Working Against Bullying GLBT Youth in Vermont

As more and more GLBT youth come out and address their sexuality at younger ages, the issue of the bullying they often face in school is receiving more attention. Such is the case in Vermont, where Outright Vermont, an organization that advocates for GLBT youth in the state, has plans to host a workshop about bullying at Mississquoi Valley Union High School.

Unfortunately, when a group like that is proactive and progressive, you can count on some right-wing nitwit with a radio show to oppose them. Paul Beaudry, a radio host on two stations in Vermont, plays the role of the nitwit in this situation.

"I don't think this should be in the schools. If you go to their Web site, they're all about recruiting children into the homosexual lifestyle," said Beaudry, whose child attends the school.

Yeah, whatever. Of course, what they actually mean by recruiting is actually people attempting to help a youngster understand and accept who they are, even if that doesn't match up to the script their parents might have drawn up.

Hopefully the standard right-wing rhetoric of "recruiting" and "special rights" will be ineffective and Outright Vermont will succeed in holding this workshop.

Youth Exploring Faith Through Drama

There is a drama troupe in the Pittsburgh area comprised of GLBT youth between 14-21 years old that takes on a different theme with their production each season. This year the group is taking on their relationship with God.

"One of the biggest themes is the personal issue of sin, of how something that is so natural and doesn't seem like a bad thing, can be seen as horrible and people reject them for it. That is a big issue that most of them are dealing with," said Ms. Haugh, who previously founded the Renaissance City Women's Choir.

I really do love the Lord and believe in him and have a personal relationship with him," said Terrance McGeorge, 20, of East Liberty, raised Baptist.

"But I'm against organized religion. . . . Religion is supposed to heal your soul, but it bruises us because we are being discriminated against by people who are supposed to love everyone."

That's a pretty bright young man--finding his own path and making his own relationship with God rather than accepting the comdemnation so many major religions try to shove down young gay and lesbian throats.

Thanks to PageOneQ for the tip.

A Straight Ally In Connecticut

Connecticut is one of the current battle-ground states in the fight for marriage equality, and columnist Susan Campbell of the Hartford Courant (the newspaper with the largest circulation in the state) has taken a stand. Here is an excerpt as she writes in response to some e-mails she has received from people that assume because she is advocating for GLBT rights that she herself must be lesbian:

What if I told you that I am not a lesbian, that I am in a monogamous relationship - a marriage, yet - with a man I love, whom I don't always understand? That we've raised two children to adulthood, that we vote, mow our yard and worry about our adjustable mortgage? And that, in those last characteristics, I am much like your garden-variety coupled homosexual - just an average citizen getting by.

What if I told you that I did not come to my present and permanent stance because of some intellectual tic on my part? I am public school all the way, born in Kentucky, raised in Missouri, came to Jesus in a fundamentalist church.

What if I told you that I read the same scriptures you do and that I've spent time with the text I was taught to hold so dear? And what if I told you that I consider marriage equality every bit as important as any other civil rights question, be it racial or gender, and that I don't have to belong to the oppressed group to speak up?

In fact, in these times, it's incumbent on those who are blessed with marriage rights to speak up.

I'm here to tell you that if a red-state fundamentalist Christian hillbilly can figure it out, there is ample hope for the likes of you.

Minds can be opened and prejudices can be unlearned. Fortunately, Ms. Campbell is open enough to share her journey with thousands of readers in her state and a few folks on this blog.

Thanks.

How Arizona Did It

Last November, Arizona became the first state to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage.

This article from Campaigns & Elections via Equality NY tells the story of how advocates for equality pulled it off.

“The campaign logged the hours and built a broad-based coalition of faith groups, chambers of commerce, police officers, firefighters, seniors and children’s advocacy groups,” (campaign treasurer) May said. “We did the research, unveiled the truth behind Prop 107, and stayed disciplined in our message.”

It sounds simple but it's not. Check out how they did it.

Working for Transgender Equality at the University of Florida

This from the University of Florida's student newspaper, The Independent Florida Aligator:

Fear of insults or attacks convinced Ivana Black to hide her transgender identity when she enrolled at UF in 2004. Black had faced discrimination before and did not want to be targeted again, she said. She used her long hair and convincing curves to pass as a woman. But when she noticed that other transgender students were reluctant to embrace or reveal their own identities, she felt compelled to come out.

"In order for me to feel comfortable and for other people to be comfortable, I had to be visible (as a transgender)," she said.

During her stay at UF, Black worked toward making UF a more welcoming place for transgender students by educating people about transgender issues and culture. By the time Black graduated, she had made UF a home, but it still had a long way to go. The Student Body constitution, for example, didn't have a protection for transgender students.

But that could change if students approve a referendum during Student Government elections, which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday.

If the referendum is approved, the Student Body constitution's nondiscrimination clause will be amended to include the terms "gender identity and expression."

Click here to read more about Ivana Black and her campaign for equality.

Weary From the Hate and Negativity

That's how I've been feeling more frequently as I write this blog since much of my commentary has been to refute the bigotry and hatred of the religious right and others who seek to deny GLBT people their basic human rights.

After sharing those thoughts with Pastor Brenda, I decided to shift my focus here somewhat. Rather than harp on the negativity directed toward those seeking to diminish GLBT people, I'll be seeking out more stories like the one I posted below. There are people, members of the GLBT community and their straight allies, who are making a difference, a positive one, in how GLBT people are welcomed into God's kingdom and how they are working to attain legal rights in society.

While there will still be some important issues with a negative angle I'll address, there will be more emphasis on those stories where people are making a positive contribution. If you run across any you think the readers here would appreciate, please send an e-mail with a link to me at straight_notnarrow@yahoo.com.

Thanks and God bless you.

GLBT Ally: Anne S. Wynne of Atticus Circle

This story was posted on Mombian:

Straight allies are an invaluable component of the struggle for LGBT equality. Anne S. Wynne is the founder of Atticus Circle, an organization that educates and mobilizes straight allies in support of equal rights for LGBT Americans and our families.

Anne agreed to answer some questions about her organization for Mombian’s interview series. Below, she talks about her journey towards creating Atticus Circle, the group’s ongoing work with other LGBT organizations, getting straight people involved who have never before spoken out on LGBT issues, and why you should ask your straight friends and relatives to join.

This from the home page of Atticus Circle:

It is time for us to stand up and stand with our gay and lesbian friends who are being systematically denied the most basic rights and recognition – the very things we, in the heterosexual world, take for granted day after day.

It is time for all children, regardless of their parents’ sexual orientation, to share the same rights and protections.

And it is time for our country to acknowledge that the right to love a partner, be a parent and build a family is a fundamental, equal right for each and every one of us.

Today we need your help to win this “civil rights battle rooted in love.” We need you to add your voice to the growing number of our friends who say, “This just isn’t right.” We invite you to come into the Atticus Circle and stand with others who say, “I’m ready. What can I do?”

For one, you can sign up like I did and offer your voice and support to their advocacy efforts.

Click here to read the Q&A on the Mombian website.

"Learning the Hardaway"

Wayne Besen takes a look at the backlash against recent celeberties who have made public homophobic remarks in his latest column:

As we have learned with racial and religious minorities, the new public climate will not eliminate the cold private chill of discrimination. There will be winks, nods, glass ceilings and new code words to decipher. However, moving hateful words behind closed doors opens the closet door even further, greatly benefiting the GLBT movement. As adolescents hear less overt anti-gay rhetoric, it lessens the consequences of coming out, both emboldening and empowering the next generation. Ultimately, this translates into more out homosexuals, the number one defense against anti-gay bigotry.

If you think about it, fundamentalists vastly outnumber the GLBT community and our opponents have infinitely more financial resources. Yet, we are winning this culture war because coming out has unique transformational power that changes attitudes and minds. Most people will not reject their family members and friends who come out and are often willing to rethink their most basic assumptions and core beliefs.

It seems to me that the more homophobic comments and rhetoric the general public hears, the less they like it.

"The Respectful Decline"

Jen Austin had a very interesting post recently on her blog. Titled "The Respectful Decline," Jen writes about a co-worker who refused to do production work for "Pride Radio," a gay-oriented radio station being startup up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The co-worker is a professed Christian (as is Jen), but rather than come down all judgemental he respectfully expressed his reasons for not wanting to support this initiative, and he and Jen had a mature, sensitive exchange of views regarding this issue.

I love what Aaron said to me about declining to produce the Pride Radio promo. He said, "I just hope nobody else hears about this, and feels like I'm judging them....I'm really not....I'm judging myself more than anything. Sometimes I get caught up on something, and get COMPLETELY freaked out about it. I start worrying about whether I'm doing the right thing or not, and then I get all legalistic about it. Sometimes I forget about grace."

