The Orthodox church does not condone homosexuality, although many new-age Christian churches (and other so-called "Christian"/organized religious establishments) do.
The position therefore being advocated by "gay rights activists" is not just for acceptance of their "union" in marriage, but acceptance of their behavior (sexual activity) as well. Why else would they specifically advocate that their "civil union"-which has been suggested to be the term used in legislation—be called marriage? But use of the term "marriage" would connote social acceptance of this union, hence the behavior that occurs within its context. Indeed for the heterosexual, marriage is sacramental and therefore blessed by God and the Church. What is to be understood is that the Church is not condemning or discriminating against homosexuals but rather their activity which is considered to be against her teaching in the same way other passions are. They are not considered as having lower value in the eyes of God, the focus is to be directed toward the correcting of the behavior and removal of the particular passion.
In this way one can understand that we are not born homosexual as we are born with a particular skin color or gender. The key for us as Orthodox Christians is to embrace and respect one another as being mutually created in His love. Then we can join together in our mutual struggle against the passions that beset our fallen world.
[EDIT: This, too, is stated very well regarding the stance of the Orthodox Church regarding homosexuality.]
The Orthodox church does not "condone" homosexuality, to be clear, although many new-age Christian churches (and other so-called "Christian"/organized religious establishments) do.
The position therefore being advocated by "gay rights activists" is not just for acceptance of their "union" in marriage, but acceptance of their behavior (sexual activity) as well. Why else would they specifically advocate that their "civil union"-which has been suggested to be the term used in legislation—be called marriage? But use of the term "marriage" would connote social acceptance of this union, hence the behavior that occurs within its context. Indeed for the heterosexual, marriage is sacramental and therefore blessed by God and the Church. What is to be understood is that the Church is not condemning or discriminating against homosexuals but rather their activity which is considered to be against her teaching in the same way other passions are. They are not considered as having lower value in the eyes of God, the focus is to be directed toward the correcting of the behavior and removal of the particular passion.
In this way one can understand that we are not born homosexual as we are born with a particular skin color or gender. The key for us as Orthodox Christians is to embrace and respect one another as being mutually created in His love. Then we can join together in our mutual struggle against the passions that beset our fallen world.