New Baptist Covenant Moving Toward Acceptance of Gays

A group of Baptists (including some Southern Baptists), led by former president Jimmy Carter, has formed an organization call the New Baptist Covenant with the goal of moderating the harsh, right wing message so often associated with Baptists. While not openly embracing GLBT people at their first meeting, the topic of acceptance was discussed without a major fight breaking out.

Here is an excerpt from a letter published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution co-written by the director and council chair of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. I have learned that the most effective way to move toward unity and acceptance is to establish commonality, and these folks feel that progress was made toward that with the New Covenant.

Some Baptists have spent their energy attacking gays and keeping them outside of the church. In so doing, they have demonstrated that unity among Baptists is not their main goal. We, however, feel differently. Rather than focusing on exclusion, we are spending our energy on graceful engagement from within. And we are seeing very good results. At the New Baptist Covenant gathering, we witnessed abundant signs of hope.

During the three-day event, former President Carter noted that Baptists hold diverse opinions about gay people. Best-selling novelist John Grisham called for the church's inclusion of gay people. Rev. Tony Campolo wore a rainbow-colored stole. Hundreds of participants sported rainbow stickers to proudly reveal their support for gay people.

Carter announced that Baptists hold diverse opinions about gay people; yet the celebration proved that Baptists are not as divided as some may believe. Each and every Sunday, countless numbers of our gay and straight brothers and sisters stand side by side in celebration of our faith. Regardless of who we love, we are all seeking the same things: Christ's love, salvation, justice, peace and hospitality.

Click here to read the rest of the letter.

Minn. High School Supports Student Standing Up Against Prejudice

This is a wonderful example of someone not only standing up against hate but being supported by plenty of her peers and her school's administration. I believe this is an example that should be followed everywhere some bigot acts out their hatred in a public place.

From Edge Boston:

A freshman at a Minnesota high school had endured shoving, spitting, and name calling. When a hate message was scrawled across her locker, she decided enough was enough.

Leah Matz, a 15-year-old student at St. Peter High, got together with some of her peers and organized a lunchtime demonstration to say that hate speech, and hateful acts of anti-gay violence, would not be accepted.

The school’s administration backed Matz up, allowing the public to attend the demonstration, which took place Fri., Feb. 8.

Matz had come out as a lesbian in junior high. Since then, she had suffered anti-gay harassment, including verbal and physical abuse.

Finally, the Minn. newspaper Mankato Free Press reported, Matz saw that someone had written "Dykes Suck" across her locker, and that tipped the balance for the 15-year-old high school freshman.

Hearing that fellow students had suffered similar treatment, Matz and her peers organized the demonstration, which included theatre and testimonials, as well as massive support from students wearing slogan-bearing T-shirts that read, "Stop Hate. Just Love."

The Mankato Free Press article quoted St. Peter senior Annika Lammert as saying, "I think it’s important to step up and show support."

Added Lammert, "Discrimination shouldn’t happen to anyone."

Matz addressed a crowd of hundreds, including students, alumni, parents, and other members of the local community who gathered in the school’s auditorium, the Mankoto Free Press story reported.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

A former Christian Right-Winger comes to her senses!

Over the years, I have been involved in many political campaigns. I was raised in a Baptist home with a minister father, so I have been a conservative Republican for most of my life. While I have changed in some things, like same-sex marriage and other GLBT issues, I have stayed conservative on other issues. One of the views I’ve not changed on is smaller government.

This year’s election cycle is historic for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that we are engaged in a battle where one party is completely falling apart at the seams while the other party is so excited to have not one, but two really good viable candidates that they can’t see straight!

I am fascinated by this turn of events. I have to admit that I was really freaked out by something that happened within my own family yesterday and it put me on a course of self-examination when it comes to my political involvement. My mother called me last night and told me that she and my dad had driven down to Richmond, Virginia to see Mike Huckabee preach at a church there. I listened as she told me what the sermon was about and assured me that he wasn’t campaigning…he was just preaching. The conversation made me think about the state of politics and religion in our country.

I used to believe in what Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority stood for. I used to think that separation of church and state was something that liberals made up to try and stamp out religion from the public square. I now realize how foolish that way of thinking is.

There is a fine line between not allowing evil to take over government, like Germany did with Hitler, and becoming another Hitler! Some may think that statement too strong, but I don’t think so. Mike Huckabee scares the you-know-what out of me. This is a man who unashamedly called for the segregation of AIDS patients from society at large. He has also been linked to a religious group who advocated stoning homosexuals!

Not only has Huckabee made statements against homosexuals, but he said, "[Some of my opponents] do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it's a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards," , referring to the need for a constitutional human life amendment and an amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Huckabee often refers to the need to amend the constitution on these grounds, but he has never so specifically called for the Constitution to be brought within "God's standards". I’m obviously all for God’s standards being modeled for those who are lost and in need of Jesus, but to say that we should change the Constitution of the United States so that it reflects so-called "God’s standards" is to discount what Jesus himself did and said.

Jesus never wanted political power. In fact, He criticized the rulers of His day for being so concerned about religious practices being observed by the masses that they would rather someone go without being healed than be healed on a holy day. Jesus was a teacher, healer, prophet, and friend. He was, and is, God. However, nowhere in the Bible does it talk about how Jesus was elected to an office. Nowhere does it say He tried to overthrow the Roman government. In contrast, He told His disciples to render to Caeser what was Caeser’s and to God what was God’s. In that particular incident, He seemed to be talking specifically about money, but I think there was a larger principle at work. I think that Jesus taught us by example that we should know what is going on in our country and should fight injustice and tyranny at every turn. However, I also think that He taught us that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. God is not going to take over this country’s government and He doesn’t expect us to do that either.

The other thing that seems to escape Huckabee and those who want him to be our president is that our country is made up of just about every religion, race, creed, sexuality, culture and nuance you can imagine. How in the world do they expect to run a country on Christian principles when a lot of the country is anything but Christian? If you try to do that, then we become a dictatorship, not a democratic society.

All this craziness just seems to be a way to distract people from what’s really important…electing a president who will be sensible about spending and taxes. A president who will keep us as safe as possible without spending billions of dollars on a war that isn’t really ours to fight. A president who will work to provide affordable healthcare for every American. A president who will treat all committed relationships as equal in the eyes of the law. A president who will do whatever you, personally, think is important for our country to help us be a stable, strong, great country again.

I am hopeful that we will end up electing someone who will do at least half of these things! If we do, it will be a great day in America. A great day for ALL Americans.

Freedom to Marry Week Is Here

The organization Freedom to Marry is celebrating the 11th annual Freedom to Marry Week from February 10-16.

Gay and non-gay organizations have scheduled over 100 events in 21 states across the nation in honor of the 11th Annual Freedom to Marry Week (Feb. 10-16), seizing an opportunity to highlight how the denial of marriage harms families, while helping no one. The renewed conversations come as major court decisions, legislative progress, and ballot-measures all will be claiming space on the country's calendar this election-year.

“Freedom to Marry Week 2008 is one more chance to ask those around us to put themselves in same-sex couples’ shoes and ask, 'How would I feel if I couldn't marry the person I love?',” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People's Right to Marry. “With state high court decisions in marriage cases pending in Connecticut, California, and Iowa; legislatures from New Jersey to Washington, Maryland to Illinois, New York to California, dealing with the reality that civil unions don't work and the freedom to marry matters; and conversations among the reachable middle moving hearts every day, Freedom to Marry Week offers an opportunity to give people the information they need to rise to fairness.”

Freedom to Marry Week occurs every year, right around President Lincoln's Birthday and Valentine's Day, to give gay and non-gay people around the country an opportunity to gather to talk about our lives, our loves and our families, celebrate the victories from the year before and continue the fight for the freedom to marry.

For event listings and to learn more about Freedom to Marry Week, visit: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/get_involved/freedom_to_marry_week_2008.php

Beyond Ex-Gay Mid South Regional Gathering Coming Soon

Since the organization's inception, I've done what I can in my tiny corner of the blogosphere to support the work of Beyond Ex-Gay, a group co-founded by Peterson Toscano and Christine Bakke to help people put the pieces of their lives back together after the trauma of failed "ex-gay" experiences.

