Karl & Judy Schowengerdt are friends of my parents, and attend the church my family and I went to before I was an interim pastor. Their son, Randy, who was involved in the homosexual lifestyle died as a result of complications caused by AIDS. This was an extremely difficult time for them, and I am so thankful that they shared their experience.
Karl also wrote a guest column today for the Des Moines Register:
Our hearts go out to people caught up in homosexuality. The destruction and pain that homosexuality leaves in its wake is deep and impacts so many more than just the individuals caught up in the activity. We now know several other couples who are struggling with a son who chose to engage in homosexuality. We know the pain they endure, and understand when they reach out for help. One person’s homosexuality causes stress and strain on every friend and relative who truly cares about them.
For the Iowa Supreme Court to sanction homosexual "marriage" is to encourage and underwrite the negative results that naturally come from the homosexual "lifestyle." Aside from the physical destruction inflicted on those who practice homosexuality and the incredible stress homosexuals cause their extended families, society often pays a hefty price as well. Randy lost his job when he was no longer strong enough to work. With the loss of that job, he lost his ability to insure himself. As a result, you the taxpayer paid for more than $250,000 in medical bills for this one AIDS patient.
For those still uncertain about homosexual "marriage," please understand that the more accepting we are of homosexuality as a society, the more likely it is that your family, and society in general, will suffer the pain that ultimately results. Homosexuality took the life of our son. We oppose homosexuality and homosexual "marriage" in the hope that we might help another family avoid the pain that we have endured.
Update: Read my comment policy… here’s why I have it.
2nd Update: I’ve decided to close comments due to being targeted by a couple of blogs and discussion boards encouraging people to “flame me.” I really don’t have time to answer to comments of people who have never been to this blog or will likely come again. I think my regular readers have had a chance to weigh in here. Most of the vile remarks likely came from this target campaign.