[quote=Ichthys]
I personally think a few distinctions need to be made.Are we talking about with those sexual orientations, of those who identify with either orientation or that are the orientations?Also, once that distinguishment is made, in what meaning of the word are we using "discrimination" (and the related words)? What do we mean when we use it? Are we comparing the items and saying one is better than the other? Are we simply saying they are different but equal? Perhaps the word is even being used in another meaning?Finally, once those two distinctions are made, what is really being debated here, using the prior distinctions to figure this out?As an outside observer, I'm confused over where some of the civil debate has headed, so I'm asking for these distinctions for my sake and the debate's sake.
[/quote]

Good catch.

And to answer the questions.

1. In this specific case, those with the sexual orientation themselves.

2. Discrimination meaning you view one as better than the other.
ActRaiserTheReturned may argue Heterosexual's and Homosexual's are equal sinners simply by having sin (which depending on how you interpret the Bible would be true), but in the specific case of Homosexuality he seems to be stating that there is an ultimately better sexuality.

[quote=mdk]
What I'm saying is that old-testament laws were given for reasons (good reasons, at least, when they were given). Like 'clean' or 'unclean' foods, not all of those reasons endured the several-thousands-of-years since their institution. To cling to the laws in absence of reason is -- not 'in my interpretation,' but in actual written fact -- *missing* *the* *point*. Jesus said so numerous times on numerous occasions. Homophobia is not consistent with what the Christian Bible This isn't the first time it's been read wrong and it won't be the last, but right now, it's almost certainly the ugliest.
[/quote]

So if I'm understanding you right, it's that the rules in the old testament were only meant for their time and by today's day and age has lost it's need?

As for Jesus and Homophobia, may he have spoken against it or not. The Bible does support Homophobia, I listed several Bible quotes earlier showing so. So that part isn't a mis-reading. Most likely it seems to be a conflict between the Bible and Jesus.