They held their first conference last summer (here's a short video of highlights), and the next one is coming up in Memphis, TN from February 22-24. It is titled "Deconstructing the Ex-Gay Myth, a weekend of action and art." In conjunction with the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center, the weekend will combine interesting workshops and speakers with art and film displays.

Much more detail can be found here.

If you are not familiar with the organization, this video will give you a taste of what they are about.

If this is an issue that has impacted your life, I strongly encourage you to be part of this event.

The National Black Justice Coalition Commemorates Black History Month

Since February has been designated Black History Month nationwide, the National Black Justice Coalition is running a series featuring a different leader in the black GLBT community every day.

You can check it out here.

The Latest Edition of the International Carnival of Pozitivities is Online

Dear Friends of the International Carnival of Pozitivities (ICP):

It is a tremendous pleasure to announce the publication of edition 2.8 of the ICP at Not Perfect at All. Dragonette is our first European-based host, working from The Netherlands I encourage you to bookmark this edition and visit it over time so that you can enjoy each of the contributions from the world of HIV/AIDS. I hope that you will also join me in thanking Dragonette for her work this month.

This 20th consecutive edition of the ICP features personal accounts, video, music, self-help information and the latest in news from the HIV/AIDS community. Among these posts, you will find news about HIV/AIDS from around the world, posts from long-term survivors, an Annie Lennox-supported HIV-prevention campaign, news and personal accounts from Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. I hope that you will spend some time reading and that you will leave comments for the contributors.

Next Edition

Please visit the ICP homepage to learn more about this project and how you can contribute. We are now accepting submissions for edition 2.9 to be hosted at Creampuff Revolution. This will be Roro’s second stint as host of the ICP, as she hosted our March edition of last year. Her writing style is beautiful, funny, clever and guaranteed to make your ICP experience a good one. Please consider contributing your original artwork, poetry, news, personal accounts, short stories, videos or music files for Roro to knit together into edition 2.9.

Stephen Colbert One-on-One with the HRC's Joe Solomonese

Stephen Colbert, host of the Colbert Report on Comedy Central, recently broadcast a two-part interview with Joe Solomonese, the director of the Human Rights Council. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Colbert gave Solomonese quite a grilling, which he took in stride. I found both parts very funny, but don't watch them if you don't enjoy good satire.

Both parts were posted on PageOneQ.

Part 1

Part 2

Enjoy!

Now Here's Something I Can Support In Congress

Bills will be introduced in both houses of Congress soon that are intended to exempt churches from the NFL's rules that prohibit showing the broadcast of the Super Bowl on large screens in large facilities.

From the Christian Post:

Under the legislation by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) of the Senate Judiciary Committee, religious organizations that want to show professional football games would be declared exempt, as reported by The Washington Post.

"The legislation simply provides churches with a limited yet justifiable exemption to allow them to bring their congregation together to watch the Super Bowl," said Specter on Monday. "In a time when our country is divided by war and anxious about a fluctuating economy, these types of events give people a reason to come together in the spirit of camaraderie."

The bill comes as several churches across the country canceled their annual Super Bowl fellowships this past Sunday in fear of lawsuits for copyright violations.

The National Football League has warned churches that showing the Super Bowl game on TV screens larger than 55 inches and in a space more than 2,000 square feet violates the league's copyright. Only sports bars and other businesses that televise sports regularly are allowed mass viewing of the games.

At least an NFL spokesman dropped any pretense that this was about anything other than greed:

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league has no objection to churches hosting Super Bowl parties as long as they abide by the rules. He also noted that thousands of mass showings at churches would significantly reduce network TV ratings, and thus cut the ad revenue.

Yeah, I'd hate to see those numbers drop from 97.6 million to, say, 96.6 million. That would devastate the NFL, wouldn't it?

Group for LGBT Palestinians Becomes Independent

Until I read this piece, I had no idea there was an LGBT group for Palestinians in Jerusalem, so I thought there was a chance you didn't know that either and might find it interesting.

From PinkNews:

A long-established group for gay, lesbian, trans and bisexual Palestinians in Jerusalem has decided to become independent.

Al-Qaws began life six years ago as a project of the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance (JOH).

In branching out on its own it becomes the first-ever official Palestinian gay organisation. In November Al-Qaws received nonprofit organisation status and was renamed Al-Qaws - for Sexual & Gender Diversity in the Palestinian Society.

"During the six years of its existence, Al-Qaws has undergone an all-embracing organisational process of development," said a spokesperson.

"What started as a local professional-oriented project has grown into a national community and grassroots organisation, with activist leadership.

"This major development has been made possible thanks to the leadership group's determined investment, the deep commitment of Al-Qaws activists and the autonomous space provided to Al-Qaws within the JOH, enabling Al-Qaws to address the needs of the Palestinian LGBTQ community."

Haneen Maikey, Al-Qaws director, said:

"This change is incredibly exciting. This new phase presents new opportunities with promises of growth through self-definition for Palestinian LGBTQs."

The JOH will continue to host Al-Qaws in its new community centre in downtown Jerusalem.

The two organisations said they are committed to exploring wider fields of cooperation in the future towards the advancement of common goals.

Noa Sattath, JOH executive director, said: "The Palestinian LGBTQ community is fortunate to have such strong and capable leaders.

"We look forward to working together with the leadership of Al-Qaws for a better future for all our community members."

Gay Grandparents Are Coming Out

As society becomes more accepting of GLBT people and each generation understands being gay as normal for some people, it has become easier for gay and lesbian grandparents who have spent many years in the closet to come out to their grandkids and everyone else.

A story from the Philadelphia Inquirer tells us about a few of them:

Back in the mid-1970s, Marian Mitchell was a single mother, a recent divorcee who emerged from the closet only on Saturday nights, heading down to Sneakers, a women's bar at Second and Market.

Once, Mitchell's daughter, then 9, asked, "Why don't you date boys?"

"Because Mommy likes girls," was the reply.

A generation later, Mitchell found herself fielding a new round of questions. "Mom-mom, what does LGBT mean?" her oldest granddaughter asked after seeing the acronym for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered on a sign in Mitchell's kitchen.

But Mitchell no longer keeps her identity cloaked. After her longtime partner died in 1997, Mitchell decided it was time to come out. To everyone - including her grandchildren.
Mitchell, 55, coordinates the calendar for Amazon Country, a women's-music show on WXPN. Each month, members of the Lesbian Group of Montgomery County fill her Juniata living room for Rocky Horror theme parties or competitive puzzle-making nights. Her grandkids - 19-year-old Kimberly, 15-year-old Kayla, and 10-year-old Chaly - almost always join the festivities.

"When I was closeted, it was like living a double life," Mitchell said. "I never imagined being able to live so openly. It's so much easier to just be me."

"Lesbian grandmother" or "gay grandpa" used to sound like a contradiction in terms. But now gay grandfolk are a quietly emerging demographic - men and women who married in the 1960s and '70s, had children, and came out later, sometimes only after their children were grown.

There's still no grandparent equivalent of the children's picture book Heather Has Two Mommies. But a recent novel, Grampa Jack, chronicles a gay grandfather's fight for custody of his 6-year-old grandson. And an online boutique sells kids' T-shirts emblazoned with the words "I love my. . .trailblazing. . .woman-loving. . .out and proud grandma."

"There is a growing number of gay grandparents who are looking for ways to explain to their grandchildren who they are and who they love," said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Equality Council.

"It's so much easier to just be me." Boy, that says a mouthful, doesn't it? God bless these people who are showing that it's never too late to enjoy the fullness of how God made them.

Click here to read the rest of the Inquirer story,

NY Times Concurs with State Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage

I'm a bit late with this one, but it's too important to ignore. On Friday, a New York State appeals court ruled that the state must recognize same-sex marriages that are valid in other juristictions, including Canada. This would seem to be a huge step toward the state legalizing same-sex marriages performed inside its borders.

Here is an editorial from the New York Times that, like me (but with a tad more weight behind it) applauds this landmark, unanamous ruling:

In a decision at once common-sensical and profound, a New York State
appeals court ruled Friday that same-sex marriages validly performed in other
jurisdictions are entitled to recognition in New York. It was common sense
because it simply accorded same-sex marriages the same legal status as other
marriages. It was profound because of the way it could transform the lives of
gay people.

