In order to justify their stance of discrimination, I have heard it said, “If all people were born gay, the human race would die out. It goes against nature.” Nature and humankind is about wonderful diversity.

I will let that sink in for a moment; humankind is full of diversity. There are denizens of conditions in human nature that could cause the extinction of the human race, if we were all born that way. Luckily, for us, as the human race, we are not all the same.

If each person was born with the desire to be a priest or a nun, who take upon themselves a celibate lifestyle, then the human species would die out. Celibacy is actually Christian doctrine taught by Paul. In an epistle to the Corinthians, Paul desired that all Christians would live a celibate life, as he has. For Paul the sexual act, even between a male and female, was impure and the only way to remain pure was to abstain from intercourse entirely. In verse one (1 Corinthians 7:1), he replied thusly to the Corinthian’s inquiries concerning sexual intercourse, “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

Paul clearly believed that it was better for us to not engage in sexual intercourse and he gave us his reasons why.

“Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Corinthians 7:5).

His reason for celibacy was that a relationship with sexual desires were a distraction that got in the way of devotion to God.

“I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that. To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire” (1 Corinthians 7:6-9).

Paul made it clear that it was his view that everyone should live a life a celibacy and that it was not a commandment of God, but he also admonished those who were unmarried to remain unmarried. He wished that everyone could be as strong as he is to live a life of celibacy. Paul clearly believed that it was the higher law to live a life of celibacy, but if one could not suppress their desires, then they should get married, because it was better to engage in sexual intercourse while married, than while unmarried.

If everyone were as strong as the apostle Paul and followed his desires, would it not lead to the extinction of the human species, too? One could argue that the choice to be Christian and follow Paul’s preaching is just as an unnatural act as homosexuality. Both celibacy and homosexuality result in no offspring. So, the argument that homosexuality is not right, because it does not result in offspring is incorrect. Otherwise, Paul’s teaching of celibacy would be just as incorrect.

It is a good thing that the human species is rich with diversity and not all like St. Paul, each has their own gift.