That question came to my mind after reading this interesting article in the Washington Blade by Joey DiGuglielmo.
As much as the Blade encourages everyone to be out and be proud, I have to admit there are moments in my personal life where I choke a little. Or at least pause.
I was invited by Crystal Schelle, the features editor at the Journal, to submit a column for the paper’s 100th anniversary Monday. Crystal was my first editor and the Journal was the first paper I ever worked for. It’s the daily that covers my hometown, Martinsburg, W.Va., and the rest of the state’s Eastern Panhandle.
I also mentioned the Blade in my tagline at the end of the story: “Joey DiGuglielmo lives in Washington and is news editor of Washington Blade.”
So while it wasn’t even an explicit “I’m gay” proclamation, it still made me pause. There’s a difference between being out to some family, friends and acquaintances from my home town and announcing it in the newspaper there.
Don’t get me wrong — I certainly don’t think being gay is anything to be ashamed of, but I also don’t want to rub it in anyone’s face. I’ve never been a wear-it-on-your-sleeve kind of guy about being gay or anything else.
But baby steps are good to take. While mentioning I work at the Blade could hardly be considered a ballsy move, announcing it so my entire hometown, a small town in West Virginia, no less, was a good step to take.
I agree with many of the arguments voiced on this site that urge celebs like Anderson Cooper and Jodie Foster to come out if, in fact, they are gay. While I agree that such steps would be great for the gay community (you know — us “radical homosexuals!”), I have to also realize that little tinges I feel over small stuff like a tagline would be magnified a thousand times if I were as well known as Cooper or Foster.
I've dealt with that issue to a small extent myself. Although I am straight, I'm very selective who I tell about my GLBT advocacy and refer to this blog. Outside of my church and the GLBT community, there are a lot of people who know about my sportswriting but a mere handful who know about my "other life." I compartmentalize because, as I have written here numerous times, many people in the sports world don't exactly embrace GLBT people, and probably won't cozy up with their advocates either.
Perhaps, like Joey DiGuglielmo, I need to take some more baby steps myself.
May 08, 2007
Where Should GLBT Christians Go to Worship?
That's the question being asked in this essay from Whosoever Magazine:
Some of us seem to be waiting for an engraved invitation, while others won't leave until the congregation threatens to stone us. One way or the other, we don't seem to have a very good sense of where we belong and where we don't - or, to put it a better way, which churches deserve us and which don't.
Polls consistently show that to know us is to love us. Those who most hate and fear gays think they don't know any. We can't change hearts and minds from afar. My concern, in this essay, is those "borderline" congregations, in which we very likely would be welcome - if we made the effort to be.
I often wonder if GLBT Christians realize how welcome we'd be at many of the churches that do NOT send out engraved invitations. I wonder if they realize why, for some churches, rolling out a rainbow carpet might not be wise - not because they don't want us, but simply because they don't want the trouble they're afraid we will bring with us.
There are a whole lot of nuts out there. Is it worth getting picketed, vandalized, targeted in the wingnut media and possibly even disciplined by the denomination for the sake of issuing a call that might be heeded by no more than a handful of people? That's a question I must admit, if I were a pastor, I'd find hard to answer.
If you're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and you want to go to church, the simple fact is that there are many more to choose from than you might think. Most won't hang out a rainbow flag, or take out advertisements. We have to learn to detect them.
How do you feel about that? Do you think there are ample worship opportunities available for you? Would you be willing to stake out a spot in a largely heterosexual congregation or do you need to be with mostly GLBT people to be comfortable and establish a sense of family?
Some of us seem to be waiting for an engraved invitation, while others won't leave until the congregation threatens to stone us. One way or the other, we don't seem to have a very good sense of where we belong and where we don't - or, to put it a better way, which churches deserve us and which don't.
Polls consistently show that to know us is to love us. Those who most hate and fear gays think they don't know any. We can't change hearts and minds from afar. My concern, in this essay, is those "borderline" congregations, in which we very likely would be welcome - if we made the effort to be.
I often wonder if GLBT Christians realize how welcome we'd be at many of the churches that do NOT send out engraved invitations. I wonder if they realize why, for some churches, rolling out a rainbow carpet might not be wise - not because they don't want us, but simply because they don't want the trouble they're afraid we will bring with us.
There are a whole lot of nuts out there. Is it worth getting picketed, vandalized, targeted in the wingnut media and possibly even disciplined by the denomination for the sake of issuing a call that might be heeded by no more than a handful of people? That's a question I must admit, if I were a pastor, I'd find hard to answer.
If you're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and you want to go to church, the simple fact is that there are many more to choose from than you might think. Most won't hang out a rainbow flag, or take out advertisements. We have to learn to detect them.
How do you feel about that? Do you think there are ample worship opportunities available for you? Would you be willing to stake out a spot in a largely heterosexual congregation or do you need to be with mostly GLBT people to be comfortable and establish a sense of family?
May 07, 2007
Canadian Study Shows That Same-Sex Couples As Good, If Not Better, Than Straight Parents
From the report on Canada.com:
Parenting by same-sex families is just as good -- if not slightly advantageous -- for children when compared to heterosexual families, a Justice Department study has concluded.
The report says the strongest conclusion that can be drawn from empirical literature is that the vast majority of studies show that children living with two mothers and children living with a mother and father have the same levels and qualities of social competence.
"A few studies suggest that children with two lesbian mothers may have marginally better social competence than children in traditional nuclear' families, even fewer studies show the opposite, and most studies fail to find any differences," says the 74-page study.
The article adds speculation that the study, completed in 2003, was witheld from the public because the results did not suit the conservative Canadian government leadership. Sounds like something that would happen in the Bush administration, doesn't it?