This is not the kind of hateful bigotry the GLBT community so often has to deal with from those professing their Christianity. Instead, it is the sincere beliefs of someone trying to do the right thing and apparently not yet convinced he has all the answers.

By the way, here is the link to Pride Radio which is just up and running.

"Ex-gay" seminar in San Francisco protested

San Francisco seems like an odd place to find one of the "ex-gay" seminars, but there was one held there last week.

"I've had gay friends all my life," said the Rev. Michael Brodeur (the host pastor), who said he came of age in San Francisco's counterculture. "I'm not homophobic or anti-homosexual. But I am very pro-Jesus."

Why do people think "I've had gay friends all my life" and "I'm not homophobic" is enough cover to fool people into discounting everything else coming out of their mouths? Are they that delusional or do they think that other people are that stupid?

This just in--most people aren't that stupid.

Walking Away From Basketball To Find Herself

Far from her family and the friends of a basketball life, removed from the Baylor University community where she helped win the 2005 NCAA women's championship, Emily Nkosi has taken a once unimaginable turn. At 21, as a student at the University of Massachusetts, she has not held a basketball since last fall, when she helped young children discover the value of a game she left behind.

Her name was Emily Niemann when her obsessive pursuit of a national championship required a daily commitment throughout her adolescence. But after playing an essential role in Baylor's NCAA championship victory against Michigan State, Nkosi chose a path that led her to leave the school, publicly acknowledge her life as a lesbian, give up the game and embrace a new identity.

Click here to read a wonderful story from USA Today about a lady who figured things out at a fairly early age.

Looking Ahead to How History Will View Us

Here is an interesting take on the same-sex marriage issue:

Forty years from now, when students of history learn that there were once laws that barred gay and lesbian couples from marrying, they are going to shake their heads at the injustice of it.

And when they do, Liz Bradbury and Patricia Sullivan of Allentown can trot out their 2007 application for a marriage license that's marked ''refused.'' The couple were among about a half-dozen who, following the rally, applied at the courthouse for marriage licenses they knew would be turned down.

Just as in today's society it is hard to imagine (at least for most of us) how human beings were once bought and sold as property and how the rights of women were severely limited, there will be people shaking their heads in the future trying to understand why two people in a loving, committed relationship were once denied the right to marry.

"Story, Narrative, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity"

Holly Stevens, who is the editor and publisher of the website "The Storyteller and the Listener Online," was kind enough to alert me to a feature she posted today regarding the GLBT community.

Holly hosted a Q&A with an eclectic panel to discuss the role or story and narrative in addressing issues involving the GLBT community. Here are a couple of highlights:

Christopher Maier: Being among the listeners to the GLBTQ panel of storytellers at the National Storytelling Conference in Rhode Island was momentous for me. The polyphony of voices -- including straight allies along with GLBTQ tellers -- really exposed my heart to how deeply we all suffer from our society’s skewed perceptions, homophobia and fearful blindness about sexual orientation and gender identity matters. It awakened my awareness of how much more I as a straight teller can do to work for gay rights/gay pride and for inclusion of these other voices in storytelling events. The stories that are the most eclipsed in our culture are those which we most need to hear.

How can storytelling in families nurture inclusive attitudes towards people who have different sexual orientations and gender identities?
Rob McCabe: By telling stories of GLBT people and acting as if the only thing different about them is whom they love -- by nature. I think it is a very strong case that GLBT people are born. It is no one's fault, although many mothers, including mine, have asked, "What have I done?" or "What have we done?" By telling stories showing how difficult it is being the "outsider," perhaps people will see that there really isn't anything "wrong" about being queer.

Patti Digh: When we choose stories to tell our children that involve nontraditional families and gay and lesbian characters, we are -- in essence -- giving voice to a broader reality for them. We are allowing them to realize that definitions of "normalcy" are broader than the general population might allow for. We are opening the door to a dialogue that might be difficult when faced head-on, but can be broached when the door is opened through story.

There are more excellent, thoughtful, open-minded ideas that are worth checking out in this Q&A and I encourage you to do so.

"Embrace Our Differences"

Here are some excerpts from an op-ed piece written by someone who is clearly an expert on diverse cultures:

.....our own globalized era is regrettably marked by rising intolerance, extremism and violence. Closer proximity and improved communications have often led not to mutual understanding and friendship but to tension and mutual mistrust.

.....the misconceptions and stereotypes underlying the idea of a “clash of civilizations” have come to be more and more widely shared. Some groups seem eager to foment a new war of religion.

Demonization of the “other” has proved the path of least resistance, although healthy introspection would better serve us all. In the 21st century we remain hostage to our sense of grievance and to our feelings of entitlement. Our narratives have become our prison.

Unlearning intolerance is in part a matter of legal protection. The right to freedom of religion, and to freedom from discrimination based on religion, has long been enshrined in international law and incorporated into the domestic law of many countries. Any strategy to build bridges must depend heavily on education, not just about Islam or Christianity, but about all religions, traditions and cultures, so that myths and distortions can be seen for what they are.

The writer of the piece is Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general of the United Nations. With his approach of inclusion, education, and tolerance of differing views, it's no wonder he was not embraced by the Bush administration.

This piece is not about homosexuality, but it could be. The principles that Annan eloquently wrote about sure do apply to not just the tolerance but the ultimate acceptance of the GLBT community as full-fledged human beings.

The 8th Edition of the International Carnival of Pozitives

This from Ron Hudson, who writes the 2sides2ron blog:

The ICP is a blog carnival for people who are vitally interested in HIV/AIDS, either because they are infected or they are at risk of infection and they want to learn more about the impact of the disease on individuals or society. Others might visit this carnival because they are allies, friends, family, co-workers or caregivers of people living with the disease. In my opinion, this includes all people living on Earth today.

I hope that you will take a few minutes to read the work of the contributors of this edition and that their efforts will encourage you to speak out about HIV/AIDS in your sphere of influence. Stigma about HIV/AIDS is one of the most detrimental issues facing all of us. By making our voices heard, and by speaking frankly about this disease, we can raise awareness and help to demystify the illness.

It's worth your time to check it out.

Democrats Pledge to Push Bills That Help Gays

This from the Washington Blade:

Democratic leaders are pledging to push at least two bills this year in Congress that would enact new civil rights and protections for gays.

During the Democratic National Committee’s annual winter meeting Feb. 2 in Washington, party officials said congressional leaders will act this spring to pass a federal hate crimes bill that includes crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

A trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act is expected to follow this fall, officials said.

This article also includes comments from party chairman Howard Dean, who has received mixed reviews from the GLBT community. He is showing signs that he wants to change that.

If the Democrats can effect positive change for GLBT people, they will earn a reward at the polls in 2008. It wouldn't be a bad idea to remind your local congressman about how that works.

Retired NBA Star "Hates Gay People"

When former NBA player John Amaechi announced he was gay, it was only a matter of time before someone connected with pro basketball said something monumentally stupid.

Tim Hardaway, come on down!

In a radio interview, when asked what he would think of having a gay teammate, former NBA star Tim Hardaway included this in his response:

"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known," Hardaway said. "I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

It is hardly shocking that a former pro basketball player is homophobic, but I link that story here to bring the league's response to your attention.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, upon learning of the remarks Wednesday, removed Hardaway from subsequent league-related appearances. "It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," Stern said in a statement to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Hardaway has been taking part in NBA festivities ahead of Sunday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas and attended an NBA Cares outreach event at a city YMCA with Knicks forward Jerome Williams on Tuesday.

Amaechi responded:

"I will say this about the Tim Hardaway comments and the comments of people like him ... these are the loud comments that pollute the air," Amaechi said. "These are the comments that create the atmosphere that allow some of the tragic incidents of homophobia that we've seen. This is what makes the lives of gay and lesbian young people in schools miserable. It's what stops gay and lesbian people in the workplace from coming out as well as the fact they can be fined in 33 states for being gay. These are part of the problem."

Interestingly, there was quite a bit of discussion on sports talk radio today about homosexuality. While most of the hosts I heard were waaaaaay out of their depth, they were nonetheless making a sincere effort to be understanding and accepting while working over Tim Hardaway for his hateful comments.

This is progress, folks. Before we get too giddy, though, reviewing some of the comments posted on the ESPN story I linked illustrate that there is a long way to go. At least people in the final frontier for GLBT acceptance, men's sports, are talking about it.