The plaintiff in the case, Patricia Martinez, a word-processing supervisor
at an upstate college, married her longtime partner, Lisa Ann Golden, in Canada
in 2004. When Ms. Martinez applied for health care benefits for her spouse, the
college denied the application on the grounds that New York did not recognize
the marriage.

The court, by a 5-0 vote, declared that the college was wrong. Employers in
the state must accord same-sex couples the same rights as other couples. To
reach that result, it simply applied New York’s “marriage recognition rule.”
Under this century-old common-law rule, marriages validly contracted out of
state must be accorded respect in New York, and parties to such unions treated
as spouses, regardless of whether the marriage would be allowed in New
York.

The rule applies unless the Legislature explicitly prohibits recognition or
recognition would be abhorrent to public policy. Unlike many states, New York
has not passed a law denying recognition to same-sex marriages performed
elsewhere. The court rightly decided that recognizing same-sex marriages would
not be “abhorrent.”

The ruling is particularly welcome because it follows a regrettable
decision two years ago by New York’s highest court. That decision said that
prohibiting same-sex marriages from being performed in New York does not violate
the State Constitution. Honoring same-sex marriages validly performed out of
state is a wholly separate legal issue, a point that New York’s attorney
general, Andrew Cuomo, usefully underscored in a friend-of-court
brief.

The new decision still leaves considerable work to be done. New York’s ban
on performing same-sex marriage remains in force. And there is a chance that the
marriage-recognition decision will now be appealed.

Still, the ruling marks important progress toward changing laws and
attitudes that deprive gay people of equal rights and deny the dignity of New
York’s many gay families. They should be able to live, marry and raise children
with the same respect and the same rights as anyone else.

More Episcopal Voices Supporting Gay Clergy

The issue of the place and rights of GLBT people in the Episcopal church continues to simmer and threaten to split the church away from its Anglican roots, but that is not stopping leadership from speaking out and supporting their GLBT breathren. The lastest example came in Chicago.

From the Chicago Tribune: (hat tip to the Washington Blade)

Chicago's new Episcopal bishop and the church's national leader sent a clear message Sunday about where they stand on gay clergy, a smoldering issue that threatens to tear apart the denomination.

Wrapping up a five-day tour in honor of Jeffrey Lee, the new Chicago bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori declared that the American church will not stand alone in its support of gay clergy during an international meeting in July in Lambeth, England.

"Many more [bishops] than you might expect are sympathetic," Jefferts Schori, the presiding Episcopal bishop, told parishioners at St. Nicholas Church in Elk Grove Village. "They are not, however, the loudest voices."

That last point is very important to keep in perspective. The volume of one's voice does not always correspond to their moral authority. I join these Episcopal leaders in believing that is the case in that denomination.

Click here to read the rest of the Chicago Tribune article.

Faith and Same-Sex Marriage

No, it's not an oxymoron. One of the state-wide advocacy groups, Love Makes a Family in Conneclticut, realizes that and is reaching out to solicit the support and help of those faith communities that do have the revelation of God's desire for ALL of his people to enjoy ALL of the blessings he designed for us, including marriage.

Here's a story about that from the Hartfort Courant.

Love Makes a Family, the state's marriage equality organization, has a new job opening for a religious-organizing project coordinator.

The position, funded by a grant from the Gill Foundation, a Colorado-based human rights organization, may come as a surprise to some. An organization some religious types deem satanic — pushing, as it is, for gay marriage — is actually reaching out to religious types itself.

In fact, the marriage equality movement has long had the support of members of a variety of faith groups. The group's list of supporting clergy gets longer every day, and about a year and a half ago, the list evolved into Connecticut Clergy for Marriage Equality.

Marriage equality is not an us-vs.-them situation, at least it shouldn't be among people of faith.

You can read the rest of the Courant's story here.

Another First: A Black, Lesbian, Mayor

Here is a story of how, slowly but surely, at least in local jurisdictions, labels are meaning less and who a person is and what they stand for is meaning more. I find it particularly interesting this happened in the home of one of the world's great centers of higher learning, Harvard University and not some poor, depressed town.

From The Edge (Boston, MA)

As the presidential primaries continue to unfold, nightly newscasts are quick to remind viewers that a major historical precedent may be only months away: There’s never been a stronger chance that voters will elect either the first African-American president or the first female president.

But when it comes to equal opportunity politicking, Mayor E. Denise Simmons can claim one better.

When City Council elections gave Simmons the mayorship of Cambridge, Mass. on January 14, she became America’s first openly gay, female African-American mayor.

"This is what’s great about the City of Cambridge," says Mayor Simmons of the new chapter she has authored in the history books. She sits smiling in her City Hall office, a dignified space that emanates the same characteristic air as the New England City she calls her own: warmth and welcoming combined with aristocratic academia.

Her features are wide and open, her manners gracious and kind, and her eyes crackle with a certain sense of spirit; maybe it’s the focus of a maverick woman who has blazed her own trail, or the energetic ambition of a politician who has not only goals, but the will and willingness to realize them.

"It’s wonderful to be in a high-profile position, and to be in it as you are," says Simmons, emphasizing the last three words to underscore her comfort as an openly gay mayor.

I Speak Out Against the NFL on TV News

In an interesting set of circumstances, I wound up being interviewed by WUSA TV 9 in Washington, DC about the Super Bowl party my church, Believers Covenant Fellowship, is having on Sunday.

First came a story on the front page of today's Washington Post reporting about the National Football League is cracking down on the size of televisions used to watch the Super Bowl at large church gatherings. The league, the wealthiest sports league in the world, announced plans to strictly enforce it's copyright and limit the size of screens displaying a broadcast of the game to 55 inches.

This became a national story last year when the NFL sent a letter to a church in Indianapolis warning them not to follow through on their advertised plans to broadcast the game, featuring their hometown Colts, on a video screen exceeding the 55 inch limit.

Following up on this story, Channel 9NewsNow report Bruce Leshan did a Google search to find a local church still planning on having a Super Bowl party. He ran across the BCF website and the ad I placed on Craig's List advertising our event. Leshan contacted me and, with the blessing of Apostle Dale, I spoke with him on camera in front of the church.

The story appeared on Friday night's 5:00 PM newscast, and the transcript is here. We were thrilled that the signage of our church was very prominently displayed during the story, and that the video clip they use of my interview didn't make me sound stupid.

I had no idea when I woke up this morning that I would be on the 5:00 news, and that it would be a GOOD thing. Leshan did a wonderful job making me feel comfortable and asking good questions, and BCF got positive television exposure we could never have dreamt of paying for.

All because of a silly football game. Isn't God good!

Climate for Gays Improves in China

I find China a fascinating nation to watch these days, as the Communist government endeavors to assimilate more and more aspects of western culture while still trying to keep firm control of the political machine.

One way they are doing that is giving gay Chinese people more freedom, to a great extent just leaving them alone as long as they largely confine their activities to a thriving sub-culture.

Here's more on that from Time magazine:

There has never been a better time to be gay in China, but as Destination's somewhat schizophrenic combination of outer reserve and inner exuberance demonstrates, it still pays to be careful. Beijing's attitude has been described as a triple-no policy: no approval, no disapproval, no promotion. That sort of "Don't ask, don't tell" system is emblematic of the regime's delicate handling of many personal-liberties issues raised by the country's growing middle class. For their part, China's gays seem content to live within the government boundaries, albeit not without the occasional snipe at the authorities. Young gay men, for example, have co-opted a venerated communist term—tongzhi, or comrade—when referring to one another.

Historically, Chinese society was relaxed about homosexuality, which was tolerated so long as it didn't interfere with the Confucian duty to raise a family. Although an imperial decree banned homosexuality in 1740 (probably under the influence of Christian missionaries), it was the communists who first drove gays and lesbians underground. The communist government once viewed gays as disruptive to social order and harshly suppressed them, imprisoning and even executing suspected homosexuals. But as China's economy opened to the world, the authorities' stance softened. A law banning sodomy was dropped in 1997, and in 2001 homosexuality was removed from the country's official list of mental illnesses. "It gets freer every year," says Bernie, a fortysomething reveler at the club. "And every year more and more gays come out of the closet. In Beijing and the big cities, you can see couples walking around the shopping malls holding hands. In the smaller cities, I hear it's getting better all the time."