The site Good As You had an entertaining and dead-on take on this:
And why are these kids sometimes more well-adjusted socially, you ask? Well, isn't it obvious? While kids of heterosexual parents are forced to dedicate two days a year to celebrating their parents, kids o' gays are able to consolidate their parental celebrations into one Mothers/Fathers Day blowout. That extra day to focus on social competency gives them just a little bit of an edge over their reared-by-'rosexual peers. Obviously.
Or, it could just be that gays aren't the child destroying, society corrupting, evil demon spawn that so many have accused them of being, but are instead good people who are just as capable of proficient kid rearing as anyone else. We're open to both options; although we must admit we think the Mother/Fathers Day thing might really be something! Hell, just think of the vital social betterment time that you save on greeting cards alone...
The next time you hear opponents of same-sex adoption say their opposition is out of concern for the welfare of the children, you may want to ask them to either consider the facts or admit what their REAL reason is.
Parenting by same-sex families is just as good -- if not slightly advantageous -- for children when compared to heterosexual families, a Justice Department study has concluded.
The report says the strongest conclusion that can be drawn from empirical literature is that the vast majority of studies show that children living with two mothers and children living with a mother and father have the same levels and qualities of social competence.
"A few studies suggest that children with two lesbian mothers may have marginally better social competence than children in traditional nuclear' families, even fewer studies show the opposite, and most studies fail to find any differences," says the 74-page study.
The article adds speculation that the study, completed in 2003, was witheld from the public because the results did not suit the conservative Canadian government leadership. Sounds like something that would happen in the Bush administration, doesn't it?
The site Good As You had an entertaining and dead-on take on this:
And why are these kids sometimes more well-adjusted socially, you ask? Well, isn't it obvious? While kids of heterosexual parents are forced to dedicate two days a year to celebrating their parents, kids o' gays are able to consolidate their parental celebrations into one Mothers/Fathers Day blowout. That extra day to focus on social competency gives them just a little bit of an edge over their reared-by-'rosexual peers. Obviously.
Or, it could just be that gays aren't the child destroying, society corrupting, evil demon spawn that so many have accused them of being, but are instead good people who are just as capable of proficient kid rearing as anyone else. We're open to both options; although we must admit we think the Mother/Fathers Day thing might really be something! Hell, just think of the vital social betterment time that you save on greeting cards alone...
The next time you hear opponents of same-sex adoption say their opposition is out of concern for the welfare of the children, you may want to ask them to either consider the facts or admit what their REAL reason is.
Amaechi: "I Underestimated America"
Former NBA player John Amachi, who recently came out as gay, says the reaction to that news has been "overwhelmingly supportive and positive."
"I underestimated America. I braced myself for the wrath of a nation under God," Amaechi said at the Log Cabin Republicans' annual convention. "I imagined that it would be a firestorm, that it would be some insane number of letters demanding my deportation or my death.
"And in fact, 95 percent of the correspondence I've had have been overwhelmingly supportive and positive," Amaechi said. "But I will say that the 5 percent that I've had have been unbelievably, viscerally, frighteningly negative."
Not surprisingly, the reaction of his former teammates and employers has been quite different:
"Probably 30 of my former [NBA] teammates have my e-mail and my telephone contacts and probably 16 or so of those I was in regular touch with and there are probably 10 people who I have [on instant messenger]. And zero -- nobody -- who's active in the NBA has been in touch with me since the day I came out, despite the fact that most of them knew I was gay in the first place," Amaechi said.
He also wondered why nba.com, the league's official Web site, has never mentioned his homosexuality when it was such a huge sports story everywhere else.
There is a lot more in the ESPN article about how Amaechi sees the sports world slowly, much more so than the balance of society, moving toward accepting GLBT people and his recent experience as a "gay sports ambassador" that is worth checking out.
"I underestimated America. I braced myself for the wrath of a nation under God," Amaechi said at the Log Cabin Republicans' annual convention. "I imagined that it would be a firestorm, that it would be some insane number of letters demanding my deportation or my death.
"And in fact, 95 percent of the correspondence I've had have been overwhelmingly supportive and positive," Amaechi said. "But I will say that the 5 percent that I've had have been unbelievably, viscerally, frighteningly negative."
Not surprisingly, the reaction of his former teammates and employers has been quite different:
"Probably 30 of my former [NBA] teammates have my e-mail and my telephone contacts and probably 16 or so of those I was in regular touch with and there are probably 10 people who I have [on instant messenger]. And zero -- nobody -- who's active in the NBA has been in touch with me since the day I came out, despite the fact that most of them knew I was gay in the first place," Amaechi said.
He also wondered why nba.com, the league's official Web site, has never mentioned his homosexuality when it was such a huge sports story everywhere else.
There is a lot more in the ESPN article about how Amaechi sees the sports world slowly, much more so than the balance of society, moving toward accepting GLBT people and his recent experience as a "gay sports ambassador" that is worth checking out.
May 06, 2007
"The Beginning of the End of the Religious Right?"
You see that headline and assume it's someone opposed to the religious right authoring it, don't you? Wrong. The writer of the column carrying that headline is Cal Thomas, a card-carrying member of the religious right and an outspoken advocate for their cause in his syndicated columns, radio shows, and Fox News.
The clumn was prompted by the closing of what Thomas referred to as "One of the major players in what came to be know as the 'Religious Right' in the 1980's," The Center for Reclaming America for Christ. This was a part of Dr. James Kennedy's (one of the more extreme of the right-wing preachers that has infiltrated politics) Coral Rigde Ministries.
