Is it okay to be Christian if you aren't heterosexual? If you are homosexual or bisexual etc. does that mean that you cannot be Christian, or is it just discouraged?

It's a shame I didn't see this question closer to the time it was written, and I hope the person who posted it hasn't developed a wrong idea about the Christian approach to homosexuality. There is nothing wrong with homosexuality, period. I will explain why this is so using the historical critical method (i.e. Taking the historicity of Scripture into account, the context, and applying it critically).

First, while I agree with Sylvia Newfield's outlook, I must say that there are indeed a number of references in the Bible which speak clearly against homosexuality. These can be found predominantly in the Old Testament, such as references in Deuteronomy, and also, as Stephanie Hines pointed out, in the New Testament. It must be said, however, that the one thing we cannot do, as Christians, is to simply take these quotes and follow them without taking their background into account.

Who wrote the Old Testament? Who spoke out against homosexuality in the New Testament? These are questions we must all be asking before we decide what is right or wrong. The Old Testament was written by humans, not by God (as many still believe today...). In fact, four 'traditions' are currently discernible in the Old Testament, which points to it being written by either four authors or schools of thought, etc. Ultimately, the Old Testament is a history of the Jewish people, a lot of which was probably put together for this very purpose (to compose a sort of national history). That does not mean we should completely dismiss it, but we should see it for what it is. I believe that it holds value, and shows us some fundamental truths (i.e. The Ten Commandments), but it must be observed critically.

What I find is that homophobia is an ancient Jewish custom, inserted into the Old Testament through laws in Deuteronomy, and elsewhere, and prolonged by the early Christians who, instead of focusing on the teachings of Jesus, took with them into Christianity, as any convert does, some Jewish beliefs. This explains the presence of homophobic sections in the letters of the New Testament.

However, a Christian must look above all at the teachings of Jesus as they exist in the four gospels. Nowhere within those four gospels is sexuality mentioned or condemned. On the contrary, Jesus actively breaks with many practices prevalent in the Old Testament to show us that that is exactly how we should not act. For example, he stood up for someone who had committed adultery, something which in the Old Testament was punishable by stoning. He taught, above all, that man must love one another as they do themselves and, above all, as Jesus loved us.

So yes, it is ok to be a Christian and homosexual...more than ok, actually. No Christian should discourage it. Any talk of condemning the homosexual 'lifestyle' makes very little sense to me. The 'lifestyles' we should be discouraging are those based on promiscuity, immorality, etc. (which are lifestyles practices by all humans, heterosexuals, homosexuals, bisexuals....all).

Sorry for the slightly lengthy response, but I hope it answers your question.