Baltimore Sun Supports Same-Sex Marriage in Maryland

From last Sunday's Baltimore Sun editorial section:

The Maryland General Assembly will soon consider legislation to remove the state's ban on same-sex marriage. We wholeheartedly support the effort.

Numerous are the rewards - to the individuals involved and society as a whole - that spring from this vital social institution. The broad range of benefits (and obligations) that come with marriage should not be denied certain people because of sexual preference.

But it would be foolish not to recognize that the proposal has little chance of passage this year. Too many lawmakers, particularly in the state Senate, actively oppose it.

Public opinion is also running strongly against it. A recent Sun poll found that only about one out of five Maryland voters supports same-sex marriage. Currently, only Massachusetts permits same-sex marriage, and a sizable number of states ban all legal recognition for same-sex relationships.

That's why we believe the time may be right for Maryland to authorize civil unions for same-sex couples. Admittedly, it is not the same thing as marriage. It would require creation of a separate legal structure - perhaps even an unwieldy one - that is unlikely to offer all the benefits of marriage.

It is for this reason that same-sex marriage advocates are often among the proposal's most ardent foes. They see it as an effort to thwart the case for genuine equality.

After all, civil union protections generally end at a state's borders. Nor would they have any impact on matters governed by the federal government - as often is the case with health insurance benefits, for instance. Marriage would be better.

But without a civil union law, the difficult task of trying to string together piecemeal rights denied same-sex couples issue by issue is all the more challenging.

Even more important, civil union should be seen as a bridge to the ultimate goal of ending discrimination by sexual orientation. As others have noted, civil rights are usually secured by incremental steps. And an overwhelming majority of Marylanders favor civil unions, according to the Sun poll.

None of this would be necessary if the Maryland Court of Appeals hadn't reversed a Baltimore Circuit Court judge and upheld the ban on same-sex marriage last September. But that decision is unlikely to be altered anytime soon.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has promised to support a civil union bill. If such a law would help offset, if only partially, the injustice done same-sex couples, it ought to be approved this session.

Although right-wingers will likely write this editorial from the state's largest newspaper off as another blast from the "liberal media," I thought it was balance and well stated. The Sun stood by principles yet was pragmatic to understand was could actually be achievable in this legislative session. The GLBT community does not need another token piece of legislation offered up pre-destined to fail. The state needs to move toward equality for all, and civil unions, while imperfect, would still be a step forward.

Pictures, We've Got Pictures

Back in October, my church, Believers Covenant Fellowship, had our first annual Fall Renewal event that pulled in folks from across the United States and Canada and was one of the most intense spiritual experiences I have had the opportunity to be part of.

Now I've got the pictures to prove it, thanks to Robbie and Don at Unidiversal.

Here's the whole group, sorted by category. There are over 400 photos from the three days of the event.

I want to post a few of my personal favorites directly here.

This may become one of my all-time favorite pictures. This is my beautiful wife Pastor Brenda resting her head on my shoulder as we both thank God for how he has blessed our lives together.

I gave prophetic words for the first time during this event, and I am here speaking a word to one of our newer members, Brenda Ferris. Apostle Dale is behind her wearing the red shirt.

Here is Pastor Brenda hugging Robbie Ousley from Unidiversal during prayer time immediately after the Sunday service. I'm in the background looking very pastoral as I stare off in the distance.

Apostle Dale and I enjoying a special moment together. I'm always afraid he'll crack a rib when he gets real excited like he was that weekend.

Pastors Sue and Debbie, who we had the pleasure of hosting during their visit from the Seattle area, joined Apostle Dale and myself in praying for our dear brother Ken, offering him encouragement

Apostle Dale's spouse, Deacon Garrey, is a gifted dance instructor and he used his gifts to twirl himself into a spiritual frenzy at times during the Renewal.

There are many, many more photos in the general link above. If you check them out, you can see what a diverse group was there, putting our differences aside and finding the common ground of worship the Lord.

More Evidence of Churches "Not Living Up to Their Calling"

From the Christian Post:

Criticism from people outside of Christianity toward the Church doesn't surprise many. But when negative viewpoints are being expressed by believers, it raises a red flag for churches across the country.

In the latest research report by Sam S. Rainer III, who heads Rainer Research, only 39 percent of people who dropped out of the church perceived their church as "caring." Meanwhile, 51 percent of them called their church "judgmental."

Among other unfavorable views from those who quit their church, 41 percent of them said their church was "insincere." Only 20 percent felt their church was "inspirational;" 30 percent said their church was "authentic;" and 36 percent said their church was "welcoming."

The survey was conducted on 18- to 22-year-olds and is featured in Rainer's upcoming book, Essential Church?.

"The churches that do not demonstrate these biblical qualities and rather become insincere and judgmental lose this generation," Rainer, a young Baptist pastor, commented. "They return to the culture that claims churches are not living up to their calling.

"And, for the most part, the culture is correct."

Part of the church's calling is to reach those on the outside and live out what they preach, but these students who are dropping out are hearing one thing in church and seeing another thing in the lives of these churchgoers, Rainer pointed out.

At Believers Covenant Fellowship, it is assumed that people walking through our doors have suffered some some of these effects in their church experience, and often dealt with even worse situations than are covered in this article.

How many souls must be lost before churches change their ways? How many people must die not knowing God before religion gives way to faith, judgment gives way to love, personal caring gives way to hellfire and brimstone from the pulpit?

Our church sees the urgency of moving past this and winning souls for Christ, reaching out and sharing with them how they can know the one true and loving God, not this angry characture taught as some many right-wing churches.

I hope your church is focused on teaching people how to live, not telling them why they are going to die.

Transgender Rights Could Be Divisive in Florida

Haven't we learned anything from the failure of the ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) in Congress last year? Didn't we see how the delection of protections for gender identity didn't move the bill forward and still caused great and ongoing division between GLBT advocates?

Well, there's some folks down in Florida that apparently were not paying attention. This from the Express Gay News:

Gay political organizations are clashing over the best way to pass GLBT-friendly anti-discrimination bills through the Florida Legislature. The head butting is taking on strategic tones similar to those that emerged last year in the fight over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the U.S. Congress.

Gay rights organizations are taking different stances on whether to support a two-pronged effort that sends separate anti-discrimination bills through the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. If passed, House Bill 47 sponsored by Kelly Skidmore (D-Boca Raton) would ban employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity and gender expression. Senate Bill 572, introduced by Ted Deutch (D-Delray Beach), bans discrimination based on sexual orientation only. Both bills are expected to go before the Florida Legislature during the spring session, which begins March 4.

There is little expectation that either bill will be successful in the conservative-dominated legislature. Last year, a similar bill that only included sexual orientation protections was not even read. Groups such as Equality Florida and the Palm Beach Human Rights Council have been active in seeking political support for the Skidmore bill. Equality Florida, however, a statewide GLBT political organization, has been lobbying legislators not to support the non-inclusive Senate bill.

“Our position is that we will not support a bill that leaves a portion of our community behind,” said Stratton Pollitzer, deputy director of Equality Florida. “We believe in a fully inclusive bill.”

I learned my lesson after supporting the deletion of gender identity protection from ENDA. GLBT advocacy needs to protect ALL people under that umbrella.

GSA, Once Strongly Opposed, Blends Into Daily Life

Parents of students at Hononegah High School raised a ruckus last summer when a Gay-Straight Alliance club was proposed for the school. Despite their protests, the Board of Education approved it starting last September, and the club has been, well, just another club that happens to have both straight and gay kids.

From the Beloit (IL) Daily News:

Citizens fiercely opposed Hononegah High School forming a Gay-Straight Alliance last summer, but since the Board of Education approved it in September the club has fallen under the community's radar as members meet weekly, sometimes just to play games or organize school-wide movie nights.“

It was such a big deal when it started that now I suppose when we're not causing some controversy people forget we exist,” said Brian Carrell, GSA president.