Thomas uses this occasion to give a brief overview of where he believes the conservative Christian insertion into the national political process stands, and it's not pretty:
Nearly 30 years after religious conservatives decided to re-enter the political arena -- after abandoning it as "dirty" and leading to compromise -- what do they have to show for it? The country remains sharply divided and the reconciling message they used to preach has been obscured by the crass pursuit of the golden ring of political power. In the end, they got neither the power, nor the Kingdom; only the glory and even that is now fading, as these older leaders pass from the scene. (James Kennedy is 76 years old and recovering from a heart attack).
Too many conservative Christians have focused on the "seen" rather than the "unseen," thinking appearances at the White House, or on "Meet the Press," is evidence that they are making a difference. And too much attention has been paid to individual personalities, rather than to the One these preachers had originally been called to exalt.
To paraphrase a verse familiar to most Christians, what shall it profit a man if he gains the White House, but loses his own soul?
Christians are also fond of saying God never closes one door without opening another door. The "door" of the Center for Reclaiming America has closed. The new doors can produce a more effective politics, if what's on the other side is based on a message that has less to do with partisanship and more to do with the One who transcends all politics and Who lends His power only to those who will use it as He instructed.
These are some powerful and, I believe, inspired words from someone who generally sits on the other side of the isle from me when it comes down to the issues of the day. His points about religious leaders focusing on politics and losing their focus on God is dead on. If his perspective would be given serious consideration by men like James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Tony Perkins, etc., we would see a much different and far less antagonistic and polarized political landscape, one which might actually focus on acceptance of ALL people and the care of those who are sick and/or poor.
Wayne Besen, Executive Director of the GLBT advocacy organization Truth Wins Out, wrote this about the closing of the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ:
Today we celebrate the demise of one of the most insidious anti-gay groups in America that incited intolerance by pumping out virulently anti-gay propaganda,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The Center for Reclaiming America for Christ bet the bank on the ‘ex-gay’ message, and by doing so, bankrupted their credibility after their rising ‘ex-gay’ star crashed and burned.”
“This is a cautionary tale for right wing organizations that think jumping on the ‘ex-gay’ bandwagon is good politics,” said TWO’s Besen. “In the short term, it might cause some opponents to shudder, but in the end, it may lead to the shuttering of windows and doors with a sign that reads, ‘Out of Business.’”
Let's hope Besen is right and that, as people become more aware of reality, it becomes more difficult for organizations to gain anything by using the whole "ex-gay" myth and the people who allow themselves to be exploited by it.
The clumn was prompted by the closing of what Thomas referred to as "One of the major players in what came to be know as the 'Religious Right' in the 1980's," The Center for Reclaming America for Christ. This was a part of Dr. James Kennedy's (one of the more extreme of the right-wing preachers that has infiltrated politics) Coral Rigde Ministries.
Thomas uses this occasion to give a brief overview of where he believes the conservative Christian insertion into the national political process stands, and it's not pretty:
Nearly 30 years after religious conservatives decided to re-enter the political arena -- after abandoning it as "dirty" and leading to compromise -- what do they have to show for it? The country remains sharply divided and the reconciling message they used to preach has been obscured by the crass pursuit of the golden ring of political power. In the end, they got neither the power, nor the Kingdom; only the glory and even that is now fading, as these older leaders pass from the scene. (James Kennedy is 76 years old and recovering from a heart attack).
Too many conservative Christians have focused on the "seen" rather than the "unseen," thinking appearances at the White House, or on "Meet the Press," is evidence that they are making a difference. And too much attention has been paid to individual personalities, rather than to the One these preachers had originally been called to exalt.
To paraphrase a verse familiar to most Christians, what shall it profit a man if he gains the White House, but loses his own soul?
Christians are also fond of saying God never closes one door without opening another door. The "door" of the Center for Reclaiming America has closed. The new doors can produce a more effective politics, if what's on the other side is based on a message that has less to do with partisanship and more to do with the One who transcends all politics and Who lends His power only to those who will use it as He instructed.
These are some powerful and, I believe, inspired words from someone who generally sits on the other side of the isle from me when it comes down to the issues of the day. His points about religious leaders focusing on politics and losing their focus on God is dead on. If his perspective would be given serious consideration by men like James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Tony Perkins, etc., we would see a much different and far less antagonistic and polarized political landscape, one which might actually focus on acceptance of ALL people and the care of those who are sick and/or poor.
Wayne Besen, Executive Director of the GLBT advocacy organization Truth Wins Out, wrote this about the closing of the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ:
Today we celebrate the demise of one of the most insidious anti-gay groups in America that incited intolerance by pumping out virulently anti-gay propaganda,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The Center for Reclaiming America for Christ bet the bank on the ‘ex-gay’ message, and by doing so, bankrupted their credibility after their rising ‘ex-gay’ star crashed and burned.”
“This is a cautionary tale for right wing organizations that think jumping on the ‘ex-gay’ bandwagon is good politics,” said TWO’s Besen. “In the short term, it might cause some opponents to shudder, but in the end, it may lead to the shuttering of windows and doors with a sign that reads, ‘Out of Business.’”
Let's hope Besen is right and that, as people become more aware of reality, it becomes more difficult for organizations to gain anything by using the whole "ex-gay" myth and the people who allow themselves to be exploited by it.
May 05, 2007
Faith In America Launches "Call to Courage" Tour
From the Faith In America website:
Faith in America has announced the launch of a five-city "Call to Courage" campaign to educate Americans about the misuse of religious teachings to discriminate and isolate gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The campaign officially kicks off on May 6th in Ames, Iowa.
