Jack Rogers, author of Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church, spoke to a crowd of approximately 75 people Monday night at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church.

Rogers broke down Bible verses that he said opponents of gay marriage sometimes utilize in arguments.

“We need to pay attention to the context and see why [these verses] don’t apply,” Rogers said, referring specifically to Romans 1:26-27.

Students who attended the event voiced support for Rogers.

“He provided a lot of hope for the church on this subject,” John Coggin, a sophomore in communication and hospitality chair for Presbyterian Christian Ministries, said. “One of the greatest evils the church perpetuates is discrimination against homosexuals.”

Matthew Evans, a sophomore in the transfer program, agreed.

“I just found it very informative,” he said, “[Rogers’] insights and a lot of the research they did to … dispel myths about homosexuality.”

Rogers touched on several myths about homosexuality, including a myth that people who are homosexual are suffering from a mental disorder or gender identity problem.

“Every major organization of health professionals [has] issued statements saying that homosexuality is not a disorder,” he said. “We need to turn to where the best evidence is.”

Rogers said there has never been an amendment to the Constitution that narrows rights for citizens, referring to an amendment backed by President Bush to ban same-sex marriage.

Rogers also commented on some opponents’ argument that say heterosexual marriages may be diminished if homosexuals are granted the right to marry.

“If somebody should tell me that my marriage is somehow diminished if two men or two women marry — that is just nonsense,” he said.

Another myth Rogers touched on was that a real human relationship included one man and one woman who are married. He said, however, that ideal may be a product of male gender superiority.

“The actual message we need to hear is to love God and our neighbors,” he said, adding that if this were accomplished then God could heal divisions.

Rogers cited the 2000 census and said there are 600,000 homosexual couples living together in the United States, but that number is an undercounting of more than 50 percent.

“I’m not optimistic, but I’m hopeful,” he said. “I believe [an agreement] is going to happen in all of our churches and society as a whole.”