Public hearings on the GSA attracted dozens of citizens - most lived within the district boundaries, but a few traveled from out of town - who argued the organization would promote sexual activity among teens and worried the club's presence would change the school's climate because homosexuality would be constantly reinforced.

But, after talking with Carrell, it seems as though what the club's opponents feared have yet to come to fruition.

“It's not discussing sex,” the 18-year-old senior said. “It's not anything that would be inappropriate in a school environment.”

Although the alliance reached out to non-members by hosting a Friday movie night - “Pirates of the Caribbean” was shown - the group tends to keep to itself, meeting Wednesdays in a classroom.

Depending on how busy the members are, meetings may last for 90 minutes while others may break up after 30. Some days the teens just play games and eat snacks, but they've also discussed stereotypes and how sexuality is portrayed in popular culture. For example, the group discussed the positives and negatives of J.K. Rowling revealing that her “Harry Potter” character, Albus Dumbledore, is gay.

Attendance varies each week, but about 15 teens anchor the group, Carrell said, noting that aside from advertising the meeting times on posters throughout the school, the members haven't actively recruited.

“We want them to be there because they want to be there,” he said.

Once again, it's kids that show adults how to get along with one another.

Super Bowl Party, Focus on Outreach, and an Engagement at BCF

Super Bowl Party:
BCF is having our first Super Bowl party on February 3. We will be holding a special "seeker-friendly" service beginning at 3:00 PM followed by food and fellowship time leading up to the game's kickoff at approximately 6:30. You can enjoy the world's single biggest sporting event on our big-screen projection system, and there will be board games and other fun activities for those of you who aren't football fans and just like parties.

There will be plenty of food and fun for everyone featuring a chili cookoff (we have some great cooks there!), and the admission is free! We only ask that you bring some non-perishable food to donate to our Helping Hands ministry, which supports Food and Friends that serves the metro DC area, helping people with AIDS and other life threatening illness receive nutritional meals at no cost to them.

Regardless of whether you’re rooting for the Patriots or Giants, you'll have fun sharing the Super Bowl experience with our church family. We hope to see you for the big game.

Remember, there will NOT be an 11:00 AM service that Sunday, only the one beginning at 3:00 PM.

Focus on Outreach:
BCF is getting serious about reaching out beyond the walls of the church to make an impact in our community. In my role as Pastor-In-Training, I brought a message last Sunday focused on the Great Commission (Matthew 26:28-30). I emphasized the urgency of sharing Christ with others, whether they be family, friends, or strangers, and discussed how to overcome the biggest obstacle toward doing so—ourselves and our fears of doing so poorly or being rejected.

BCF has also started a Loose Change collection for World Vision, and has also established a blog to keep members and guests alike updated about events, sermons, and prayer requests. Our goal is to develop a sense of community online that rivals the one in our Sunday services.

Someone is Getting Married:
Pastor Anita returned from her cruise with her boyfriend Dennis and closed the service with an exciting announcement; they are engaged to be married. Dennis popped the question on the cruise, and Anita happily accepted his proposal. They have been together a little over two years, and Dennis has been a regular attender of our services. The congregation was ecstatic about this wonderful news and wish them nothing but the best.

These updates will become a weekly feature here. For more information:

Church website: http://www.believerscovenant.org/

Church blog: http://www.believerscovenantblog.blogspot.com/

Al Gore Supports Same-Sex Marriage

It's not every day a former Vice President, Academy Award winner, and Nobel Laureate (now there's a narrow niche) sticks his neck out to take a stand that he doesn't need to, but that's the story I'm happy to share with you now.

Al Gore has come out clearly, unequivocally, in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.

Even Wolfson. the Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, contributed this entry to The Huffington Post today. Wolfson linked to the video of Gore's statement and shared this quote:

I think it's wrong for the government to discriminate against people because of that person's sexual orientation.

I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women, to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it by gays and lesbians.

Shouldn't we be promoting that kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one's partner regardless of sexual orientation?

...[T]he loyalty and love that two people feel for one another when they fall in love ought to be celebrated and encouraged, and shouldn't be prevented by any form of discrimination in the law.

Wolfson added:

Gore is right -- ending same-sex couples' exclusion from marriage will help families and hurt no one. Same-sex couples across the country are doing the work of marriage in their everyday lives by taking care of each other and their families. For the same reason as non-gay couples, these couples and their kids need and deserve the freedom to marry, with the security, dignity, and safety net it brings through the ups and downs of life.

All I do is agree and congratulate Al Gore for adding his voice to the growing support for GLBT equality.

Click here to read the rest of Wolfson's post.

Support for Projection From Job Discrimination in Utah

The state of Utah would seem to be a tough nut to crack when trying to push through legal protections for GLBT people, but that effort is current being made in the state legislature. It has found support from the Salt Lake Tribune in this editorial.

Rep. Christine Johnson knows it could take years to win passage by the Utah Legislature for her bill aimed at protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers from job discrimination. Many years.

Still, she's in it for the long haul, and we congratulate her for standing up for equal rights for these Utahns. It's a battle that has to start somewhere.

Johnson, one of three openly gay Utah legislators, is carrying the banner for her constituents and other gay and transgender Utahns, many of whom have described to her their fear of being ostrasized or even fired if they are open about their sexual orientation or their gender identity.

Utah law should not tolerate these people living in fear of losing their livelihood if they are honest about who they are. Anti-discrimination statutes now forbid unequal treatment of any employee based on race, color, sex, pregnancy, age (40 and over), religion, national origin or disability. Discrimination against anyone, simply because they belong to a specific group, should be illegal.

Adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list simply puts into Utah code a recognition that all Utahns deserve the same civil rights and bosses in the workplace are obliged to base personnel decisions on only two things: qualifications and performance.

It seems pretty simple, doesn't it? That's what happens when you approach a situation with common sense.

Presbyterians Considering Ordination of a Lesbian Minister

From the Christian Post:

An openly lesbian minister's bid to join the clergy may be the first national test of a controversial policy adopted by the Presbyterian Church (USA).

After being denied ordination twice over the past couple of decades because of a ban on ordaining openly gay persons, Lisa Larges made some headway this past week when she gained support from a regional body of the PC(USA).

The San Francisco Presbytery voted Tuesday 167-151 to support Larges' application for ministry. The vote came after a long debate and despite warnings that the action violated the church's constitution and would be appealed.

According to its constitution, the PC(USA) requires "fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman" or "chastity in singleness" for its clergy.

But Larges' third bid comes after the Presbyterian national assembly adopted an "authoritative interpretation" of the ordination standard in 2006 – a decision that opponents say allows some leeway to churches for homosexual ordination.

Larges' latest attempt is thought to be the first test of the 2006 policy, said Jerry Van Marter, news director for the PC(USA).

"I'm in shock," Larges, 44, said of the support she's receiving, according to The Los Angeles Times. "I still feel stunned, honestly, and deeply grateful both to the folks who supported me and to the presbytery for stepping up."

I pray that this is a step toward another major denomination opening the path or ordination up to ALL people willing to answer the call of God to serve Him.

A Blueprint for Change in New Jersey

The state of New Jersey is moving toward equality faster than most states in this country, and one of the reasons for that is the inclusive approach their largest advocacy organization, Garden State Equality, takes.



Here is a feature about them from Bay Windows newspaper in Boston.



Activists in New Jersey, which passed a gay rights bill in 1992, landed a one-two punch in 2006 and 2008, passing first a non-discrimination bill and then a hate crimes bill covering gender identity and expression. Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, the state’s largest LGBT rights organization, said that it took little effort to win over lawmakers on the bills because many of them were already familiar with members of the transgender community and understood the discrimination they faced. He said transgender people have served in leadership positions in Garden State Equality and other organizations, and they lobbied lawmakers on a wide range of issues, including marriage.



"If you make sure that transgender people are in every facet of your organization, if you make sure they’re in the leadership of your organization, you’re providing constant exposure to politicians. ... Here transgender people are front and center in the fight for marriage equality," said Goldstein. "The politicians here see transgender people year round at the table."



