friends and family. Young people seeking salvation through Christ expect Christians to understand the nature of secular society or at a minimum know the terminology. It is my hope that I can shed some light on many of the confusing terms and expressions used by the homosexual and deviant lifestyle community.
If you are confused by modern terms used for sexuality, your not alone. I have a hard time with trying to figure out what the terms mean. Naturally I believe that a marriage is between a man and a woman, designed by God, as set forth in the Holy Bible. However, secular modernism has shoved change down our throats for many years now and quite often the advocates themselves don’t have a full understanding of what is being expressed in culture today. My favorite YouTube clip in this regard is an interview with Michael Knowles on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored Podcast with a James Barr, a LGBTQIA2S+ advocate and community member.
Timestamp 2:30 – The James Barr has no idea what the term LGBTQIA2S+ means.
The only problem I have with the clip is at timestamp 3:58 when pressed by the queer on why marriage between men and men is not ok. Asked if it is from the bible, Knowles says “No” its according to “marriage” and then says “nature”. Yikes. What was he thinking. Just another example of a social media pundit that has no idea about the nature of God or the Kingdom of believers. Here are the receipts for the design of marriage between a man and a woman.
Genesis 2:24 English Standard Version
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Jesus reaffirmed this definition as written in the following passages:
Matthew 19:4-6 English Standard Version
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Mark 10:6-9 English Standard Version
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
DIFFICULT DEFINITIONS
Many people have difficulty understanding and differentiating between who a transvestite, transsexual, or transgender is. There are also many other terms being used today that conservative, Christian believers may have trouble with.
Transvestite
This term is usually grouped together with “crossdresser,” and is used to refer to individuals who like to dress in what would conventionally be worn by the opposite gender, and act in that manner, as well. For instance, you can have heterosexual males wearing traditionally feminine clothing and acquiring feminine mannerisms.
Cross-dressers don’t regard themselves as anything but straight or heterosexual, and so they don’t associate with the LGBTQ community. Drag queens (men who dress up in female clothes and personify female gender stereotypes) and drag kings (women who dress in masculine drag and personify male gender stereotypes) are generally not considered transvestites or crossdressers. This is because people who dress in drag are usually gay, yet crossdressers are straight.
Transsexual
This term is used to refer to individuals who refuse to accept the gender they were assigned at birth, and even take medical steps to change different aspects of their body to match the gender that they believe they are.
For instance, a person whom you perceive to be male because of his outwardly appearance, with male sex organs, and conforms to male gender roles may actually believe that he is not male, and wants to become female (or vice versa). The person’s believe is so strong that they seek a “sex change” operation, or what is more often known as a gender confirmation or gender reassignment surgery and hormone therapy.
Transgender
This is an all-inclusive term used by people who feel their assigned sex does not match up to their gender identity, behavior, expression, or general sense of self, including non-binary individuals. So, transgender men (trans men) are people who were assigned female at birth but identify and opt to live as men; while transgender women (trans women) were assigned the male gender at birth but identify and live as women.
Gender dysphoria is the clinically significant distress or impairment experienced by a person due to a marked incongruence between their gender identity (their internal sense of being male, female, or another gender) and their sex assigned at birth.
LGBTQIA2S+
is an inclusive acronym representing the diverse spectrum of sexual orientations, gender identities, and lived experiences. It stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and 2S Two-Spirit. The + sign acknowledges that the acronym does not capture every possible identity, serving as an umbrella for other groups such as pansexual, non-binary, and agender individuals.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual: These terms describe sexual orientations involving attraction to women, men, or more than one gender, respectively.
Transgender refers to individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Cisgender describes those whose identity aligns with their assigned sex, while Transgender describes those whose identity differs.
Queer or Questioning: Queer is a reclaimed umbrella term for those outside heterosexual and cisgender norms, while Questioning describes individuals exploring their identity.
Nonbinary and Genderfluid: Nonbinary is an umbrella term for identities outside the male/female binary, while Genderfluid describes identities that may change over time.
Intersex refers to people born with biological traits that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
Asexual & Aromantic: This identity describes people who experience little or no sexual attraction, though they may still form deep emotional or romantic bonds. Aromantic individuals experience little or no romantic attraction.
Two-Spirit (2S): This is a contemporary pan-Indian umbrella term used by some Indigenous North Americans to describe people who fulfill a traditional third-gender or gender-variant social role in their communities. It reflects a balance of masculine and feminine spirit and is specific to Indigenous cultural frameworks.
Plus (+): This symbol ensures the inclusivity of all other sexual orientations and gender identities not explicitly listed, such as demisexual, gender-fluid, and non-binary identities.
Gender Expression: The external presentation of gender through behavior, clothing, or voice, which may or may not conform to societal expectations.