Understand the Opposition

That is some very sage advice offered in a column in The Minnesota Daily, the student newspaper at the University of Minnesota (the U for those in the Twin Cities).

Progress cannot be made until people are willing to listen to each other. For this year's National Freedom to Marry Day you are all encouraged to divorce your emotions regarding this extraordinarily divisive issue in order to understand the perceived "opposition." For those who support marriage rights for all consenting individuals, try to understand the foundations of the convictions of those who disagree with you and learn how you might dispel those predispositions. For those who would seek to strictly define the legality and the validity of a couple in the name of God or for the sake of "family values," question your convictions and test your faith.

Your values as a spiritual person can only become stronger by testing what you believe. All you need to do is sit down and ask yourself how you can truly serve God and what in your life is truly at risk.

I believe it is a good thing to engage people in discussion who might not agree with your views. Many opponents of GLBT equality do all they can to stiffle such discussion. The only time I'm not comfortable discussing an issue with someone is if I'm not confident that my views will really hold up under scrutiny.

So what are many right-wingers afraid of? In my opinion, they fear being proven wrong, something the GLBT community and its allies are gradually accomplishing.

A Different Approach to the Marriage Issue in Washington State

There is a group in the state of Washington that is taking a unique approach to flushing out the reasons people truly oppose same-sex marriage. Since one of the common arguements is that those unions are incapable of naturally producing children, the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance is working to get Initiative 957 on the ballot for the next election.

Initiative 957 would:

o add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
o require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
o require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
o establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
o make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits

Sound extreme? Of course. There is a method to their maddness which is detailed in this article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

"Toward Gay Marriage"

That's the title of an op-ed piece in the Rutland (VT) Herald. Here are a couple of highlights:

Freedom-to-marry advocates have launched an effort to persuade the Vermont Legislature to approve a bill allowing for gay marriage. Passage of a gay marriage bill will not happen overnight, but it is a cause worth supporting.

Action on the issue is not compelled this time by a court decision, and it does not need to begin tomorrow. Rather, action is compelled by our understanding of the meaning of equality. It is time to take another look at the issue.

It's that kind of balanced, well reasoned approach that just drives opponents of equality crazy.

Good.

Gay Recruiting?

This came from an article written by Sarah Posner for the American Prospect:

Last fall, while doing some reporting in northeastern Kentucky, I was talking to two local activists (registered Democrats, no less!) about why they were trying to shut down anti-bullying training at the public high school. Their gripe? By teaching that homosexuality is normal, and that students shouldn't harass their classmates because they’re gay, the training sought to recruit students into being gay. "You know," said one of the activists, "homosexuality cannot be reproduced, because two homosexuals can’t bear children. So they have to recruit people into their organizations."

The writer points out that it is this type of mentality that allows people to believe the recent declaration that Ted Haggard is now "completely heterosexual." There are those that want to believe that Haggard and others can be enticed into the "homosexual lifestyle" by gay men that are apparently lurking around street corners (or churches) seeking out straight men to convert them.

It's hard to describe how stupid and far from reality that thought process is, but a section of society historically will do anything to justify the separation and condemnation of people who are different than they are.

Again using history as a guide, this will NEVER be completely eliminated. That's why it is encumbent on those of us who aren't afraid of people who are different and who obey God's most important commandment, to love, to step up and work on opening minds and hearts toward acceptance of GLBT people as our brothers and sisters.

Reaction to Former NBA Player's Coming Out

At Outsports.com, they have collected a broad spectrum of reactions to the coming out of former NBA player John Amaechi, the first NBA player to do so.

As you might expect, there was a mix of responses. A couple of current players said a teammate coming out would be "awkward," and that players would probably "stay away from him,"

The article on Outsports gathers not only current NBA players reactions but those of some GLBT leaders and sportswriters with the slant being fairly positive.

Evem that shows some progress in the testosterone laden world of men's professional sports.

Shepard: "Stand Up and Be Counted"

That was the message Matthew Shepard's mother conveyed recently during a speech at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

Shortly after her son’s death, Mrs. Shepard went on the speaking circuit to promote the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which promotes gay and lesbian equality, draws attention to the existence of hate crimes and addresses other issues of social justice.

“I know Matt would be very disappointed in me if I gave up,” she said. “He would be very disappointed in all of us if we gave up.”

The teenage suicide rate, she said, “is through the roof.” And for teenagers perceived to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, she said, the rate skyrockets.

"As a society, it says we are a bunch of bigots,” she said. “Maybe we are.”

Mrs. Shepard said at the least it is symptomatic of what she called a “SIC” society — “silent, indifferent, complacent.”

That last sentence brings up a very important point. There are a lot of people we've all run across that feel the approach of "live and let live" is sufficient support for the GLBT community. It's not. By sitting on the sidelines, we can allow the bigots to rule the day and prevent equality for our gay and lesbian sisters.

It's not enough to say, "gay is ok," we need to stand up and have our voices heard for the cause of seeing the GLBT community have their rightful place as equal members of our society.

More About Gay-Straight Alliances

This quote if from an article in the Fort Wayne, IN News Express about Gay-Straight Alliance clubs in high schools:

Kelcie Currier of Tamarac, Fla., says her world changed the day she joined her high school's gay-straight alliance club.

"Just knowing that there are other kids like me, or who care about the same issue that I do, it makes me feel great. Less alone. That life is not hopeless," said Kelcie, 17, a junior at J.P. Taravella High in Coral Springs, Fla., who came out as a lesbian about four years ago.

Gay-straight alliances (GSAs) are student-led clubs, usually at high school and middle schools, that promote respect and address antigay name-calling, bullying and harassment. Spectrum, the Taravella club, is one of more than 3,000 GSAs nationally.

Can somebody rationally explain to me what is wrong with any of that? There are plenty of people across the nation that fight these groups rights to exist and meet, but I don't think rationality factors into their opposition.

Thanks to PageOne Q for the tip.

Former Pro Basketball Player Comes Out

John Amaechi, a man who played professional basketball for five years in the National Basketball Association, has publicly come out as gay. He has become the first former NBA player to announce he is a homosexual.

While several former pro football and baseball players have come out, we still wait for an active player to do so. I also wait for someone who has not written a book about it to just make an announcement and not turn it into a revenue generating event.

LZ Granderson, a writer for "ESPN The Magazine," takes a dim view on athletes coming out after retirement.

I can't help but wonder: When will somebody simply man up? That is, come out while he is still playing and finally demystify this whole gay athlete thing once and for all.
I've read the magazines.

I've seen the interviews.

Hell, I've written the stories.

Closeted athletes are miserable.

They have thoughts of suicide, they can't perform as well as they'd like, they live in constant anxiety of being found out, and while their heterosexual teammates are out chasing skirts during road trips, they stay locked up in their hotel rooms afraid to make eye contact with anyone because the bellhop's gaydar may go off.

Get over it.

An athlete in 2007 who stays in the closet during his playing days does more to support homophobia in sports than coming out after retirement does to combat it.

Well said. The first active athlete to come out will unquestionably have a rough time of it, but can it truly be more difficult than living a lie?

I want to reiterate a point I've made here before. If you are a major league athlete living in the closet or know someone who is, I would welcome the opportunity to help him tell his story

GLBT Community 1, Snickers 0

Thanks to the outcry led by such groups as the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), the homophobic Snickers ad campaign kicked off during Sunday's Super Bowl has been scrapped.

The ad itself didn't bother me--I thought it showed just how ignorant homophobia can be--but the alternate endings on the associated website and bigoted comments by players from the Super Bowl teams pushed it way over the line of satire into hatred.

This was a good win for the GLBT community, and the efforts of those who so strongly spoke out against this defamation should be commended.

More on LGBT Youth Homelessness

I posted on this issue yesterday but since then found this post on the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force web site which discusses the Task Forces's report.

Indeed, one of our critical aims and hopes is that service providers and social service agencies will see this report as a wake-up call to the crisis of homelessness among LGBT youth. Some may already work with this population and learn from one of our contributors about how to enrich an existing program. Others might know they need to reach out to LGBT youth but need additional guidance on how to do so.

While there is clearly more that can be done at the grassroots level, in the end it is not enough to beat this epidemic without additional funding and support at the federal level.

Check out the entire column by Jason Cianciotto, Research Director, Policy Institute, who makes a strong case for a combined grass roots effort to suppliment government funding to address this growing problem.

There's An Epidemic of Homeless GLBT Youth

That's what this story in The Advocate reports.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless said gay, lesbian, and transgender youths make up at least 20%—possibly as much as 40%—of the total number of homeless and runaway youth, a fluid population that experts have estimated at 575,000 to 1.6 million each year. ''The national response to this epidemic has been nothing short of disgraceful,'' Matt Foreman, NGLTF executive director, told reporters during a teleconference.

