What gives Christians the right to disregard certain religious practices, if they are truly following Jesus Christ? Why disregard being Kosher, but maintain Homophobia?

It's probably been said, but the New Testament deals with both of these issues -- and the way it deals with them is (1) it doesn't really matter what you eat and (2) homosexuality is still bad news. These are both explicitly said in the epistles and in the the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

If we define Christianity as following only what Jesus himself said, then we should notice that Jesus himself talks about it not being what goes into a person through his mouth (in the context of talking about eating food is when he said this) that matters, but what comes out of his mouth b/c what comes out of his mouth comes from his heart. Loosely, I can see how that can mean Kosher isn't necessary, especially in the context of what Paul and Peter and etc. go on to say in the N.T. Also, since Jesus never really backed down from teaching things that went way out of mainstream thought (so crazy and offensive that people wanted to kill him a couple times for saying what he said), it seems reasonable to think that if he did have a problem with the status of homosexuality within the faith, that he would have said something and not crapped out, but the Bible gives no account of this happening directly.

That's my answer and it's all premised on the Bible, whatever that means, being true and relevant and all that. If a Christian uses just the Bible to define his/her faith, then it seems like this would suffice to show why it would be consistent and make sense that a Christian would not eat Kosherly (made up word -- I know) and still condemn homosexuality.

Religious Practice is a Construct on Mankind, meant to keep God at a safe distance. A Personal Relationship with the Creator is what the Heavenly Father has always desired from us. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? -- Micah 6:8

Rabbi Y'shua fulfilled the Law of Moses, and has conferred his righteousness upon those who believe on Him. The only Law we are now bound to is found in two Commandments we refer to as the Royal Law .. .. .. And He said to him, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." -- Matthew 22:37-40

Regarding the Rules of Kosher, "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me, and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I said, 'By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a voice from heaven answered a second time, 'What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.' -- Acts 11:5-9

Three Primary attributes of the Manifestation of Jehovah God, in Whose Image we are created, are Body, Mind, and Spirit. His Spiritual attributes are Self-Awareness, Emotion, and Self-Will. The most important thing for Us to remember, is that He is absolutely Unchanging .. .. .. Solid as a Rock .. .. .. Our Primary Security in knowing Him. As creator of our persond and all we can know, He is Sovereign Lord over us all.

HE IS THE SAME FROM ETERNITY PAST, TO THE PRESENT, TO ETERNITY FUTURE. "When someone says, "That was then, and this is now," that may well refer to Human Attitudes, but certainly not to God's Attitude. What He determined and communicated as Approved of/Allowed and Disapproved of/Forbidden ten or twenty thousand years ago, is Approved of/Allowed and Disapproved of/Forbidden to this day, unchanged.

The DNA of Genetic Structure is Jehovah God's Pride in Creation, and more specifically, in Humanity. He created it expressly for the purpose of procreation, and for that reason made us distinctly male and female. When that Genetic Material is passed as intended, and yet does not accomplish fertilization, it is no problem. But, when the importance of its purpose is so disrespected as to be willfully deposited in the waste tract of another, whether male of female, His Emotion is excited .. .. .. He is outraged .. .. .. and rightfully so. He calls it an abominable act.

Regarding what you call Homophobia, I would submit, rather, that those who cling to that term are Heterophobic, as they pit their desire and will against the One who Created them. One may not know when nor where, nor have any understanding of why .. .. .. but they decided their propensity, and are responsible to God for their Decision. If they honestly believe they have no power over the Desire, they may be assured they continue to have power over their choice of Behavior.

For those who are truly interested in an Honest Answer to the Question, I hope you find tthis an adequate answer. I know that this explantion will not satisfy most of those who read it, because I know it is meant as an entrapment .. .. .. and so be it.