Social media, our new daily companion, has definitely given us a range of new platforms on which to share our views.

One big topic for African-Americans, I've noticed, is the debate over the rights and even the "nature," if you will, of homosexuals. And that topic has really hit home in black Atlanta now that Georgians Don Lemon (Twitter handle @donlemoncnn) and Georgia State Rep. Rashad Taylor (See story in The Georgia Voice) have come out.

Though I have never considered myself a gay advocate, I do consider myself gay-friendly, especially when I hear what others have to say about the topic. This afternoon, I think I became an advocate; I'd just heard one too many justifications for hating other humans.

The backdrop: Last Thursday, on a long drive home from a meeting in Roswell I heard several black male callers contend on the Al Sharpton show (1-4 p.m. on WAOK-1380 AM) that homosexuality is not "natural." Then, this afternoon, a Facebook message from a friend lead me to read a string of comments under the article "Let's Stop Blaming the Bible for Our Homophobia"by author and linguistics professor John McWhorter, on www.TheRoot.com.

Well, I'd had enough. To help you get a feel for my view, hear's one comment I posted:

"1) To those who say homosexuality goes against nature: Gay people have ALWAYS been with us and God made them just like he made you. It is in their nature to want to be with the same sex and God had his reasons for having them on the earth (uh, have you thought of population control, for one? But, it's not for us to understand. That is God's business);

2) To those who say homosexuals should not have the right to marry. So, you want to go back to saying they are dirty people who have sex in bathhouses and in the woods because your society does not support their unions, legally?

3) To those who say many homosexuals are pedophiles: ???!???!! By far, the biggest pedophilia problem we have is between adult men and under-aged girls. Specifically, one growing problem is boyfriends forcing themselves on the pre-teen daughters of their girlfriends (and the girlfriends too often not trusting/blaming their own daughters). THAT is the big pedophilia problem right now that we should address right in some of our homes.

Please, people. You call yourselves Christian??!! Please!

STOP THE HATE brothers and sisters!!!"

Now, I know some people do not agree with me, especially when the topic turns to the definition of marriage. I think that is fine and I do welcome your view here because I think, more than anything, we should have a community that allows for the sharing of all viewpoints.

At Cascade Patch, we want to have more dialogues about issues affect our city and community.

So, we want to hear from you. What are your views about the ongoing debate about gay marriage and the rights of gay people in our community? Share your views with us on Patch.

Hope to hear from you!