What is the body of Christ doing to reach these young people? If they're out of the closet, I dare say the mainline denominations are doing more to create the problem than resolve it. The encouragement families receive to condemn their kids if they even show tendancies toward being gay or lesbian succeedes in sending a lot of young lives into a downward spiral, and not all of them pull out of it.

See, when fundamentalists say, "hate the sin, love the sinner," the hate usually overwhelms the love. Most humans are not good enough to actually pull that off and make someone feel loved. Hate, however, we're pretty good at.

Jesus, on the other hand, just loved. So should we.

Upcoming Event: "Keeping Pace With God's Grace"

The National Black Justice Coalition is sponsoring the upcoming conference "Keeping Pace With God's Grace" in Philadelphia on March 10.

From the press release:

Over three hundred people from across the nation will gather to debate the issue of homosexuality and its role within the Black Church as well as provide solutions on how to create a welcoming and gay-affirming church.

Black iconic intellectuals such as the Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson plus several other religious leaders both anti-gay and gay-affirming will headline the event and facilitate discussion ranging from HIV and the Black Church to debating the legitimacy of scripture referring to homosexuality.

This is one of the few occassions that I am aware of where there will be honest, balanced debate on issues relating to GLBT people and Christianity. Hopefully minds will be open and hearts changed when the word of God is honestly studied, especially at a conference where the African-American community is actively engaged.

Speaking Out for Gay Straight Alliances in Utah

The Sale Lake Tribune has an editorial strongly condemning an effort in the Utah state legislature that would effectively ban Gay Straight Alliances in Utah schools.

Given that Utah is hardly a bastion of progressive thought, it's a good sign that the largest newspaper in the state would take such a strong stand on this issue.

Equal Access to School Facilities

As reported by the Christian Post, a federal judge recently ruled that a branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes must be allowed the same rights to use school facilities as other non-religious clubs. Good.

"Equal access means equal access, and the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) should not be discriminated against just because they want to have a Christian club," (plaintiff attorney Joel L.) Oster said after the hearing.

Despite the district's claims, Oster said this case was about religious issues.

"The message we want to get out there is that Christians are not second-class citizens," Oster said. "... They are entitled to their views, and they are entitled to free expression of those views."

Now if you substitute the phrase "Gay-Straight Alliance" for "Christian" in these quotes, you truly have equal access. However, the more frequent situation is for school districts to accept these Christian clubs and discriminate against the GSA clubs.

The same rules need to apply to all who wish to access public facilities.

How About More Focus on Saving Heterosexual Marriage?

That's the theme of this op-ed piece in the Madison (Wisconsin) Times.

I've got a suggestion for Julaine Appling and her colleagues at the euphemistically named Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, the state chapter of the organization founded by Christian bomb thrower James Dobson: Quit worrying about homosexual marriage and get to work saving the heterosexual ones.

We don't need same-sex marriage to "destroy" the institution of marriage. Heterosexual couples have done a pretty good job of that already.

Of course, focusing efforts on denying homosexual couples the right to marry draws attention away from that painfully obvious fact, doesn't it? Organizations aren't going to have nearly the same level of success with their fund raising campaigning against divorce, now would they?

Anti-Gay Measures Stirring up GLBT Activists in "Red" States

A while back, I posted about a story telling how anti-gay initiatives in Kansas had stirred up more visible and active support for GLBT equality than had ever been present in the state. According to this report in the Washington Blade, this situation has also developed in numerous so-called "red" states across the Midwest.

“The silver lining from these ballot measures is that they triggered the building of a GLBT movement in these states,” (Equality Federation executive director Toni) Broaddus said. “We may be losing these fights now, but we are building our capacity to grow and build more public support in the long run.”

The fight for equality will not be won in the short-term, but merely having more people engage in the battle pushes the issues closer to resolution.

Do They Really Need This?

According to this report in the Casper, Wyoming Star-Tribune, a bill has been introduced in the Wyoming state legislature that would void same-sex marriages legally performed in another state or country for couples who moved to Wyoming.

Are there gay and lesbian couples lining up to relocate into Wyoming? Doubtful.

Carrie Evans, state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group, echoed that: "Surely the Wyoming legislature has real problems to deal with.

"But a co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Owen Petersen, R-Mountain View, said the measure is extremely important. "In the past 30 years, most of the statistics support the fact that with the loss of marriage and a stable home environment there are more adverse impacts on society with crime and with various other things that cause a deterioration of our whole country," Petersen said.

This representative uses curious logic, because to protect the deterioration of the whole country, he is proposing to do exactly what he says is the cause by dissolving marriages.

Of course, if rules of logic applied to this debate there would be a whole lot less people on the other side.

Equality is Great, But Safety Comes First

GLBT activists and their allies are focused on issues like same-sex marriage, acceptance of gays and lesbians in the church, and the prevention of discrimination. There are more basic issues we can lose sight of, however. One of them is the personal safety of a GLBT person who is out in a hostile environment, like, say, South Dakota.

Here is the story of one such person published in the Washington Blade. While the fight for equal rights is important, let's not lose sight of those who have to deal with concerns for their very survival on a daily basis.

GLAAD Lobbying For Equality in Wedding Announcements

GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has been working hard lobbying newspapers to carry announcemtns of same-sex weddings, civil unions, and committment ceremonies. According to this report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, editors at 883 daily newspapers across the United States have agreed to publish these notices.

So far, however, only 319 papers have actually printed them, and GLAAD is now trying to encourage same-sex couples to take advantage of this opportunity and announce themselves to their community. Information is posted in GLAAD's website regarding which newspapers have agreed to participate.

If you are part of a couple that is stepping forward and making a committment to each other, please allow me to encourage you to make this public declaration and let everyone know just how serious you are.

New Hampshire Considering Regulating Church Weddings

When campaigning against legalizing same-sex marriage, one of the points the right wing likes to use is the fear that this legistlation would force churches whose doctrine does not believe in this right to perform these ceremonies anyway.

There is legislation under consideration in New Hampshire that takes just the opposite approach. According to this report in the Concord Monitor, this law would require wedding ceremonies within churches to comply with current state laws. In other words, until same-sex marriage would be legalized in the state, a church would not be allowed to hold a committment ceremony.

Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be a lot of support for this, but it just shows how far some people are willing to go to discriminate against GLBT people. Hopefully the legislators in New Hampshire won't let it happen.

Not a Redefinition, Just Equal Access

That's the arguement that Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, makes about same-sex marriage in an op-ed piece for The Gazette, a group of local weekly newspapers in the DC suburbs of Maryland.

One of the primary arguements used against this is the alleged redefinition of marriage this would cause. As Furmansky points out:

".....all gays and lesbians — simply seek access to a universally recognized legal institution that will create stability and peace of mind for our families. More importantly, we seek to share in the joy and commitment that should be the hallmark of any loving relationship.

Same-sex couples express love in the same ways straight couples do. We bring our loved ones chicken soup when they sneeze. We listen intently when they complain about work. We look for ways to make them happy, with a gesture, with a card, with a kiss. We let them have the remote control — sometimes. We try to make them laugh, and we cook their favorite foods for their birthdays. We make homes together, build families together, and keep each other warm at night.

Allowing us to marry legally is just plain fair. No one chooses to be gay or lesbian, and being gay or lesbian is not a moral deficiency. Now, as the dark cloud of the closet that steals our souls is lifted for more and more of us, more Americans are understanding that ending discrimination against gays and lesbians means ending discrimination in marriage."

It's important to emphasize that no straight people would be harmed in the passing of these laws.

Keeping Religion Out of Politics--On Both Sides of the Isle

I've frequently written here about why I believe the insertion of the religious right into the political arena has corrupted both parts of society. In this entry on the Washington Post blog "On Faith," writer Susan Jacoby points out the need for the emerging religous left not to follow the same path. I couldn't agree more.

I would be hypocrytical if I endorsed the idea of democrats inserting their religious views into policy making simply because I might agree with them. I have maintained my issue is as much with the blurring of the line between church and state as it is the specific policies the right wing has shoved down America's throats over the past few years.

Ms. Jacoby writes:

I believe, after years of nauseating sanctimony from Christian soldiers in government, that this nation is hungry for candidates who speak about morality in an inclusionary rather than an exclusionary way--who appeal to and for a public and a civic morality that can be subscribed to by Americans of any or no religious belief.

