“Your values are killing us.” I saw that phrase plastered on a banner held up by some pro-homosexual activists outside of the Omnishore Hotel in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. They were protesting while the Values Voter Summit sponsored FRCAction was taking place inside the hotel.

Undoubtedly, the “values” that drew the ire of the protesters concern homosexuality and same-sex “marriage,” which makes the activists’ slogan rather rich in irony.

There’s not much empirical proof that traditional marriage (being between one and one woman) harms anybody, much less “kill[s]” them. In fact, a recent study shows that people committed to traditional marriage – both men and women – live longer.

On the other hand, same-sex relations trigger significant mental and health concerns, most notably, death. The incidence of death through HIV/AIDS alone is staggering. As of 2007, almost 275,000 American men had died from AIDS, with sexual relations with other men being the singular risk factor. Social science also shows that those who identify themselves as homosexual have a remarkably higher risk for suicidal ideation, substance abuse, mental disorders and intentional self-harm, compared to the rest of the population. And these risks have no tie to societal approval – or disapproval – of the conduct.

Given these facts, if any “values” are killing homosexuals, sadly, it’s their own. Biblical values can spare them from suffering and death. That’s why as Christians – in the face of extraordinary pressure to keep our values to ourselves – we must speak up and share our biblically-based views in the public square. It’s more than a philosophical debate, it’s more than a cultural issue; it’s a matter of life or death.

Posted by Nate Kellum