"Today marks an important day in the shared history of America’s religious and GLBT communities. For a long time we’ve stood on separate sides of an impasse” said Jimmy Creech, Executive Director of Faith In America. “But through this education campaign we will begin a deep and sustained dialogue, to bridge the gaps of tolerance and understanding in this country."
FIA’s national campaign will proceed to Reno, Nevada; Greenville, South Carolina; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. The five campaigns will be held between May and the end of November 2007.
Faith In America through the five-city campaign will:
Create dialogue regarding religious teachings and practices which foster discrimination and oppression against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Demonstrate how misguided religious teachings were used historically to justify injustice and discrimination (slavery, racism, anti-interracial marriage, sexism) and are being used today to deny full and equal rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.
Provide accepting clergy and people of faith a forum to express disagreement with religion-based bigotry.
This is the mission statement of this organization:
To end legal and spiritual discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in America and to gain full and equal rights for those citizens.
Can anyone here support that? I thought so. I recommend checking them out if you're anywhere near one of the towns they will be visiting.
Faith in America has announced the launch of a five-city "Call to Courage" campaign to educate Americans about the misuse of religious teachings to discriminate and isolate gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The campaign officially kicks off on May 6th in Ames, Iowa.
"Today marks an important day in the shared history of America’s religious and GLBT communities. For a long time we’ve stood on separate sides of an impasse” said Jimmy Creech, Executive Director of Faith In America. “But through this education campaign we will begin a deep and sustained dialogue, to bridge the gaps of tolerance and understanding in this country."
FIA’s national campaign will proceed to Reno, Nevada; Greenville, South Carolina; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. The five campaigns will be held between May and the end of November 2007.
Faith In America through the five-city campaign will:
Create dialogue regarding religious teachings and practices which foster discrimination and oppression against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Demonstrate how misguided religious teachings were used historically to justify injustice and discrimination (slavery, racism, anti-interracial marriage, sexism) and are being used today to deny full and equal rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.
Provide accepting clergy and people of faith a forum to express disagreement with religion-based bigotry.
This is the mission statement of this organization:
To end legal and spiritual discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in America and to gain full and equal rights for those citizens.
Can anyone here support that? I thought so. I recommend checking them out if you're anywhere near one of the towns they will be visiting.
Recent Breakthroughs for GLBT People in Legislatures
"We have seen in the last month at almost every major win, almost always there is an openly gay legislator behind that story," says Denis Dison of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which helps elect openly gay or transgender officials, who now number 370.
There has been a substantial list of victories for GLBT people in state legislatures across the United States in recent weeks. This article from Alternet provides a good summary of them.
At least in portions of this country, there is momentum building to move toward GLBT equality.
There has been a substantial list of victories for GLBT people in state legislatures across the United States in recent weeks. This article from Alternet provides a good summary of them.
At least in portions of this country, there is momentum building to move toward GLBT equality.
May 04, 2007
McCain: Gay Troops Put Others "At Grave Risk"
John McCain, a senator from Arizona, is running for the Republican presidential nomination. It appears that a major part of his strategy is to court the extreme right-wing. He's already cozied up to one of the godfathers of the religious right, Jerry Falwell, and he's now taken a major swipe at the GLBT community.
As reported by The Advocate, McCain dropped a note to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy organization for GLBT soldiers. According to the report, Sen. McCain wrote in regards to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy:
"I believe polarization of personnel and breakdown of unit effectiveness is too high a price to pay for well-intentioned but misguided efforts to elevate the interests of a minority of homosexual service members above those of their units.
"Most importantly, the national security of the United States, not to mention the lives of our men and women in uniform, are put at grave risk by policies detrimental to the good order and discipline which so distinguish America's armed services."
Fortunately, there are more reasoned opinions on this issue:
In a March op-ed in The Washington Post, GOP former senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming wrote, "I believe it is critical that we review—and overturn—the ban on gay service members in the military. I voted for 'don't ask, don't tell.' But much has changed since 1993.... We need every able-bodied, smart patriot to help us win this war."
"Senator McCain's comments are out of step with the overwhelming majority of the American people, and out of touch with the best interests of our armed forces," said Sharra Greer, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's director of law and policy, in a written statement Thursday.
"Senator McCain's defense of this counterproductive law is disrespectful to the more than 65,000 lesbian and gay service members on duty today."
I don't honestly understand how any GLBT people or advocates could vote for a Republican president, but in case you're tempted by Senator McCain, I suggest you keep this in mind.
The entire letter McCain wrote to the SLDN is available here:
As reported by The Advocate, McCain dropped a note to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy organization for GLBT soldiers. According to the report, Sen. McCain wrote in regards to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy:
"I believe polarization of personnel and breakdown of unit effectiveness is too high a price to pay for well-intentioned but misguided efforts to elevate the interests of a minority of homosexual service members above those of their units.
"Most importantly, the national security of the United States, not to mention the lives of our men and women in uniform, are put at grave risk by policies detrimental to the good order and discipline which so distinguish America's armed services."
Fortunately, there are more reasoned opinions on this issue:
In a March op-ed in The Washington Post, GOP former senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming wrote, "I believe it is critical that we review—and overturn—the ban on gay service members in the military. I voted for 'don't ask, don't tell.' But much has changed since 1993.... We need every able-bodied, smart patriot to help us win this war."
"Senator McCain's comments are out of step with the overwhelming majority of the American people, and out of touch with the best interests of our armed forces," said Sharra Greer, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's director of law and policy, in a written statement Thursday.
"Senator McCain's defense of this counterproductive law is disrespectful to the more than 65,000 lesbian and gay service members on duty today."
