I'm guessing you're dealing with the condemnation of the fundies versus the decency of the liberal notion of Christianity. And in all fairness, the liberal notion ignores some very restrictive rules about sex. I don't know what it's like living in Texas, or how attached to Christianity you are in your heart, but in my ignorance I can't help concluding that homosexuality and Christianity make poor bedfellows and atheism with humanist values (which are similar in many ways) would be the best move in the long run.

I was going to ask what you believe "Christian Values" are. I see that has been addressed a bit but I am still curious what you would consider a "christian value. I was a hard core Christian for half my life and I believe I have a higher moral standard as an atheist than I ever had as a Christian.

Nothing wrong with being gay. However, you are probably in the wrong part of the US. The christian part is quite weird.

I should hang out here more often I never get this kind of discussion where I live and work.

I saw Dan Barker speak and he talked about how those values that are common to all religions- like don’t kill people and take care of your children - are HUMAN values not religious values.
Another interesting perspective, the book “The righteous mind” looks at how human values developed.

I don't define where I got my morals and values from because I believe they're innate... yours too. If some of them mirror christianity so what. Maybe that's because they're obvious to well meaning people.