吕丽萍的反同性恋言论掀起轩然大波

A well-known Chinese actress triggered* heated discussion and criticism recently by citing the Bible to express her disapproval of homosexuality* on her microblog.

Lu Liping, 51, is a Christian. Since last Wednesday she has updated several microblogs in which she called homosexuality a crime loathed* by God.

In one microblog she cited "Romans 1:26-27:" "Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."

In another entry, she reprinted a priest's microblog commenting on the legalization* of gay marriage in New York. The priest wrote: "Even if anti-homosexuality becomes illegal some day, I will keep preaching*: homosexuality is a crime. God loves people; hates crimes! Believe in Jesus and conquer the crime!"

Lu commented: "Brothers and sisters, let everybody see this!"

She also gave an example of how a gay man came to understand his crime and finally corrected himself by asking Jesus for help.

Her words have shocked people and attracted wide criticism. Compared to her other microblogs, each of which gets a few hundred comments, each of those about homosexuality has attracted more than 10,000 comments.

Although some people supported her, many expressed their anger at her intolerance*, especially because she is a public figure whose attitude has greater influence than those of ordinary people.

"How could anybody be so cruel," said Xiaoguo, a 26-year-old lesbian. "Does God not also teach them to love? Does she even know any gay or lesbian people?"

Li Yinhe, a sociologist and an activist for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, said Lu's opinions were "cliche*, ignorant and backward."

However, while disagreeing with Lu's anti-homosexuality, some experts believe people have the right to express their opinions, whether they are celebrities or not.

"In my opinion, nobody has the right to call gay people criminals and ask them to be 'corrected,'" said Gu Baochang, a professor of sociology at Renmin University of China.

"But Lu has her own opinion, and she should have the freedom to express it. You may agree or disagree with her, but you cannot stop her from expressing herself."

Lu became a famous actress in the late 1980s, and last year won the best leading actress at the Golden Horse Awards, the most prominent annual film festival in Taiwan.

trigger 引发 homosexuality 同性恋 loathe 厌恶 legalization 合法化 preach 布道 intolerance 不能容忍 cliche 陈腐的