How has evangelical influence driven the debate on gay rights in the US?

I think that religious leaders contribute greatly to the misconception of homosexuality and further fuel the homophobic fire as it is. People claim to be Christians and yet, do not stop to think for one moment: WWJD? Really? They think that being little Christs is all about judging others and condemning people for being themselves. They need to go and read the part of the Bible that says that God is love and we should all love our neighbors like ourselves...over and over again. I, for one, have heard a so-called "pastor of God" rousing his congregation with the typical homophobic comments and advocating that homosexuals either be prayed out of their "disease" or be done away with. As a homosexual woman, I stopped going to that evil building he has the audacity to call a church and cannot believe that there are actually people who think like that: God loves me, but I hate him, so let's kill him in God's name. Disgusting! People like Anita Bryant should be asking God for help and forgiveness for all they have done because it is sickening to live like that and claim you are a Christian.

In regards to the picture: Did he fashion his sign into a dunce cap after realizing the error in his grammar? Or is it because he is aware that bigotry is inherently foolish?

if you can ascribe to both a "loving deity" and also hate others, you're a hypocrite, and not worth humanity's time or debate.

It is simply another example of Bible-thumpers using religion to brainwash the less informed. When you throw religion in the mix, you don't even have to give them proof. They live in fear of what will send them to hell instead of trying to do something good in the world. This ignorance is one of the reasons the world is in the state it's in today. Humanity has more important things that need to be focused on, being homosexual is the least of anyone's problem. In fact, it's not even a problem. These people need to pull their heads out of their rears and focus on our rapidly deteriorating world.

Religion is a personal thing, and should stay within the the Churches, Homes, etc. Should be left out of school, politics, and basically anything that effects other people who do not want to forced to follow there standards. Let people have the right to live by their own standards and not of religions'.

There is no debate with someone who believes a god tells them how other people should live their lives.

There certainly seems to be a real civil war heating up within conservatives, gay haters vs. gay tolerators.

Debate? What debate? There is no debate. This is not about a "debate". It's like having the droogs from "A Clockwork Orange" turn to their victims and saying "Thank you for engaging us in this pleasant conversation." It's only a "debate" as long as they get their way. It's a "hostile takeover" if they don't get their way.

War
Rape
Murder
Poverty
Equal rights for gays

Guess which one the evangelical leaders are protesting.

This shouldn't even be an issue. "All Men are Created Equal" right?

They don't drive debate. They drive hate.