This question, which is circulating in the United States, is being put forward as a positive statement, in other words; we have stopped/reduced racial discrimination, now we must stop/reduce discrimination of homosexuals. But are the two equivalent? Does one naturally follow the other?
Race
A person’s race is genetic; it depends on what genes people have inherited from their parents. We have no control over what genes are allotted to us; the colour of our eyes, the size and shape of our ears; the height we grow, the colour of our skin and of course all of the innumerable other features. A person’s race can be determined objectively; DNA testing, skin pigment etc.
Homosexuality
As much as people would like to find one, there appears to be no genetic component to homosexuality. If there was, of course it would be of no value because homosexual men and homosexual women do not have babies to pass their genes on, see: I am gay, but I was not born this way http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160627-i-am-gay-but-i-wasnt-born-this-way?ocid=ww.social.link.email. As well, and unlike race, homosexuality cannot be determined by any objective test; it simply relies on someone saying that is what they are. For example we can easily tell the race of the three ladies pictured, but not their sexual orientation; we would only have their word for that.
Again, unlike race, sexual orientation can be changed and has been. Stephen Bennett tells how he left the gay life to now be a husband and father: http://www.iwasgay.com/ and many other people have a similar story. There are many websites and organisations that help people to make the transition. Sexual preference is not fixed as race is.
God condemns homosexuality; witness Sodom and Gomorrah[1] and for other Bible verses go to my website: https://www.adefenceofthebible.com/2015/08/13/gay-marriage-what-the-bible-says-about-homosexuality/. God distributes perfect justice; He will not punish anybody for whom it is impossible to change. To the contrary, the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanders nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Here Paul confirms that people have left the homosexual life in obedience to God.
Conclusion
Discrimination against someone because of his or her race is a sin. God does not discriminate or show favouritism[2] on this basis and neither should we. However, God does discriminate between repentant and non-repentant homosexuals and all sinners for that matter, as shown by the Bible verse above. In doing what God says is an abomination to Him[3] and what is abhorrent to most men and women, a certain amount of discrimination must be allowed. For example, people should be free not to assist a homosexual “marriage” or to provide a service to men or women living in a homosexual relationship. People and institutions should not be forced to employ homosexuals when they are an affront to their religion.
So gay is not the new black, the two situations are totally different and to say that they are not, demeans people who suffer from discrimination and in some cases even persecution, because of their race.
[1] Exodus chapter 19.
[2] Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9
[3] Leviticus 18:22; 20:13 KJV.
