Saturday, June 21, was a glorious June afternoon here in Ohio. In a rural church near the historic town of Lebanon, about 200 people gathered for one of life's happiest events: a wedding.
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It was a diverse group, very young to quite old, black and white, political types mixing with small-town folks and even one Amish family. To the casual observer, it might have seemed pretty routine: beautiful bride, handsome groom, the usual assortment of attendants and family.
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But Cheryl and Greg's wedding was, in reality, an astonishing occurrence. So as the guests milled about the hors d'oeuvres and punch in the reception hall, there came the inevitable moment when the emcee took the microphone and announced, "And now, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Quinlan." With whoops and applause, the room was on its feet, more as if greeting a victorious home-town team than beaming newlyweds.
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For victory was truly in the air. No one expressed it better than Greg at the altar, just before the minister pronounced them man and wife. Greg faced Cheryl, took her hands in his and proclaimed to her and the guests, "I never thought this day would come, but the Lord has done this. This is the answer to my long-time prayer, for He has finally brought you to me."
A decade ago, Greg was involved in homosexual behavior, living the life typical of "gay" males: transient relationships, homosexual clubs and bars, pornography. Raised as a Christian, he had nevertheless been a victim of physical abuse at the hands of his father, so became vulnerable when an older boy in his neighborhood molested him at age 10. Conducting a secret life while still clinging to his Christian faith, he finally went public with his lifestyle in his 20s. A few years later, he went political.
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As a Dayton representative of the mighty Human Rights Campaign, Greg fully embraced the "gay"-rights platform and lobbied for its goals. He adopted the "born that way" rhetoric while still privately recognizing the role of child sexual abuse in forming his desires. It wasn't until many friends had died of AIDS that serious doubts crystallized. Believing God might have another road for him to walk, he turned away from both the homosexual behavior and the radical politics. A transformation in soul and spirit, said to be impossible by some, was taking place.
Eventually, he went over to the other camp, now sympathizing with Christian conservatives and their causes. Greg has been especially touched by the abortion issue. At the reception, I sat with right-to-life volunteers who reminisced fondly about bus trips to Washington for the annual March for Life where "Greg had us all in stitches" with his story-telling.
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I've known Greg as we stood together fighting for a Defense of Marriage Act in Ohio, which passed the Ohio House but not the more liberal Senate. He and I both testified against the addition of sexual orientation to Ohio's hate-crime law, recognizing it not as a necessary anti-violence measure but as a superfluous ploy to legitimize homosexuality and demonize opponents. That bill thankfully never moved beyond the committee level.
And Greg was willing to tell anyone who wanted the details, about what life was really like as a "gay" man. The counterfeit respect that Justice Kennedy believes should be accorded that lifestyle was rejected by Greg in favor of self-respect and honor from a higher court – one that deals in truth.
Everyone who has known Greg over the last decade has heard about his constant prayer, growing as precious years elapsed, for "the right girl." Even though he knew her from church, he never thought Cheryl would be interested in him because of their age difference and his past. But Cheryl knew he was the one when she met him. Interested friends did a little matchmaking, and Greg took it from there.
His amazement, awe and love for his new bride were evident on Saturday. How had this come about? God's congregation that afternoon was packed with "been there, done that" stories. I talked with two charming women, both former lesbians. "Great day, isn't it?" one of them greeted me with a sunny smile. In contrast to the anger and hostility pouring forth from today's advocates of anything goes, these were people bathed in forgiveness and restoration, full of hope.
For instead of turning truth upside down, as a misguided Supreme Court or same-sex marriage activists in Ontario have done, Greg, Cheryl and others have a grander vision, one that enables people to be the whole men and women God made them to be. Instead of allowing tragedies, temptations and traumas of this flawed life to shape our destinies, believers recognize that Christ is the ultimate healer, teacher and even matchmaker. With Him lie the answers, if we can have the courage to walk with Him, wait on Him and witness daily miracles from a God-sized perspective.
Linda Harvey is president of Mission America, a pro-family organization. They publish a quarterly newsletter reporting on the homosexual agenda in our schools.