One of those trans activists at the table was Barbra Casbar Siperstein, vice-chair of Garden State Equality and president of New Jersey Stonewall Democrats. Through her work with Stonewall she became one of the delegates to the Boston Democratic National Convention in 2004, and she used that event to network with many of the lawmakers who would later help pass the non-discrimination and hate crimes bill. Prior to the convention advocates had searched in vain for a Senate sponsor for the non-discrimination bill, but Siperstein said during the DNC she connected with the eventual sponsor and talked to her about transgender rights."



We had spent a couple of hours talking -- she was in the front row one night at the convention -- so she was familiar with me," said Siperstein. "So when this individual [lobbying for Senate sponsors] went to speak with her, she said, ’Oh yeah,’ she remembers me from the convention."



Garden State Equality also leveraged considerable resources on behalf of the campaign to pass the legislation. In 2006 the organization aired a television commercial featuring a transgender woman named Carol Barlow talking about being told during a job interview that she was unemployable because she is transsexual. The outreach to lawmakers and public education paid off: The non-discrimination bill passed by an overwhelming 102-8, and hate crimes passed 100-10.



Click here to read more of the article from Bay Windows.

The political landscape in 2008

Jim and I were talking about politics and the Presidential Elections coming up this year and it got me to thinking about our choices.



I have a hard time with voting anymore because I am somewhat of an outcast. I am a Christian, pro-Life, fiscal conservative, constitutional purist, lesbian. That's a hard row to hoe! I don't feel comfortable voting Republican anymore because the party, as a whole, seems to take great pains to bash glbt people at every turn. I don't feel good voting Democratic because that party, as a whole, is basically pro-choice and hasn't done alot to court the glbt vote. They have not taken a strong stand for our civil rights. Frankly, voting Independent seems silly since we all know that there is no way an Independent is going to get the Presidency. It's just not something that can happen nowadays, as much as I'd love it.



So, where does that leave me? I'm not willing to vote for any of the Republican candidates at all. None of them are glbt supporters. I have been looking closely at the Democrats and, while I'd love to see a woman become President, I'm not a Hillary fan. I like Obama so far. I'm not what you'd call excited about Obama, but I like him. I could vote for him. The others in the race probably won't get the nod, so I don't spend much time thinking about whether I'd vote for them or not.



Voting for me has become a lesser of two evils thing. Do I vote for someone who I think will be a champion for the unborn but will set glbt people back 100 years? Do I vote for someone with a great glbt record who is pro-choice? It's a hard choice. The bottom line for me has become this: I vote based on what will affect my life and those I love the most. I have resigned myself to the fact that no candidate is going to think like I do. It's just not going to happen unless I run, and that's not happening! I have too many skeletons in my closet. Pardon the pun. So, I will vote for the person that I think will do things in their presidency to further glbt rights, help the economy, and do the most to get us out of this war. Beyond that, I don't get bogged down in all the wrangling and chit-chat.



Hopefully, whoever ends up running the country for the next 4-8 years will be someone that will take us to better places than the last 8 years have taken us. That is my prayer.

Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services gets it!

Okay, I know Texas isn't exactly a gay mecca, but they seem to have learned something about how to treat glbt youth. Equality Texas sent this information to me:



"Austin, Texas - (January 17, 2008) – The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), the state agency charged with protecting the physical safety and emotional well-being of Texas' most vulnerable citizens, has implemented a Bill of Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care establishing a right to fair treatment regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Legislation was introduced in the 2007 session in both the Texas Senate and the House of Representatives to establish a foster care bill of rights, but the bills died in committee. The Department of Family and Protective Services began a process in October, 2007 to implement a bill of rights because ensuring children in foster care know their rights is important to the success of each placement and ease of transition for the child. As promulgated by DFPS, the "Rights of Children and Youth in Foster Care" includes thirty-two rights applicable to all children and youth in care, plus an additional sixteen rights applicable to youth age 16 and older. The rights applicable to all children and youth include, among others: The right to appropriate care and treatment in the least restrictive setting available that can meet the child's or youth's needs. This includes the right to live in a safe, healthy and comfortable placement receiving reasonable protection from harm, appropriate privacy for personal needs, and being treated with respect; andThe right to be free from unfair treatment because of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, medical status, or sexual orientation. The rights applicable to youth age 16 and older are designed to facilitate the transition out of care and into adulthood.



Statement of Paul Scott, Equality Texas Executive Director "Equality Texas applauds the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services for implementing measures to protect the physical safety and emotional well being all children and youth in state care, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. While the legislation proposed in the last session included sexual orientation, it did not include gender identity. Likewise, the original DFPS proposal included sexual orientation, but not gender identity. Equality Texas filed comments with DFPS supporting the inclusion of both sexual orientation and gender identity in the bill of rights, citing studies indicating 20-40% of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We are gratified that DFPS accepted our comments, demonstrating once again that the agency is committed to ensuring that all children and youth in foster care know and understand their rights. This is a positive step toward ensuring that youth in state care are not subjected to further trauma because of their sexual orientation or gender identity." Equality Texas works toward the elimination of social, legal, and economic discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression through lobbying, education, and research directed toward the Texas Legislature and other state governmental agencies."



As someone who came out in her late 20's, I don't fully appreciate what it's like to be 14 or 15 and to understand your sexuality is different from most folks. I can't understand what it's like to come out to your parents and get kicked out of your home. It's isolating enough to be a glbt person in our society without having to go through it when you're a teenager and you have no home. Our foster care system leaves alot to be desired, but I think this bill of rights is a major step in the right direction in treating all kids with dignity and respect for who they are, not in spite of it. I'm glad that Texas took this important step.

The Will of the People In Maryland Favors Same-Sex Unions

This from a Baltimore Sun poll released today:

As the General Assembly gears up for a debate on the rights of gay couples, a solid majority of Maryland voters supports some form of legalized same-sex unions, according to a recent Sun poll.

Nineteen percent of likely voters said they support gay marriage, and 39 percent said they back civil unions, meaning that nearly three out of five believe the state should formally recognize same-sex relationships. Maryland law bans same-sex marriage.

Thirty-one percent of those polled said they disagree with granting either form of same-sex unions, but only half of those opponents said a constitutional amendment is needed to ban them. Eleven percent said they were not sure or declined to answer the question.

But consensus on same-sex unions in Annapolis might be out of reach this year. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat who courted gay voters during his campaign, has said he prefers civil unions, while gay-rights activists are pushing for a marriage bill with an exception to make it clear that no religious institutions or clergy would be compelled to perform or recognize those marriages.

Leaders in the Democratic-controlled State House are also split, with House Speaker Michael E. Busch endorsing civil unions and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller opposing both civil unions and same-sex marriage.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers advocate a constitutional ban, arguing that such a measure is needed to protect the institution of marriage.

Supporters of constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriage like to claim that they are following the will of the people. That is clearly not the case in Maryland, however.

Momentum continues to move toward equality, first among the people, then eventually in the halls of legislatures across the United States.

A Small Vermont Community Steps Out to Support Same-Sex Marriage

One thing that I have learned about the political battles regarding GLBT equality is that they are best taken on not in national forums, but in local areas like Bennington, Vermont. The state of Vermont is considering legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage, and people are gathering across the state to support this effort.

Members of the community — both gay and straight — including doctors, teachers, lawyers, reverends and a rabbi, supported gay marriage at a public hearing Saturday before a commission charged with reporting its findings to the Legislature.

Dozens of people, many wearing stickers supporting the Vermont Freedom to Marry task force, urged the committee to support same-sex marriage on Saturday.

A coalition of groups recently formed the Vermont Marriage Advisory Council. The council plans to hold hearings and public forums across the state on the benefits of traditional marriage.

Dwight Schmuck, of Wilmington, said same-sex couples that want to make a commitment to each other should be allowed to legally do so.

"Any two people who want to make a commitment, who love each other, who are we to say no?" Schmuck said.

Alice Spencer told the committee that every generation in her family, from her great-grandparents to her grandchildren, has had gay or lesbian members. Spencer, herself a lesbian, said it did not make sense that she has been allowed to serve as a foster parent but not allowed to marry her partner.