I don't honestly understand how any GLBT people or advocates could vote for a Republican president, but in case you're tempted by Senator McCain, I suggest you keep this in mind.
The entire letter McCain wrote to the SLDN is available here:
Announcing the 11th Edition of the International Carnival of Pozitives
The newest edition of the International Carnival of Pozitives, the periodic collection of blog posts, videos, and news items that deal with issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, is now available at Living in the Bonus Round.
If you want to check out previous editions, click on the International Carnival of Pozitives home page.
I'm proud that I'll be hosting the 14th edition coming up in August.
If you want to check out previous editions, click on the International Carnival of Pozitives home page.
I'm proud that I'll be hosting the 14th edition coming up in August.
May 03, 2007
Did Christians Lose a Round Today?
With the passage of the Matthew Shepard Bill (hate crimes legislation including sexual orientation as a protected minority), did Christians suffer a defeat today?
Right-wing extremists did, but from where I sit and worship God, it was a good day for Christianity. The scare tactics organizations like the Traditional Values Coalition, the Family Research Council, and the American Family Association used to try and sway votes failed. They wanted people to believe it would infringe on their right to worship (read: gay bash), touting it as a blow to religious freedom. The TVC went so far as to send around a tasteless picture of Jesus on a wanted poster, saying he would be subject to prosocution if this bill makes it into law.
A more reasoned, factual approach came from the ACLU:
"Prosecuting violent hate crimes is critically important. This bill will also protect due process and the Constitution, especially our First Amendment rights to speak freely and associate with whom we'd like," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "When a person inflicts violence based on hate, it is important that they be punished. But defendants must have a fair trial, and should not be judged based on what they say and the company they keep, unless specifically related to the crime. While we may disagree with some people's speech, it must be protected or all of our speech is at risk. "
There it is right-wingers, your right to spew hatred and bigotry is still protected under the First Amendment and is NOT diminished by this law, unless it can be directly proven that your words contributed to a violent act being committed. If you are preaching the word of God, that shouldn't be a problem. When did Jesus incite anyone to violence? Not a single time. He even rebuked Peter when he slashed the ear off one of the guards who were arresting Jesus and went so far as to heal the soldier.
I called in and spoke on the air for a moment with Michelangelo Signorile, who hosts a program on Sirius OutQ Radio from 2-6PM Eastern Monday thru Friday. Understandably, Michelangelo and his callers had spent some time bashing "right-wing Christians" because of their over-the-top opposition to the Matthew Shepard Bill. I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone listening that there are straight Christians who have received the revalation of the GLBT community's place in God's kingdom, a place that is equal to the one I have. I emphasized how important it was for my fellow enlightened Christians to stand up and speak out for GLBT equality since the right-wing, although possibly diminishing in stature, is still a powerful, well-funded force. Michelangelo received what I said in a very positive way and expresseded his view that the majority of Christians share my beliefs. I think that might be somewhat optimistic, but if that's not the case now, I believe it is only a matter of time before it is.
The right-wing extremists will stop at nothing, including besmirching Christianity and God himself to enforce their bigoted, hateful views toward homosexuals. Affirming believers need to get angry about that, stay that way, and channel that anger positively in advocating for the GLBT community and spreading a clearer understanding of who God truly is. There are too many scripture references showing what a loving, accepting God we have to quote here--that's what most of the Bible is about because that's what God is about.
I believe He is happy with the way today's vote turned out and will be happier when more of His children have better legal protection against hatred and violence.
Right-wing extremists did, but from where I sit and worship God, it was a good day for Christianity. The scare tactics organizations like the Traditional Values Coalition, the Family Research Council, and the American Family Association used to try and sway votes failed. They wanted people to believe it would infringe on their right to worship (read: gay bash), touting it as a blow to religious freedom. The TVC went so far as to send around a tasteless picture of Jesus on a wanted poster, saying he would be subject to prosocution if this bill makes it into law.
A more reasoned, factual approach came from the ACLU:
"Prosecuting violent hate crimes is critically important. This bill will also protect due process and the Constitution, especially our First Amendment rights to speak freely and associate with whom we'd like," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "When a person inflicts violence based on hate, it is important that they be punished. But defendants must have a fair trial, and should not be judged based on what they say and the company they keep, unless specifically related to the crime. While we may disagree with some people's speech, it must be protected or all of our speech is at risk. "
There it is right-wingers, your right to spew hatred and bigotry is still protected under the First Amendment and is NOT diminished by this law, unless it can be directly proven that your words contributed to a violent act being committed. If you are preaching the word of God, that shouldn't be a problem. When did Jesus incite anyone to violence? Not a single time. He even rebuked Peter when he slashed the ear off one of the guards who were arresting Jesus and went so far as to heal the soldier.
I called in and spoke on the air for a moment with Michelangelo Signorile, who hosts a program on Sirius OutQ Radio from 2-6PM Eastern Monday thru Friday. Understandably, Michelangelo and his callers had spent some time bashing "right-wing Christians" because of their over-the-top opposition to the Matthew Shepard Bill. I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone listening that there are straight Christians who have received the revalation of the GLBT community's place in God's kingdom, a place that is equal to the one I have. I emphasized how important it was for my fellow enlightened Christians to stand up and speak out for GLBT equality since the right-wing, although possibly diminishing in stature, is still a powerful, well-funded force. Michelangelo received what I said in a very positive way and expresseded his view that the majority of Christians share my beliefs. I think that might be somewhat optimistic, but if that's not the case now, I believe it is only a matter of time before it is.
