This is not a slippery slope, nor is it a religious issue. It is a civil rights issue. Plain and simple. Freemasonry is meant to accept all religions, races, creeds, political beliefs etc. You cannot decline membership simply because you believe, or taught to believe that a certain thing is bad. We judge men based on their character, not who what they choose to worship, what color they are or whom they choose to devote their life to. To do so violates some our most important beliefs. If your religion states that homosexuals are evil, sinful people then don't be gay. What someone who does not believe in what you believe chooses to do is of no consequence to you or your beliefs. Thats the beauty of this country and its constitution.
Someone mentioned that one should vote against a homosexual person if they are known to engage in wanton immoral behavior. Really? This statement just feeds into the stereotype that homosexuals just engage in random sexual acts, and that is somehow immoral. Would you vote against a single straight man who spends is weekends picking up women? No you would not. Its no different. Again, how much sex someone is having, or who they are having it with has no consequence on your or your beliefs or morals. I would never ask a straight applicant how much action they usually get, nor would I ask a homosexual candidate the same question.
There is also another issue here. Freemasonry is attempting to stem dramatic drop offs in membership. I read somewhere that a few years ago only to states in the country reported positive membership growth. MA was one, and I forget where the other is. The average age of most lodges in in the high sixties, and many lodges lose more members to death or indifference than they can raise in a year. We must be seen for what we are; a fraternity of men from different backgrounds, putting aside those differences to reason together. For a grand lodge to make a sweeping rule like banning homosexuals only adds another nail to the coffin. Think back in history for a moment. Can you name a time where one group attempted to keep certain rights or privileges from another, smaller group and was not proven to be wrong in hindsight? Slavery, women's right to vote, civil rights, the americans with disabilities act. Now, its gay marriage and gay rights. Is it really going to help masonry reach young men to be on the wrong side of that argument.
If the MA grand lodge were to make a rule like that I would demit right away.