"I can adopt but I am in violation of marriage laws? That's silly," she said. "Families are families. You can't make a family out of a law."

Click here to read the rest of the story from the Bennington Banner.

"American Family Outing" Wants to Dialogue With Mega-Churches

I'm always in favor of people trying to communicate, especially when they try to find common ground and work through their differences. That appears to be the goal of this upcoming effort, as reported on PageOneQ.

This winter, as the Rev. Joel Osteen graces the pages of People Magazine, the familiar image of the old-school, anti-gay televangelist is rapidly being replaced by a new iconography: a younger generation of mega-church leaders with upbeat and inviting messages.

Unfortunately, while this generation's tone may seem less harsh, many of their mega-churches still enforce policies of exclusion and teach theologies that label Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people as sick, sinful, and in need of change.

An "American Family Outing" is taking shape in the spring of 2008 so LGBT families can talk with mega-church leaders and congregation members to share the message that justice for LGBT people is compatible with Christian teaching. Pot lucks, picnics and soulful talk are the order of the day as Soulforce, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), and COLAGE invite churches to talk-the-talk so everyone is free to walk-the-walk.

On behalf of the four partner organizations, Soulforce Executive Director Jeff Lutes has written letters to:

o Rev. Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church in Houston, TX
o Bishop T.D. Jakes and The Potter's House in Dallas, TX
o Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. and Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, MD
o Bishop Eddie Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA
0 Rev. Bill Hybels and Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL
0 Dr. Rick Warren and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA

"These pastors are part of a new generation of evangelical leaders in America," says Lutes. "We are calling on them and their congregations to demonstrate a new kind of leadership, one that models compassion and justice for all families, including families with two moms and two dads."

I am very optimistic about this approach. I think they picked out an excellent group of churches. I have personally been moved by the writings of Dr. Warren and Rev. Hybels and would be thrilled to see them openly promote equality. Especially for Warren, that woudln't seem like a huge leap with his activism to promote AIDS care, but he is a Southern Baptist after all.

When people communicate, there is hope. I pray these pastors step up to the plate and engage is this critically important dialogue.

New Edition of the International Carnival of Pozitivities Posted

ICP 2.7 has just been posted on The Spin Cycle. While the host's language is rougher than I usually link to, the stories he posted (included one from Straight, Not Narrow) are always worth reading and I encourage you to check out the latest edition.

Buffalo Episcopal Churches Apologize to Gay People

This seems to be a week for apologies, and here's another one from a group of Episcopal churches in Buffalo, NY.

From Outcome, Buffalo's Gay Newspaper with a hat tip to my friend Allan Hendricks from Equality Florida:

In an open letter to gay people in Western New York, leaders of Episcopal congregations in Buffalo offered an apology and asked forgiveness from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The letter further emphasized that they offer gay people, welcoming and loving religious congregations.

An email sent to Outcome by The Reverend Armand John Kreft, Rector Church of the Ascension, offered their support of GLBT people in their battles with hatred, bigotry, prejudice and violence. The group of City of Buffalo Churches further make clear that GLBT people are welcomed by their congregation. "•Staff

The full text of the letter follows:

Contact: The Reverend Armand John Kreft, Rector Church of the Ascension 716-884-6362 COTAB@Verizon.net
Date: January 11, 2008
An Open Letter to the GLBT Community:

We leaders of Episcopal congregations in Buffalo want to offer our apology and ask forgiveness from the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community. For centuries the institutional church and organized religion have slandered, tortured, disenfranchised and sometimes murdered members of the community. We ask forgiveness for using our Sacred Scriptures to wrongly justify hatred, bigotry, prejudice and violence against those of different affectional orientation and gender identification, both in the past and, unfortunately, still today.

As leaders of congregations, some of us openly gay and lesbian, we are humbled and vow to use our influence to change not only our religions but our laws that seek to marginalize the GLBT community. If you would like to seek an organized religion, we would urge you to attend as many different denominations and spiritual paths as you can. There are several that will welcome you. If you wish to seek an Episcopal Church, those of us listed below promise a welcoming and loving community for you, and/or your partner and your children.

EPISCOPAL CHURCHES OF THE CENTRAL ERIE DEANERY

St. Paul’s Cathedral Church 128 Pearl Street Buffalo
Church of the Ascension 16 Linwood Avenue at North St Buffalo
St. John’s – Grace Church 51 Colonial Circle Buffalo
Church of the Good Shepherd 96 Jewett Parkway Buffalo
St. Phillips Church 18 Sussex Street Buffalo
Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua 1114 Delaware Avenue Buffalo
Ephphatha Church of the Deaf 96 Jewett Parkway Buffalo

It's never easy to admit you were wrong, and it's even harder to do so publicly, so in realizing that I commend these churches for stepping forward for what they now understand to be the right thing to do.

"The Bar Exam Flunker" Apologizes

You may remember hearing a story over the summer where a student in Massachussetts flunked the state bar exam and blamed it on his failure to answer a question regarding same-sex marriage. As I suppose an aspiring attorney would instinctively do when he feels he was wronged, Stephen Dunne sued over the "inappropriate question."

This story has taken an unusual twist, however. Dunne has withdrawn his lawsuit and issued a public apology.

From Bay Windows:

But in his letter, Dunne said his suit was "misguided" and that he was
"lashing out as a result of failing the bar exam." "I am deeply sorry for the
hurt that I have caused the gay community," Dunne wrote. As far as we can tell
after interviewing Dunne on Dec. 24, he’s not headed off to jail, rehab or Oprah
- in fact, he said he’s studying to take the bar exam again - so we give him
props for his public mea culpa. The one thing he declined to do was name the law
school he attended, stating he didn’t want to draw attention to his alma mater
(although he did say it’s in Boston). We have a feeling that’s probably okay
with the school.

Click here to read the Q&A with Stephen Dunne in Bay Windows.

A Loving, Clarifying Christian Response

I am sensitive to the fact that, although Pastor Brenda and I minister to the GLBT community, we are not ourselves gay and do not have the depth of first-hand experiences a GLBT person does. Specifically here, I am referring to the hurt of being condemned by a church and the healing that must take place in a GLBT person who experiences this before they can live in the fullness of God's love. That's why I bring you some of these examples/stories directly from GLBT people that tie in to the message of our ministry.

Peterson Toscano cofounded the organization "Beyond Ex-Gay" with Christine Bakke (who I have the pleasure of meeting for the first time at the recent Gay Christian Network conference). On his blog Peterson Toscano's A Musing, he shares a response he sent to a professing Christian and "ex-gay" who had contacted Peterson and pleaded with him to "Pursue Jesus and he will heal you (presumably turn him straight)." Here is an excerpt from Peterson's wonderful, loving response:

You wrote to lead us to Jesus. You wrote to tell us how wonderful life is
with Jesus and the joy we will find in being in relationship with him. I know
this joy and live it daily. My "gay lifestyle" includes worshiping with other
believers every week as well as sweet times of fellowship on my own with God. My
"gay lifestyle" includes listening to God and following God's leading, which has
affected nearly every part of my life including my diet, my friendships, my
career, my sexuality and how I view and use my body.

We don't blame the ex-gay programs for all the hurt we suffered. Much of it
was self-induced, spurred on by a society, an ungodly world, that along with
some portions of the Church, believes that one must be heterosexual to be
acceptable. In this belief the "unsaved" world and the Church live in unison,
much like the church and the world both supported slavery for centuries. There
is too much of worldly values in the Church of Jesus, and it is time that the
church no longer conform to the pattern of this world but experience a renewing
of the mind.

Instead of lashing out at those from the Christian Right who don't get it, the approach Peterson uses here, especially to someone who was reaching out in love, however misguided, can be the most effective answer. If people see the light of Christ shining through GLBT people, as I did when I first started attending a gay-affirming church, that could lead them to an appreciation of how God loves GLBT people right where they are.

Instead of taking offense, this approach can disarm them and lead to understanding.

A Gay Mayor? Not an Issue in Takoma Park, MD

Sometimes it's worth taking time to point out noteworthy items that are NOT a major issue. That is how I would describe the presence of Bruce Williams, the mayor of Takoma Park, Maryland (Pastor Brenda's home town) who also happens to be gay.