No group of people has been more victimized by this than the GLBT community. It clearly needs to stop, but this country desperately needs a balance to be struck and not for the pendulum to swing just as far the other way.

Get Out and Lobby!

This is the time of year that state legislatures all across the nation are conveining and considering legislation. There are still states that are entertaining constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage, while others are considering progressive initiatives that would insure equal rights in the workplace and other areas of society and establish harsher penalties for hate crimes committed against GLBT people.

My point is that this is the time for the GLBT community and its allies to stand up and have their voices heard. There are many state and local organizations that adovcate for GLBT issues like the one in my home state, Equality Maryland, which will have their annual lobby day in the state capitol of Annapolis on February 12.

I participated in last year's event, the first time I had ever done anything like that. I was proud to represent a cause I deeply believe in and will do so again next month.

I believe you 'll feel the same way if you join the voices speaking out for equality.

Connecticut Newspaper Comes Out For Same-Sex Marriage

The Hartford Courant, the most influential newspaper in Connecticut, has published an editorial taking a very strong stance in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. Here is an excerpt:

Connecticut can be proud that it took a step toward ending this discrimination by granting gay and lesbian couples the right to form civil unions, the first state to do so without pressure from the courts. Now, it is time to continue the conversation with a goal of making same-sex marriage a reality.

The editorial makes the case for the significance of the difference between a civil union and marriage. Mirroring the way a lot of folks in New Jersey felt following the recent legalization of civil unions in that state, the Courant points out how a civil union is somewhat of a second class version of marriage. The newspaper states, and I wholeheartedly agree, that GLBT people deserve to stand with their heterosexual counterparts and enjoy the fullness of marriage in every aspect.

"Whose Side Is God On, Anyway?"

This is a theme I post on periodically, but I don't think it can be emphasized often enough. In recent years, the religious right has hammered home their version of what God wants our society and laws to be and condemning as ungodly any people who hold different views.

An editorial in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel written by O. Ricardo Pimentel questions that approach:

Let's see. When God is on your side, who precisely is on the other side? See what I mean?

Implicit in these circumstances is that the other side is anti-God, though there are thankfully those in the faith movements who have far more ecumenical views about this.


My own view is that the Bible is a handy tool if it is viewed in the context of what in it is contingent and what is coherent.

In other words, stoning adulterers and a host of other practices and beliefs were contingent on a set of circumstances in a distinct culture and historical period.

No one is advocating we do these things today.

But virtues like kindness, charity, peace and justice are coherent throughout the Bible, not limited to any particular culture or era.

There's more good stuff in the column, including the concept of making value decisions with an open mind.

Now there's an idea that is timeless.

Same-Sex Unions NOT Destroying Marriage in Canada

Don't take my word for it, though. This report provided by Equal Marriage Canada has the statistics that show the institution of marriage is STRONGER, not weaker, since same-sex marriages were legalized in that nation. The conclusion is:

Rather than undermining marriage as opponents of equality make in their extreme and bizarre hysteria, the arrival of gays and lesbians, and their children, in the institute has given a new breath of life to what would have been an otherwise diminished year in Canada for marriage.

That's worth keeping in mind the next time you hear a dose of the right-wing hysteria in this nation about how same-sex marriage in the United States.

Exodus Has a New Branch in Texas

B. Joe Cline, a 75-year old grandfather, has started Lighthouse Freedom Ministry in Waco Texas. He has announced the ministry with billboards near interestate highways in Waco and the Houston area that has messages like, "I questioned homosexuality. Change is possible. Discover how."

Sadly, there will be homosexuals who have been browbeaten by their churches and/or family and grown to hate themselves enough to drive them to Cline's "ministry." This from the report in the Waco Tribune:

The Rev. Charley Garrison, pastor of the gay-friendly Central Texas Metropolitan Community Church From the Heart, said he was relieved to hear from a reporter that Cline’s ministry is not geared toward those who are comfortable with their orientation, only those who want to change it.

“Because that means I won’t have to worry about him picketing my church or supporting others to do the same,” Garrison said. “You see, we worship a God who loves unconditionally, with no strings attached.”

Central Texas MCC is part of the almost 40-year-old gay-friendly Christian denomination founded because so many churches rejected homosexual worshippers.

“Unfortunately, there are people who claim to speak on behalf of Jesus Christ, when in fact, our Savior had nothing to say about homosexuality. However, Jesus did condemn those people who have a predisposition to point out the speck in other people’s eyes when there is a log in their own (Matthew 7:1-5) ,” Garrison said.

Very well stated Rev. Garrison.

Seminary To Host Transgender Conference

From Beliefnet.com:

BERKELEY, Calif. (RNS) The first Transgender Religious Summit to be held at a Christian seminary will bring together 50 activists, transgender members of faith communities, academics and religious leaders this weekend (Jan. 19-21) at the Pacific School of Religion here.

"Transgender people are emerging from the spiritual closet," said Justin Tanis, program manager for the National Center for Transgender Equality, a Washington-based advocacy group that is co-sponsoring the summit with the seminary's Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry.

The summit is designed to create dialogue among transgender people and their allies in faith communities who are concerned with human rights and social justice issues. Tanis said the program will empower people to speak about transgender matters in churches and the public sphere. Participants come from Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and pagan faith communities.

"Something like this conference would have been unheard of 12 years ago," said the Rev. Erin Swenson, a transgender Presbyterian pastoral counselor.

Organizers said the transgender community is gaining momentum and is organizing itself as a movement. In addition, more religious communities are realizing that transgender people are part of their congregations, Swenson said.

Response, however, has been mixed. In 2003, the Catholic Church banned transgender people from religious orders while Unitarian Universalists and the United Church of Christ have begun ordaining transgender ministers. Swenson said transgender people have many gifts to offer to their congregations and society at large. She said these gifts include having a deep sense of personal integrity and an ability to be honest about who they are.

Transgender people also can help faith communities emphasize love, self-respect and human dignity as "central core values."

While conservative religious groups have opposed steps to protect against gender discrimination, none were invited to the summit. Tanis, however, said dialogue between transgender people of faith and conservative groups is a "worthy goal."

"A Dangerous Fraud"

Wayne Besen continues to reveal the manipulative lies so often propigated by "ex-gay ministries." His latest piece tells this story:

The anti-gay gro ups, the American Family Association and Americans for Truth should be immediately shut down for committing wanton and craven acts of fraud. They are unabashed con artists duping their own members by selling a product both groups have admitted was misleading.

The first question tactics like this bring to mind is, why do aleged Christain organizations, especially one with the word truth in its name, have to lie to influence people? I believe the answer is because what they are trying to sell is itself a lie.

What twisted version of Christianity do these folks subscribe to, then? Or is that description just another lie to gain influence and relieve people of their money?

How do you think God feels about that? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that one--he's pissed!

Seminars on Civil Unions in New Jersey

Garden State Equality, a GLBT advocacy group in New Jersey, is offering two seminars to help people understand all of the legal implications of the new legislation passed in the state legalizing same-sex civil unions.

The first one will be held on January 23 at 7:oo PM at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. The seminar is free, but you must call 1-800-FREE-LAW to register or ask any questions.

For those New Jersey citizens unable to attend the seminar on the 23rd, Lambada Legal is offering a conference call on February 6th at 7:00 PM.

Please check the Garden State Equality website for more information. Please remember the information pertains only to the state of New Jersey.

"Wide Berth Allowed on Teaching About Homosexuality"

Montgomery County, Maryland (where I live) is moving forward this spring with field tests of a new sex education cirriculum that introduces students to sexual orientation and transgenderism in grade eight and ten. Since the teaching will not be an outright condemnation, there are legal challenges already in the works.

Congratulations to the school board for having the courage to take this step forward, and the activist group "Teach The Facts" that has tirelessly lobbied and made this progress forward. They still have a lot of work ahead of them as this cirriculum is rolled out, but I'm proud to live in one of the more progressive counties in the nation.

Here is the Washington Post article on this development.

Former Marriage Equality Foe Now Lobbying For Civil Unions

From the Washington Blade:

A woman who once led the charge against gay unions in Hawaii is now lobbying for their passage.
Debi Hartmann is working with gay activists and Democratic leaders in Hawaii to enact civil unions that carry the same rights as traditional marriage. The move represents a stark change for Hartmann, who once led Hawaii’s Future Today, a conservative group of Mormons, Catholics and others who opposed gay unions. In that role, the married mother of three railed against gay marriage.

Hawaii’s Future Today dissolved after a 1998 vote granted state lawmakers the authority to ban gay marriage.