Social Concepts and Allyship
Ally: A person who is not LGBTQ but actively supports LGBTQ rights and equality, using their privilege to advocate for the community.
Coming Out: The process of discovering and accepting one’s own sexual orientation or gender identity, and potentially sharing it with others.
Intersectionality: The understanding of how overlapping identities (race, class, disability, etc.) impact an individual’s experience of oppression or privilege.
Deadnaming and Misgendering:
Deadnaming is using a transgender person’s birth name instead of their chosen name, while Misgendering involves using incorrect pronouns or terms that do not reflect their gender identity.
Pride Month
Pride Month originated from the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, which began on June 28, 1969, when patrons of the Stonewall Inn resisted a police raid. This event galvanized the LGBTQ+ rights movement, leading to the first annual commemorative march, known as Christopher Street Liberation Day, held on June 28, 1970, to mark the first anniversary of the riots.
The celebration officially gained national recognition in 1999 when President Bill Clinton declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. In 2011, President Barack Obama expanded the designation to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, solidifying June as the annual period for LGBTQ+ visibility, remembrance of those lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS, and advocacy for equal rights.
Background of the Rainbow Flag
The Pride flag was designed by artist and activist Gilbert Baker at the request of Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., to create a visible symbol of pride and unity for the gay community. Baker, influenced by the peace and hippie movements of the 1960s, chose the rainbow as a natural flag representing diversity.
The original flag debuted on June 25, 1978, during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade, featuring eight colors each assigned a specific meaning: hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic and art, indigo for serenity, and violet for spirit.
Colors of the Rainbow Found in Nature
The traditional seven colors of the rainbow in nature are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, often remembered by the acronym ROYGBIV. These spectral colors appear in order from the outer edge to the inner edge of the arc, organized by wavelength, with red having the longest wavelength and violet the shortest.
History and Evolution of the Rainbow Flag
Following Milk’s assassination in November 1978, demand for the flag surged, leading to production changes due to fabric availability. The hot pink stripe was removed because the dye was scarce, resulting in a seven-stripe version. In 1979, the turquoise stripe was dropped to allow for an even number of stripes when hanging from lamp posts, establishing the standard six-stripe rainbow flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet) used worldwide today.
Modern iterations have been created to address inclusivity and specific identities within the community:
- Philadelphia Pride Flag (2017): Added black and brown stripes to represent LGBTQ+ people of color and highlight efforts against racism within the community.
- Progress Pride Flag (2018): Designed by Daniel Quasar, this version incorporates the black and brown stripes from the Philly flag, plus pink, white, and light blue stripes (from the Transgender flag) in a chevron to represent transgender individuals and those lost to HIV/AIDS.
- Other Flags: Numerous other flags exist for specific identities, such as the Transgender flag (pink, blue, white), Bisexual flag (pink, purple, blue), and Non-binary flag (yellow, white, purple, black), each with distinct color
The Rainbow and the Noahic Covenant
The primary scripture establishing the Noahic Covenant and designating the rainbow as its sign is found in Genesis 9:12-17. In this passage, God declares to Noah, his descendants, and all living creatures that He will never again destroy the earth with a flood.
God specifies the covenant’s terms and sign in the following verses:
- Genesis 9:13: “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
- Genesis 9:15: “I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.”
- Genesis 9:16: “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
The rainbow serves as a token of God’s mercy and a promise of preservation, signifying that hostility has ceased and that He will sustain the current creation until the final judgment. The Hebrew word for the sign is often interpreted as a “war bow” hung up in the sky, indicating that God’s weapons of judgment are sheathed.
Prayers for Homosexuals and Others
Prayer for Salvation and Grace
“Dear Jesus, I praise You for Your mercy, goodness, and love. I come to You today, asking that You bring grace to the LGBTQ+ community. Help them to come to know Your grace and to know that Your mercies are new every morning. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
Prayer for Deliverance and Freedom
“Father God, I come to You in the name of Jesus and by the Power of the Holy Spirit asking that You would deliver my friends and family from the spirit of homosexuality. We love You and always want to be in the center of Your will. Please send Your deliverance to each and everyone of them, and we will give Your name the praise, honor, and glory for it all in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Prayer for Holiness and Repentance
“Dear God, please help those within the LGBTQ+ community to be brought to godly sorrow. They don’t need to only have worldly sorrow as that will not help them be led to repentance. Please help believers and unbelievers alike within the community to come to know You. Bring them to repentance and salvation through Your Son’s Name. Amen.”
Prayer for Healing and Restoration
“Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of Your glory and Your mercy! You said that it isn’t good for man to be alone. We pray for those who suffer with same sex attraction. Heal the wounds of their past and help them to trust in Your perfect plan for men and women. Protect them from those who would lead them into sin. Bring into their lives friends who will help them to grow in virtue and true freedom. We ask all in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