The right-wing extremists will stop at nothing, including besmirching Christianity and God himself to enforce their bigoted, hateful views toward homosexuals. Affirming believers need to get angry about that, stay that way, and channel that anger positively in advocating for the GLBT community and spreading a clearer understanding of who God truly is. There are too many scripture references showing what a loving, accepting God we have to quote here--that's what most of the Bible is about because that's what God is about.
I believe He is happy with the way today's vote turned out and will be happier when more of His children have better legal protection against hatred and violence.
A Major Evangelist Moves Toward Acceptance
This is an excerpt from an interview evangelist Tony Campolo gave to Rev! Magazine, a publication targeting church pastors and leaders.
Have you changed your perspective on the issue of homosexuality over the years?
Campolo: I made up my mind in my mid-20s about this issue. The first time I began to encounter any intelligent discussion on this was when I was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. I began at that point to collect research and interview people who were homosexuals because I was doing my studies in the sociology of the family and this was a major issue. I came to the conclusion from a biblical perspective that I had to be faithful to what I thought the Scripture was teaching. Romans 1 does not allow for this behavior, but to condemn people for having feelings that they never chose to have seems crazy to say the least. That was my conclusion.
How out of step do you feel with your fellow evangelicals on this issue?
Campolo: Over the last few years I've become increasingly uncomfortable with my fellow evangelical Christians because they refuse to face the fact that in the overwhelming number of cases homosexuals do not change -- no matter hard they pray. I always emphasize that there are exceptions. But can people be prayed out of Alzheimer's disease? Of course, they can. Do you know anybody who has? I don't. The fact that God can do anything should not be questioned, but to say that you can pray yourself out of homosexuality creates a real problem. Many parents end up being alienated from their own children who are homosexual because they believe that if their kids would just get serious and pray about this they would be delivered. I could give you heart-breaking stories, of boys in particular, who cannot go home and see their parents because their parents say, "Until you repent and pray for God to change you, you can't come home."
There are two points I want to make here. First, although he stops short of total acceptance of homosexuals, he is clearly concerned about the "ex-gay" movement and strongly discredits it.
Second, he showed his views and understanding of God and His Word is still growing. Campolo is one of the best known evangelists and religious authors in the world, yet he was comfortable enough with himself to admit that he didn't, and still doesn't, have all the answers.
This is yet another example of someone who keeps his mind and heart open moving in the direction of understanding and accepting GLBT people as equal partners in the Kingdom of God. The more evangelists that come forward with this type of approach, the more isolated the hate mongers like James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson will become.
Have you changed your perspective on the issue of homosexuality over the years?
Campolo: I made up my mind in my mid-20s about this issue. The first time I began to encounter any intelligent discussion on this was when I was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. I began at that point to collect research and interview people who were homosexuals because I was doing my studies in the sociology of the family and this was a major issue. I came to the conclusion from a biblical perspective that I had to be faithful to what I thought the Scripture was teaching. Romans 1 does not allow for this behavior, but to condemn people for having feelings that they never chose to have seems crazy to say the least. That was my conclusion.
How out of step do you feel with your fellow evangelicals on this issue?
Campolo: Over the last few years I've become increasingly uncomfortable with my fellow evangelical Christians because they refuse to face the fact that in the overwhelming number of cases homosexuals do not change -- no matter hard they pray. I always emphasize that there are exceptions. But can people be prayed out of Alzheimer's disease? Of course, they can. Do you know anybody who has? I don't. The fact that God can do anything should not be questioned, but to say that you can pray yourself out of homosexuality creates a real problem. Many parents end up being alienated from their own children who are homosexual because they believe that if their kids would just get serious and pray about this they would be delivered. I could give you heart-breaking stories, of boys in particular, who cannot go home and see their parents because their parents say, "Until you repent and pray for God to change you, you can't come home."
There are two points I want to make here. First, although he stops short of total acceptance of homosexuals, he is clearly concerned about the "ex-gay" movement and strongly discredits it.
Second, he showed his views and understanding of God and His Word is still growing. Campolo is one of the best known evangelists and religious authors in the world, yet he was comfortable enough with himself to admit that he didn't, and still doesn't, have all the answers.
This is yet another example of someone who keeps his mind and heart open moving in the direction of understanding and accepting GLBT people as equal partners in the Kingdom of God. The more evangelists that come forward with this type of approach, the more isolated the hate mongers like James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson will become.
May 02, 2007
Colleges Becoming Hotbed of Religious Study & Activity
A funny thing is happening on college campuses these days according to this report in the New York Times:
Peter J. Gomes has been at Harvard University for 37 years, and says he remembers when religious people on campus felt under siege. To be seen as religious often meant being dismissed as not very bright, he said.
No longer. At Harvard these days, said Professor Gomes, the university preacher, “There is probably more active religious life now than there has been in 100 years.”
Across the country, on secular campuses as varied as Colgate University, the University of Wisconsin and the University of California, Berkeley, chaplains, professors and administrators say students are drawn to religion and spirituality with more fervor than at any time they can remember.
University officials explained the surge of interest in religion as partly a result of the rise of the religious right in politics, which they said has made questions of faith more talked about generally. In addition, they said, the attacks of Sept. 11 underscored for many the influence of religion on world affairs. And an influx of evangelical students at secular universities, along with an increasing number of international students, means students arrive with a broader array of religious experiences.
Professor Gomes (pronounced like “homes”) said a more diverse student body at Harvard had meant that “the place is more representative of mainstream America.”
This is happening at the same time that surveys across the country indicate college-age people are more open to accepting homosexuality and insuring full civil rights for them, such as same-sex marriage.
From where I sit, these two facts are not in conflict. Instead, I believe they show that college students are not just accepting right-wing religious rhetoric as fact--they are investigating and studying for themselves and developing their own values, ones which are more affirming and accepting than those of their elders.