But in an exclusive interview with the Washington Blade, Hartmann said she now believes that Hawaii should enact civil unions to protect gay couples and their children.

See, some people DO eventually open their minds and allow a change of heart.

Click here to read the rest of the Blade articie.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Honors Dr. King

This is a press release from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 — Today is the federal holiday honoring the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

“Today we honor and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Coretta Scott King, who died last January. In their lives, Dr. King and Mrs. King bent the arc of history toward racial and economic justice. In the years following her husband’s murder, Mrs. King became an unwavering supporter for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and she was a keynote speaker at our own Creating Change Conference in 2000.

“Those who walked beside them have continued their vision, including Mrs. King’s belief in justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. We hold up with gratitude the members of Dr. King’s family and those who fought beside Dr. King while he was alive:

‘Homophobia is hate, and hate has no place in the beloved community.’ --Martin Luther King III, August 2003, at the 40th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.

‘When I am asked, “Are gay rights civil rights?” my answer is always, “Of course they are.” Civil rights are positive legal prerogatives –– the right to equal treatment before the law. These rights are shared by all. There is no one in the United States who does not –– or should not — share in these rights.’ — Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force 10th Annual Miami Recognition Dinner, November 4, 2006

‘Rather than divide and discriminate, let us come together and create one nation. We are all one people. We all live in the American house. We are all the American family. Let us recognize that the gay people living in our house share the same hopes, troubles, and dreams. It’s time we treated them as equals, as family.’ — Representative John Lewis in the Boston Globe, October 25, 2003

“At the same time, we call upon all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans to recommit ourselves to the Kings’ work of ending racial and economic injustice. That work is far from over; in fact, scant progress has been made in many areas. As reported by the NAACP, in 1958, the typical African-American family had 60 percent as much income as the typical white family; 46 years later in 2005, that figure was — shockingly — just 61 percent. At this slow rate it will take more than 100 years to close the black-white income disparity. Unemployment among African-Americans is more than twice the rate for whites — a greater gap than in 1972. One-third — more than 6 million — of working African-Americans lack health insurance coverage during all or part of the year. Educational opportunities remain vastly unequal, and the progress toward truly integrated schools has not only stalled, but is going backwards. Steps to remedy the legacy of slavery and racism remain under attack on many fronts, including voters in Michigan overwhelmingly approving a ban on affirmative action in November.

“Clearly, we can and must do better. For Dr. King and Mrs. King, for Bayard Rustin, for those in the broader civil rights movement who have stood beside us for so long, and for all of us and our nation, let us renew and redouble our work.”

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

There is debate going on in the GLBT community and also among its allies on how closely the push for equality should mirror the civil rights movement of the 1960's, which advanced the cause of African-American equal rights. You've seen that debate featured on this blog periodically, but today is a good time to remember why both efforts unquestionably share some commonality. On this day as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King and his leadership in the fight for civil rights, I borrow this quote from David W. Shelton's piece, "Justice: A Message Fit For a King" from Dr. King's widow, the recently deceased Corretta Scott King:

According to Reuters, She said in 1998, “I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice.” But she didn’t stop there. “But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.”

This was not a popular stand she took, but like her late husband, she did so not to win friends but because she thought it was right.

GLBT activists aren't going to lose more friends than they make fighting for the cause of equality, but we need to keep our eyes on the prize because in our hearts we know it's the right thing to do.

I encourage you to read David Shelton's piece for more thoughts on the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. King and their application to the GLBT community.

Jim & Tammy Faye's Son A GLBT-Friendly Minister

Many of you probably remember Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who led the PTL ministry and later fell HARD in disgrace. Their som Jay encountered his own hard times, having issues with drugs and alcohol after his parents suffered through their debacle. Jay has bounced back, however, and has a ministry of his own. A primary target of his outreach is to punk rockers. He is also reaching out to the GLBT community, which automatically makes him a target of those who have not received the enlightenment.

J. Lee Grady is one of those folks and has written a column for Charisma magazine (1/12/07 in archives) where he takes a very condescending and dismissive attitude torward Jay Bakker and gay affirming Christians in general. He writes:

Jay has made it clear that he embraces what he calls a “gay-affirming” gospel. He told Mother Jones magazine that he came to the conclusion that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle by “looking deeper in the Bible” and by visiting a gay-affirming church. He also admitted that one of his biggest ministry donors stopped supporting his work when he embraced this radical new theology.

I don’t mean to pick on Jay. As a child he was the innocent victim of appalling religious hypocrisy. But he’s a big boy now, 31 to be exact, and if he’s going to be in the game with the adults he needs to play by the rules.

I’m blowing the whistle. Consider this an official apostasy alert.

Grady added:

It (GLBT affirming doctrine) welcomes everyone with a polite “come as you are” mantra—but in the end is incapable of breaking the power of addiction or sexual dysfunction. It uses feel-good words such as “tolerance,” “acceptance” and “grace,” terms that sound hip and sexy in today’s permissive culture. It is a golden calf, shiny and seductive, forged by those who think they can rewrite God’s word and start a new religion.

This gay-affirming “gospel” is a toxic heresy that must be addressed boldly from our pulpits in 2007. I pray there is enough moral backbone left in the church to face the challenge.

When did words like acceptance and grace become "feel-good words?" God's grace is one of the main themes in the Bible, hardly some hip and sexy phrase symptomatic of a permissive culture. These are words of love, not intollerance like the Phairasees in Jesus' time displayed.

I pray there is enough moral backbone amongst GLBT Christians and their allies to stand up in the face of such intollerant ministers who think they have it all figured out but come up woefully short regarding the place of gay and lesbian people in God's kingdom.

Concerns With Exodous' Youth Ministry

Peterson Toscano is a familiar name to many of the readers here. Peterson is what could be called an ex-ex gay, meaning he went through therapy to "cure" his homosexual orientation, then recanted that and went forward embracing life as a gay man. Peterson has stayed close to the "ex-gay" movement, and currently involved is working with the leading ex-gay organization, Exodus International, to resolve some concerns with their youth "ministry."

Here is an excerpt from Peterson's blog:

On June 26, 2006 I initially left voice messages for Alan Chambers of Exodus International and another national ex-gay leader about inappropriate incidents that affected youth at an Exodus member ministry. I will not go into the details at this time, but I shared three specific situations that happened within the previous year. The shocking details of the third situation compelled me to contact Alan and this other national leader. In my initial messages I said that I would rather discuss this privately, but if they did not wish to talk, then I would initiate a public discussion.

Peterson is at somewhat of an impasse with Alan Chambers and Exodos, so he has begun to go public with this issue. There will be some of you that will question Peterson's methods, wishing he directly and aggressively confronted them, but I appreciate the approach he has used here and pray that it is effective.

Click here to read more about concerns regarding Exodus' work with youth on his blog. There is also an update to this story.

Supporting Religious Freedom

One of the alarmist tactics used by opponents of same-sex marriage is to claim that it is a threat to religious freedom. The line is that activists seek to force churches to perform these ceremonies even if it goes against their doctrine. This is a claim not based in fact, as illustrated by this press release from Garden State Equality, an organization that advocates for the GLBT community in New Jersey.

Statement from Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, cell (917) 449-8918:
Today New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner issued written advice to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics concluding that, once a New Jersey law authorizing civil unions takes effect on February 19, members of the clergy may legally decline to perform civil union ceremonies if doing so would conflict with "sincerely held religious beliefs."

Though we at Garden State Equality have received many calls from journalists in the past hour, this is a nonstory. Garden State Equality agrees with the Attorney General's opinion.

National and statewide LGBTI rights organizations have always maintained -- even with regard to 100 percent marriage equality for same-sex couples, which we will achieve in New Jersey through by passing legislation within the next two years or less -- that clergy have the option not to perform whatever ceremonies they don't wish to perform.

In fact, the Garden State Equality-supported bill introduced by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), which would establish 100 percent marriage equality instead of civil unions that are separate, unequal and discriminatory, specifically states that clergy do not have to perform ceremonies they don't wish to. This has always been a tenet of the national marriage equality movement.

All that said, allowing clergy not to perform same-sex ceremonies is entirely different from allowing government officials from refraining to perform same-sex ceremonies if they do perform opposite-sex ceremonies.

Government officiants like mayors do not have any right to discriminate against same-sex couples under both the New Jersey Constitution and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. We're pleased that Attorney General Rabner's opinion today reiterates this strongly.

Some mayors in New Jersey are now opting not to perform any ceremonies because of their opposition to same-sex marriage. That is their legal right. Discrimination, at least in New Jersey marriages, are not.