Here is an excerpt from the Washington Blade (thanks to Equality Maryland for the tip):

Meeting Bruce Williams is like meeting one of your neighbors when walking
to get milk or calling to ask for a cup of sugar.

After 15 years in public office, Williams, who is gay, was elected mayor of
Tacoma Park late last year. How have things changed in the 15 years since he’s
been in public life?

“Tuxedos,” he says, noting the more formal nature of being mayor.

“When I was first elected as a city council person in 1993,” Williams says,
“I wondered what it was going to be like running as an openly gay official. I
was happy to find out in Takoma Park that it just wasn’t an issue.”

Telling one of his favorite stories, Williams recalls the time a local
television reporter went to a house in his neighborhood when he was first
elected. A woman, with her hair in curlers and a baby on each hip, answers the
door.

Williams says the reporter asked if the woman knew her new councilman was
gay.

“And?” Williams recalls as the woman’s “who-cares” reaction.

When asked if being gay has affected him or his constituents, Williams
says, “I don’t think it has. I think it is just one factor among many. What my
constituents look at is my willingness to serve, my competence to serve, the
fact that I show up, I listen and I try and make thoughtful decisions.”

You can read the rest of the story at the Washington Blade.

The Fight For Equality Never Ends, Even in Mass.

Massachusetts has legalized same-sex marriage and fought back a referendum that would have repealed it, but even there the work is not done. Mass Equality is still working hard to increase support for the issue to insure the tables won't get turned down the road.

The new chairman of the organization, David Wilson, is working on a group not usually disposed to support them, the African-American community.

MassEquality, a gay marriage advocacy coalition, has launched a statewide
push to increase support for its cause among black residents of Massachusetts.
The effort is a priority for Wilson, an African-American who was named the
group's chairman in October.
He knows it will be a challenge.

Many black people in Massachusetts and across the country have reacted
unsympathetically to the gay rights movement, especially to efforts by gay
rights advocates to link the fight for marriage rights to the civil rights
movement.

Gay rights advocates say with the battle against a constitutional amendment
that would have banned gay marriage in the state now behind them, they are
beginning a concerted effort to speak directly to the black community, hoping
the approach can change some minds in the Bay State and serve as a national
model for outreach to minorities.

"We have defeated the amendment, and clearly we need to educate the broader
community about equal marriage," Wilson said. "We have a lot of work to do,
because this is just a step forward in this equal-marriage fight across the
country. If we get it right here in Massachusetts, we can expect to use this
model elsewhere."

Click here to read the rest of the article from the Boston Globe.MassEquality, a gay marriage advocacy coalition, has launched a statewide push to increase support for its cause among black residents of Massachusetts. The effort is a priority for Wilson, an African-American who was named the group's chairman in October.

He knows it will be a challenge.

Many black people in Massachusetts and across the country have reacted unsympathetically to the gay rights movement, especially to efforts by gay rights advocates to link the fight for marriage rights to the civil rights movement.

Gay rights advocates say with the battle against a constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage in the state now behind them, they are beginning a concerted effort to speak directly to the black community, hoping the approach can change some minds in the Bay State and serve as a national model for outreach to minorities.

"We have defeated the amendment, and clearly we need to educate the broader community about equal marriage," Wilson said. "We have a lot of work to do, because this is just a step forward in this equal-marriage fight across the country. If we get it right here in Massachusetts, we can expect to use this model elsewhere."

Click here to read the rest of the article from the Boston Globe.

A Great Perspective

I found this wonderful quote on the Dallas Morning News religion blog:

"When faith simplifies things that need to remain complex instead of giving us
strength to live with complexity, when it gives answers where none exist,
instead of helping us appreciate the sacredness of living with questions, when
it offers certainty when there needs to be doubt, and when it tells us that we
have arrived when we should still be searching - then there is a problem with
that faith."

- Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, author of the new book "You Don't Have to be Be Wrong for Me to Be Right."

I don't often quote Rabbis here, being a Christian myself, but wisdom is wisdom regardless of where the originator worships.

I hear right wing fundamentalits spout how simple everything is to understand, how they have all the answers, how anyone living outside of their philosophy is a heretic, how anyone in a same-sex relationship is an abomination with no room for doubt.

Then I see that quote and realize that there are people who DO get it. WE don't have all the answers.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isiah 55:8-9

Any person who thinks that they understand it all it is actually putting themself up on a pedestal they will eventually fall off of. I'm content seeking the answers about life and God that I can obtain and accepting those that I'm not capable of understanding and that He does not see fit to reveal.

That's called faith folks, and that's what truly loving God is all about.

A Preview of the Upcoming Equality Battle in the Maryland Legislature

In 2008, my home state of Maryland will be one of the key battleground states regarding GLBT equality issues.  The Washington Blade has a preview on the eve of the start of this year's legislative session:

A marriage rights bill, tax relief proposal and other measures to benefit gay Marylanders will greet state lawmakers when they reconvene next week.

Such bills, including one to sanction the marriages of same-sex couples, are going before the General Assembly during a time when lawmakers and gay activists are seeking historic gains.

“I think there’s a strong chance the General Assembly is going to take action to remedy discrimination against same-sex couples in Maryland,” said Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland.

But he said exactly what inequities are addressed — and how they are remedied — remains to be seen.

“My job as the executive director of the state’s largest LGBT organization isn’t to glimpse into a crystal ball,” Furmansky said, “but to mobilize to make the greatest gains possible for our community.”

The greatest gains could come from the Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act, a measure that would make valid marriages of “two people.”

Click here to for more detail in the Washington Blade story.

Senator Kennedy Ready to Make Another Push for ENDA

The Washington Blade is reporting that Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) is ready to take another shot at passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act during the 2008 session of Congress.

“Although Sen. Kennedy strongly supports protections against job discrimination for transgender workers, inaction won’t advance justice for anyone, and will just make it harder to pass any version of ENDA in 2009,” said Kennedy spokesperson Melissa Wagoner.

“We will most likely work to move the House-passed bill, rather than introducing a separate Senate bill,” Wagoner told the Blade by e-mail. “Because the same legislation must pass both the House and Senate, now that the House has acted, the only realistic way to get a bill to the president’s desk this Congress is to have the Senate pass the House bill.”

Asked if Kennedy thought ENDA could pass the Senate in an election year, Wagoner said, “Yes, if enough Republicans support the bill to give us a realistic chance of breaking a filibuster.”

Unfortunately, this came at a time when it appears the HRC tripped over itself again.

The statement this week by Kennedy’s office that Kennedy plans to back a gay-only version of ENDA comes after news surfaced last month that a high-level official at the Human Rights Campaign suggested a vote on ENDA would not take place until 2009.

News of the HRC official’s comment came in a memo that was leaked to transgender blogger Marti Abernathey, who published it on her Transadvocate blog on Dec. 4.

The five-page internal memo, written by HRC national field director Marty Rouse, proposed that HRC adopt a series of actions and policy initiatives to “win back” the confidence of the transgender community. Rouse acknowledged in his memo that HRC lost the confidence of transgender leaders and that community’s rank-and-file members when HRC changed its position of unequivocally opposing a gay-only version of ENDA to one of “not opposing” such a measure.

Rouse’s memo calls for HRC to redouble its efforts to build support for a trans-inclusive version of ENDA by providing logistical and financial support for transgender groups in states where opposition to transgender rights is strong.

“HRC has the political and financial clout to do all this,” Rouse said in the memo. “We have two years to prepare for the next volley in Congress. I think this would be a good start.”

By saying HRC has two years to accomplish his proposals before Congress next considers ENDA, Rouse created a stir within some gay activist circles because it raised questions about whether HRC had inside knowledge from congressional leaders that ENDA would be put on the shelf until at least 2009.

Brad Luna, HRC’s director of communications, confirmed the authenticity of the Rouse memo but said it was a draft proposal that did not tie HRC to a specific timetable for when ENDA should come up for a vote.

“The memo referenced is not a plan but rather a collection of thoughts and ideas in a very embryonic, draft form,” Luna said.

Thoughts that would likely have been better left behind closed doors.