All is not lost in a society when the younger generation is receiving MORE of God's revelation than those who preceeded them.
Peter J. Gomes has been at Harvard University for 37 years, and says he remembers when religious people on campus felt under siege. To be seen as religious often meant being dismissed as not very bright, he said.
No longer. At Harvard these days, said Professor Gomes, the university preacher, “There is probably more active religious life now than there has been in 100 years.”
Across the country, on secular campuses as varied as Colgate University, the University of Wisconsin and the University of California, Berkeley, chaplains, professors and administrators say students are drawn to religion and spirituality with more fervor than at any time they can remember.
University officials explained the surge of interest in religion as partly a result of the rise of the religious right in politics, which they said has made questions of faith more talked about generally. In addition, they said, the attacks of Sept. 11 underscored for many the influence of religion on world affairs. And an influx of evangelical students at secular universities, along with an increasing number of international students, means students arrive with a broader array of religious experiences.
Professor Gomes (pronounced like “homes”) said a more diverse student body at Harvard had meant that “the place is more representative of mainstream America.”
This is happening at the same time that surveys across the country indicate college-age people are more open to accepting homosexuality and insuring full civil rights for them, such as same-sex marriage.
From where I sit, these two facts are not in conflict. Instead, I believe they show that college students are not just accepting right-wing religious rhetoric as fact--they are investigating and studying for themselves and developing their own values, ones which are more affirming and accepting than those of their elders.
All is not lost in a society when the younger generation is receiving MORE of God's revelation than those who preceeded them.
Lack of Clarity Among Southern Baptists?
There is a spirited debate going on these days among Southern Baptists that does not involve homosexuality. There really isn't much debate within one of the largest religious denominations in the United States--Southern Baptist theology's view of homosexuality as a sin is very deeply entrenched and not really up for discussion.
According to this report from the Christian Post, however, the denomination does not have all the answers:
Southern Baptist pastors opened debate on speaking in tongues at a weekend conference where a charismatic Baptist sought to educate his fellow believers on the Holy Spirit.
After affirming his own conviction that he has been gifted with a private prayer language, Pastor Dwight McKissic of Cornerstone Baptist Church said Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit it celebrates, are largely overlooked in Baptist churches, according to the Associated Baptist Press. And the lack of awareness is a loss for Baptists, he added.
While the majority of Southern Baptist leaders do not practice or accept charismatic practices, Baptists are split on the issue and SBC president Frank Page also recognized and let stand the varying interpretations within the denomination.
"[B]ecause I do believe there are varying interpretations, I believe it is okay to believe one way or the other," said Page, months after the chapel sermon.
For the record, this gift of the Holy Spirit, the ability to speak/pray in tounges, is something I received a couple of years ago shortly after I joined Believers Covenant Fellowship. I was taught about it by Apostle Dale and Pastor Brenda. It was an adjustment for me since I had never experienced it. The first time Pastor Brenda took me to church and used her prayer language (with no warning), I almost wet my pants. It's a gift that most of our congregation has and uses as part of their worship.
"Two people using the same methods of interpretation can look at the same text and come to completely opposite conclusions. When someone says, 'I'm speaking in tongues and it is from the Holy Spirit,' some people believe them and other people don't, and there's the difference," said Bart Barber of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas, as he presented the semi-cessationist viewpoint (belief that some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased with the early church), according to Baptist Press.
It's okay for people to interpret biblical text differently and neither one of them becoming a heretic or heathen? Stop the presses for that news flash coming from a Southern Baptist speaker.
Now if only they would open their minds a little farther and reconsider the "clobber passages" they have been abusing GLBT people with for so long.
According to this report from the Christian Post, however, the denomination does not have all the answers:
Southern Baptist pastors opened debate on speaking in tongues at a weekend conference where a charismatic Baptist sought to educate his fellow believers on the Holy Spirit.
After affirming his own conviction that he has been gifted with a private prayer language, Pastor Dwight McKissic of Cornerstone Baptist Church said Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit it celebrates, are largely overlooked in Baptist churches, according to the Associated Baptist Press. And the lack of awareness is a loss for Baptists, he added.
While the majority of Southern Baptist leaders do not practice or accept charismatic practices, Baptists are split on the issue and SBC president Frank Page also recognized and let stand the varying interpretations within the denomination.
"[B]ecause I do believe there are varying interpretations, I believe it is okay to believe one way or the other," said Page, months after the chapel sermon.
For the record, this gift of the Holy Spirit, the ability to speak/pray in tounges, is something I received a couple of years ago shortly after I joined Believers Covenant Fellowship. I was taught about it by Apostle Dale and Pastor Brenda. It was an adjustment for me since I had never experienced it. The first time Pastor Brenda took me to church and used her prayer language (with no warning), I almost wet my pants. It's a gift that most of our congregation has and uses as part of their worship.
"Two people using the same methods of interpretation can look at the same text and come to completely opposite conclusions. When someone says, 'I'm speaking in tongues and it is from the Holy Spirit,' some people believe them and other people don't, and there's the difference," said Bart Barber of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas, as he presented the semi-cessationist viewpoint (belief that some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased with the early church), according to Baptist Press.
It's okay for people to interpret biblical text differently and neither one of them becoming a heretic or heathen? Stop the presses for that news flash coming from a Southern Baptist speaker.
Now if only they would open their minds a little farther and reconsider the "clobber passages" they have been abusing GLBT people with for so long.
May 01, 2007
"Pastors spread the word on AIDS"
If you've even casually read the New Testament in the Bible, especially the Gospels, you've seen a LOT of references (including Jesus' direct ministry) to helping the poor and the sick.