"Why We Left the Episcopal Church"

Today's Washington Post featured an op-ed piece co-authored by the rector of one of the churches that recently severed ties with the Episcopal Church.

Here are a couple of excerpts followed by my comments:

The core issue in why we left is not women's leadership. It is not "Episcopalians against equality," as the headline on a recent Post op-ed by Harold Meyerson put it. It is not a "leftward" drift in the church. It is not even primarily ethical -- though the ordination of a practicing homosexual as bishop was the flash point that showed how far the repudiation of Christian orthodoxy had gone.

Episcopal revisionism obliterates the very identity of faith. When the great truths of the Bible and the creeds are abandoned and there is no limit to what can be believed in their place, then the point is reached when there is little identifiably Christian in Episcopal revisionism. Would that Episcopal leaders showed the same zeal for their faith that they do for their property. If the present decline continues, all that will remain of a once strong church will be empty buildings, kept going by the finances, though not the faith, of the fathers.

In the disagreement, and in some cases full-blown war, over the place of homosexuals in God's kingdom going on in some major religious denominations, variations of the arguement in the last paragraph often surface. I have come to learn, however, that God is NOT limited to what's written in the Bible, and certainly not to any one person's interpretation of it.

God's revalation is a gradual one. Look at how knowledge of Him grew from the beginning of the Old Testament to the New Testament. Do you really think that all of God's wisdom can be contained in any book? The Bible is a guide to God, not the literal answer to every question. The writers of the op-ed piece in the Post appear to be limiting themselves to the written word, lacking the courage to seek understanding beyond it.

There is sooooooo much God wants to show us and teach us. We simply have to listen and be willing to learn.

"Can You See the Kingdom"

David Shelton from the wonderful blog "Skipping to the Piccolo" alerted me to this piece he posted yesterday. I thought is was an excellent post and want to share it with the readers here.

One of the greatest struggles a person can have in their Christian walk is with themselves. Whether I’m counseling someone or just providing an ear, the daily struggles we all face over our own actions, attractions, or distractions, seem to be paramount. These struggles consume us. Sometimes, they even define us.

Click here to read the rest of "Can You See the Kingdom"

UK Faith Groups Fight For Right to Discriminate

No, really, they do. According to this report from Reuters, numerous faith groups got together in London to deliver a petition against a group of proposed laws that would extend current discimination protection based on race, religion, and several other factors to homosexuality.

From the report:

Christian opponents argue the laws are a major threat to their freedom of conscience and that they should not be penalised for acting according to their beliefs.

Gay rights campaigners say the proposals would simply extend existing anti-discrimination laws to homosexuals.

"It would not be acceptable in the areas of race, disability, age or religion or belief, and is not acceptable here. Either we hold human rights to be universal or we do not," said Andrew Copson, of the British Humanist Association.

Thomas Cordrey of the Laywers' Christian Fellowship, which organised the rally, said the regulations did not strike the right balance and denied the group was homophobic.

"Christians have no desire to discriminate unjustly on the grounds of sexual orientation, but they cannot and must not be forced to actively condone and promote sexual practices which the Bible teaches are wrong."

Can someone explain to me what JUST descimination is? To the group mentioned above, it appears to be that directed toward GLBT people. I missed the part in the Bible where Jesus discriminated against, well, anyone.

Gays Out of the Closet in Hollywood

The religious right loathes Hollywood these days, and its leaders will be more that happy to tell you that. Probably one of the driving forces behind that is the attitude Hollywood takes toward gays. This from the LA Daily News report:

Recently, the hinges of Hollywood's closet door have been oiled with three high-profile performers coming out as gay men and several lesbians currently enjoying mainstream success on television.

What is most remarkable, entertainment industry observers say, has been the lack of backlash faced by "How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris, "Grey's Anatomy" cast member T.R. Knight and former 'N Sync band member Lance Bass since they came out within months of each other during the second half of 2006.

"The general public is not freaking out about these actors coming out and they haven't stopped watching their shows," gay producer Paul Colichman ("Gods and Monsters") said recently. "Nobody really cares that much."

Hooray for Hollywood and open minds.

2006 Welcoming Church Survey

Courtesy of GayChurch.org, here is an overview of where the gay Christian movement stands in the U. S. and Canada regarding participation of churches across denominations (and those not afiliated).

This is a very interesting report, reviewing the recent history of gay Christianity in organized religion and showing data of the increased buy-in the GLBT population is receiving. It also referrs to some of the organizations taking a leading role in the assimilation of gays into mainstream Christianity along with the development of independent gay-affirming churches (like mine).

Here is an excerpt from the report.

The gay Christian movement has undergone massive growth over the past few years with no slowing in sight. Currently the growth is taking place primarily in the UCC congregations, Catholic groups and across Canada (Anglican and United Church of Canada). Non denominational and UMC continue to grow as well. In addition the movement is spreading across numerous denominations and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon especially with the thawing political climate.

Not only is an increasing portion of the GLBT community coming out of the closet, there walking through the doors of a church and hopefully finding a path where they can walk with the Lord.

Is the Main Obstacle to Gay Marriage in DC the Gay Community?

That's the opinion of blogger Chris Crain, and his opinion is an educated one. Until recently, he was the editor in chief of the Washington Blade. He writes:

When it comes to legal recognition for gay couples, the District of Columbia already ranks very high. Washington's "domestic partnerships" offer many of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, including child support, alimony, inheritance, legal standing to sue for wrongful death, immunity from testimony against a partner, automatic power of attorney for financial, medical and legal matters, and more.

Believe it or not, in Washington, D.C., of all places, the politicians aren't the problem. It's the gays — or more accurately, the local gay activists. Or to put it even more accurately, the few local and very vocal gay activists who make up the D.C. Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance.

For the most part, GLAA's leaders (since it has almost no active membership, per se) are old-old school. They have a long track record of lobbying local politicians, and they do it very well. They are smart and effective, at least on the battles they choose to fight.

But when it comes to marriage, GLAA's leaders have long suffered a failure of imagination and of courage. Their excuse has been the District's unique status in between that of a city and a state. Unlike other jurisdictions, the laws passed by the D.C. Council and signed by the mayor are subject to review by the Congress, which can effectively veto any law with which it disagrees.

The "activists" in GL"A"A seem far more interested in finding new homes for the seedy strip clubs displaced by the city's new baseball stadium than they are in marriage. In fact, therein may lie the problem. GLAA's silver-haired leadership probably relates more to those who ventured in to the now defunct Glorious Health & Amusement Club (a.k.a. the Glory Hole) than young D.C. gay couples aching to marry.

Being a native of the DC area myself, I understand how difficult it is to effect real change in the District. I hope there is an infusion of new blood that might change the perspective of the GLAA leadership and focus on winning legal equality instead of where they are going to party.

New Year's Wishes From Believer's Covenant Fellowship

My church took out an ad in a local GLBT newspaper, Metro Weekly, and Apostle Dale Jarrett wrote a message of encouragement to our unchurched GLBT brothers and sisters. Here's an excerpt:

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says to us, ''For I know the plans that I have for you,'' declares the Lord, ''Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future. Then you will call upon Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and FIND Me when you seek Me with ALL of your heart.''

As you start off your new year, remember that it's full of possibilities and opportunities. Make a decision today to be positive and optimistic about your future. Reach out to our Creator in faith and BELIEVE that God really does know who you are; God really does love you passionately and God really does care about your life. If you will do this, then you will find a new kind of joy for living that springs forth from a HOPE that says, ''God has a plan for me, a good plan, and I'm going to find out what that is and embrace it! I'm going to be just fine!'' In fact, you're going to be great!!!

If you check out the "team picture" included on the web site, you'll see me in the back row, third from the right with the beautiful Pastor Brenda sitting in front of me, second from the right in the first row.

A Brief Lesson In Humility

Jim Wallis, author of "God's Politics" and other provocative books, wrote a particularly profound post on his blog on beliefnet.com recently.

In a post titled "Christ's Divinity Should Inspire Humility, Not Arrogance.

Jesus being the Son of God does NOT mean that Christians are better, more right, more righteous, more moral, more blessed, more destined to win battles, or more suited to govern and decide political matters than non-Christians. Instead, believing that Jesus was the Son of God would better mean that people who claim to believe it ought to then live the way Jesus did and taught. And on that one, many of us Christians (who believe the right way) are in serious trouble when it comes to the way we live. Those who believe that Jesus was the Son of God should be the most loving, compassionate, forgiving, welcoming, peaceful, and hungry for justice people around—just like Jesus, right?

An arrogant Christian is an oxymoron.

