Coping with LGBTQ issues with compassion and conviction: How?

Growing up in an Eastern, Buddhist tradition, I learned early that compromise is essential in resolving complex issues. Later, as I delved into the Socratic method of dialogue and Marxist ideas about power dynamics, I began to wonder whether unrestrained ideological conflict might lead to chaos rather than progress. It felt admirable—almost fashionable—to be uncompromisingly idealistic (a mindset we might now call “woke”), but the more I engaged with politics and human rights, the more I realized that uninformed passion can push activists toward extreme rhetoric and actions that ultimately undermine their cause. To be effective advocates within a deeply entrenched social and political structure, we need both conviction and nuance.

Below is a piece reflecting that balance about LGBTQ issues and the value of respect and moderation.

Dear Friends:

I want to share a perspective that combines conscience and compassion. We live in a diverse society where beliefs and identities intersect. Our challenge is to speak honestly about our convictions while affirming the dignity of every person.

My worldview is shaped by faith. I believe gender and sexuality are rooted in something larger than us. For me that means a male‑female design. Others see it differently. Regardless, we can agree that every human has inherent worth and deserves kindness and respect.

Too often debates around LGBTQ issues become a tug‑of‑war: one side demanding celebration, the other reacting with anger. This helps no one. You can hold a traditional view without attacking people who identify as gay, lesbian or transgender. You can protect children from adult themes without erasing anyone. You can ask that schools focus on reading, math and civics while families handle discussions about sex according to their values.

Here’s what that sounds like: keep discussions of sex—any kind—out of classrooms and marketing aimed at kids. Let children grow without adult topics. In shared spaces, make them welcoming to all by focusing on what unites us: character, integrity, community service—not sexual identity.

In a free society, diversity of belief and identity is not a threat but an opportunity to practice empathy and humility.

At the same time, never demonize or dehumanize anyone for how they identify or whom they love. No one should be bullied or denied rights. Saying “keep sexuality private” does not mean telling people to hide or be ashamed. It means recognizing boundaries between intimate matters and public discourse.

True tolerance means coexistence, not dominance. It means defending freedom of belief for traditionalists and freedom of self‑expression for minorities, while drawing reasonable lines around what is taught to children and promoted in civic spaces. Respect goes both ways: individuals should be free to live as they choose, and families should be free to raise children according to their moral compass without fear of being labelled hateful.

If we can embrace this mature stance—honoring privacy, showing compassion, and upholding boundaries for children—we can lower the volume of culture wars and build communities where differences don’t lead to division. Our shared humanity matters more than any label. Let’s lead with kindness and conviction, and make space for each other.