Bring On the Vote

That's the attitude Andrew Sullivan takes on his Time magazine blog regarding the advancing possibility of same-sex marriage riht coming to a vote in Massachusetts. I agree with his feeling that there is enough popular support and gathering evidence that same-sex marriage has NOT destroyed society to allow Massachusetts to become the first state to vote in favor of that right.

If that clears the legislature and makes it onto the ballot, the vote won't happen until November, 2008. There will doubtlessly be a LOT more said and written about this issue in the interim, but Sullivan's column isn't a bad place to start.

HIV Prevention Takes a Step Forward in China

By this April, it will be mandatory for all students in Bejing schools to take an HIV-prevention course. The class, already being phased in, teaches students about safe sex and condom use among other prevention methods. A recent report warned that China could have 10 million cases of HIV/AIDS by 2010 without more aggressive prevention, and it appears the government is taking that seriously.

Click here to read the full report on 365Gay.com.

Rick Warren is Serious About Stopping AIDS

Rick Warren, pastor of the mega-church Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, CA, has become one of the more vocal evangelicals regarding the church's effort to stop AIDS. At Urbana 06, the InterVarsity Campus Fellowship's annual convention, Warren had another opportunity to push forward his message.

From the report in the Christian Post:

According to Warren, there are secular approaches to prevention of the disease but there is a component that only the church can deal with. “If you want to stop it, now you have to bring in the church,” he said.

Warren said that popular methods such as supplying condoms, limiting the number of partners and not offering needle exchange will slow the pandemic but will not stop it.

The church, on the other hand, has the ability to stop the disease that 69 million people around the world have been affected with, Warren claimed. The author of the best-selling novel Purpose Driven Life highlighted four key factors that the church adds to the AIDS prevention equation, which he listed together using the acronym S.T.O.P. They are:

Save sex for marriage
Teach men to respect women and children
Offer treatment through churches
Pledge yourself with one partner for life

Warren said if the world follows the above mentioned moral teachings, the widely-spread disease will inevitably overtime come to a stop.

Take note that Warren said "Pledge yourself with one partner for life."

Let's see if more people start to listen as Warren tries to become a leader in the fight against AIDS.

"In the Heartland and Out of the Closet"

Sometimes the religioius right is its own worst enemy. This story from the New York Times clearly illustrates that point. The story talks about a recent trend in the state of Kansas, where more and more gay and lesbian people are coming out of the closet following the passing of a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. From the Times:

(There is) a dramatic shift that has taken hold lately among gay and bisexual Kansans, many of them well into midlife and ensconced in long-term relationships. An energized culture of coming out has emerged, apparently in reaction to what many see as the anti-gay climate that led to the marriage ban.

The gay rights movement was slow to make its debut in Kansas, but during the last two years it has developed with an intensity that has surprised even its leaders. Kansas, which has approximately 73,000 openly gay and bisexual adults, according to Mr. Gates’s estimates, had no statewide gay rights organization until late 2004.

Imagine that, the state that gave us anti-gay bigot Fred Phelps (please, take him back) has a GLBT population that is alive, well, and beginning to make its presence felt.

Progress In Oregon

Basic Rights Oregon, a GLBT activist organizaiton, applauded recommendations recently made by the state's Governors Task Force on Equality. From the post on the organization's blog:

In a statement released by the Governor's office, Governor Kulongoski said, "This is about basic questions of fairness and equity under the law," said the Governor. "We must continue to strive to make Oregon a state of economic and social opportunity for all of our citizens, regardless of race, gender, religion, age or sexual orientation."

The task force's report is linked in the BRO post if you're interested in details. There's some good work being done in Oregon.

New Documentary: "For the Bible Tells Me So"

Joel Heller, a media consultant who writes the blog "Docs That Inspire," was kind enough to alert me to a podcast interview he did with Daniel Karslake, the director of the new documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So." For this project, Karslake tells the stories of five Christian families struggling to reconcile their religious beliefs with the reality that a member of their family is gay.

The documentary is being screened at the Sundance Film Festival next month so it will receive some BIG TIME exposure. I commend Karslake for taking on this project and wish him all the best with the film.

Here are some brief excerpts from the interview.

"I wanted to take the view of people who had started out on one side of the issue and wound up on the other side."

"One thing I really have a problem with is people who use the Bible when they haven't even read it, they're just using what someone told them it said."

"I don't want to tell people what to think.....I want to give them another option in the discussion. As long as discussion takes place, we on the road to acceptance."

"Wanted: More Ministers Like Vincent Fields" NOT

The title came along with a story in The Christian Post that featured the actions of a minister who gave the invocation before a recent session of the New Jersey Senate. On a day when the Senate was considering the bill that would grant civil unions to same-sex couples after a court ruling mandated them to do so, Vincent Fields prayed:

"We curse the spirit that would come to bring about same-sex marriage. We ask You to just look over this place today, cause them to be shaken in their very heart in uprightness, Lord, to do what is right before You."

More from the report in the Christian Post:

He (Fields) said he didn't intend to say anything about gay marriage, but "[t]he Holy Spirit took over." Fields was unapologetic about his prayer, arguing: "We're living in a time now where we've got to take a stand spiritually. We're literally setting ourselves up for God to turn His back on us, and if we do, we'll have the chaos of other countries, in this country."

That's right, let gays marry and all hell will break loose. We might have rampant crime, poverty, adultery, drug usage and various other sins. Well, this just in; those things already exist! THAT's where our religious leaders need to take a spiritual stand rather than turning a prayer into a grandstanding political speech.

Same-sex marriage or any other granting of equal rights to GLBT people will not tear apart the very fabric of society--that ship has already sailed.

Instead of working to minister to a society horribly in need of spiritual guidance and strong moral leadership, men like Vincent Fields are too busy playing politics.

Isn't counting on political leaders to establish and enforce clear moral guidlines for this nation a bit like the fox watching the proverbial henhouse?

The Far Right Wing is Regrouping

Newt Gingrich, the author of the 1994 "Contract With America" which helped the Republican Party to a landslide victory in that year's elections and changed the political landscape in the U. S., is trying to lead a comeback for the right-wing nut constituency of the party.

According to this column in the Lawrence KS World-Journal, he has come up with another Contract With America. From the report:

The third plank in the platform promoted by potential presidential wannabe Newt Gingrich reads: “Recenter on the Creator from Whom all our liberties come. We will insist on a judiciary that understands the centrality of God in American history and reasserts the legitimacy of recognizing the Creator in public life.”

Call me cynical and paranoid, but I read into that Ten Commandments displays in every public courtroom. The Lord’s Prayer recited in unison in every public school classroom. Inquisitions into judicial nominees’ personal creeds to guarantee hostility toward abortion and gay marriage. More pointless fights over the essentiality of uttering “under God” to the very survival of the Republic.

And none of that will bring us any closer to liberty and justice for all.

Especially if you are a GLBT person. I recommend checking out the entire column, but I want to post the wonderful conclusion here:

What we need from our leaders aren’t platitudes and the pretense of promoting “values.” What we need are honesty, integrity and policies that are fair and sensible, and that make it possible for even the least among us to live with dignity. Because that’s the right thing to do.

Can I hear an amen to that?

Thanks to PageOneQ for the link.

Merry Christmas!

That's probably the most right-wing friendly thing I've ever written on this blog :)

I'm taking a few moments out from holiday festivities with Pastor Brenda to reflect on what Christmas Day is and is not all about.

It's not about fighting crowds at the mall to buy the hot gift of the year.

It is about the miracle of the virgin birth, when God planted the seed within the Virgin Mary to birth His Son.

It's not about who can put together the gaudiest display of Christmas decorations and win an award for best on their block.

It is about enjoying the beauty of a snow covered hillside, driving through a festival of lights, or being snuggled up in front of a fireplace with someone you love, taking time to be grateful for how God has blessed you this past year.

It's not about being angry at your current situation if you are alone, poor, sick, or all of the above. God did not bring his Son into this world for those who believe in him to merely struggle through life. He doesn't want that for any of us, and if we seek Him, He will lead us out of those chains that bind us in mediocrity or worse.

It is about receiving the hope and love that led God to send His Son to us. As someone who has lived through the separation and death of both parents and a spouse, divorce, and financial ruin among other things, I can directly attest to that. Thanks to the strength He gave me, I have an appreciation of how much God loves me and an ever-growing faith in Him and His plan for my life and that of all who turn to Him.

If you're not feeling that this Christmas season, it's on you. He's available to you, but you need to reach out and grab all that he offers your heart and soul. Take time this Christmas to reach back.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Jim and Pastor Brenda