So why, then, don't more churches focus on helping people with AIDS? Unfortunately, most of that is tied in with prejudice, even bigotry, against the GLBT people who are impacted by this disease. There are even people who stand behind a pulpit who still believe that AIDS is God's punishment to homosexuals, and I suspect a lot more ministers believe it than actually have the nerve (or gall) to say so.
That's why this article from the Chicago Tribune is refreshing. Last Sunday, messages about reaching out and helping people with AIDS were preached from over 100 largely African-American churches in the Chicago area. Given the startling statistics that nearly half of new AIDS cases in the United States affected African-Americans, who represent about 13% of the population, there is no better place to focus on emphasizing this message.
Rev. Charles Jenkins from the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side led this effort:
"The church is that place to be empowered and encouraged," he said.
"Jesus wasn't just concerned about people spiritually," Jenkins said. "He was concerned about people physically too, and emotionally."
"Jesus didn't move away. He moved in when people were dealing with all kinds of circumstances."
May God bless the efforts of Rev. Jenkins and others like him. Please join me in praying that people will listen.....and act.
So why, then, don't more churches focus on helping people with AIDS? Unfortunately, most of that is tied in with prejudice, even bigotry, against the GLBT people who are impacted by this disease. There are even people who stand behind a pulpit who still believe that AIDS is God's punishment to homosexuals, and I suspect a lot more ministers believe it than actually have the nerve (or gall) to say so.
That's why this article from the Chicago Tribune is refreshing. Last Sunday, messages about reaching out and helping people with AIDS were preached from over 100 largely African-American churches in the Chicago area. Given the startling statistics that nearly half of new AIDS cases in the United States affected African-Americans, who represent about 13% of the population, there is no better place to focus on emphasizing this message.
Rev. Charles Jenkins from the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side led this effort:
"The church is that place to be empowered and encouraged," he said.
"Jesus wasn't just concerned about people spiritually," Jenkins said. "He was concerned about people physically too, and emotionally."
"Jesus didn't move away. He moved in when people were dealing with all kinds of circumstances."
May God bless the efforts of Rev. Jenkins and others like him. Please join me in praying that people will listen.....and act.
Former AFA Staffer on How AFA is Using Hate to Fight Hate Crimes Bill
Joe Murray, who used to write some of the right-wing propaganda for the American (Straight) Family Association continues to speak out against the organization, particularly the tactics they use to try and get their way. Murray has most recently written about their campaign against the Matthew Sheppard Bill (the pending Hate Crimes legislation being considered by Congress).
First, Murray speaks out about the despicable Tony Perkins, head of the (Straight) Family Research Council:
"Under this legislation, the crimes at Virginia Tech, which some are calling one of the deadliest rampages in U.S. history, would not be punishable to the level of these so-called 'hate-crimes'," wrote Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council (FRC), in an email alert sent out to FRC supporters. Perkins' analysis, however, was far from over.
Explaining why the hate crimes bill is not good for America, Perkins wrote, "If the House approves H.R. 1592 and the Senate follows, a homosexual would have more federal protection under the law than the 32 victims of last week's massacre."
Words cannot describe how disheartening such a comment, from a man who champions the values of Christianity, is.
While parents, siblings, students and staff mourned the senseless killings of 32 members of the Virginia Tech community, Perkins thought it was an opportune time, and perhaps even an exercise of his Christian duty, to exploit the tragic situation to aid in the manufacturing of a "homosexual agenda." This is not only degrading to Virginia Tech and to the gay community, it clearly prostitutes any notion of family values.
Murray then speaks out against the AFA's approach:
Make no mistake - Christians, blacks and a handful of other groups already enjoy hate crime protection under a 1968 federal civil rights law. All homosexuals are asking is that they be included. If one wants to be against hate crime legislation on the principle that all crimes are motivated by hate, so be it. But one cannot lobby against hate crimes while one enjoys the benefit he is seeking to deny to others. This is the height of hubris.
This debate, though, is not a principled debate on the legitimacy of hate crimes; it is a debate that seeks to pit gays against Christians. It is a debate that seeks to separate, not unite, a debate that seeks to deny truth with tension. For proof, look no further than the American Family Association (AFA).
"Let's face it," wrote AFA founder Don Wildmon in an email, "homosexual and transgender activists know full well that the church is one of last bastions in Western culture that has yet to cave in to the demands of a radical agenda that seeks to redefine fundamental concepts such as marriage, family and gender." There you have it - no middle ground can be had and a scorched earth policy must proceed against the gays to protect Christendom.
Is this what Jesus would do? Nobody knows for sure, but one would think that Christ's name is more in line with an olive branch rather than a billy club.
It's nice to have Mr. Murray on our side of this and other important issues.
Thanks to Good As You for the tip.
First, Murray speaks out about the despicable Tony Perkins, head of the (Straight) Family Research Council:
"Under this legislation, the crimes at Virginia Tech, which some are calling one of the deadliest rampages in U.S. history, would not be punishable to the level of these so-called 'hate-crimes'," wrote Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council (FRC), in an email alert sent out to FRC supporters. Perkins' analysis, however, was far from over.
Explaining why the hate crimes bill is not good for America, Perkins wrote, "If the House approves H.R. 1592 and the Senate follows, a homosexual would have more federal protection under the law than the 32 victims of last week's massacre."
Words cannot describe how disheartening such a comment, from a man who champions the values of Christianity, is.
While parents, siblings, students and staff mourned the senseless killings of 32 members of the Virginia Tech community, Perkins thought it was an opportune time, and perhaps even an exercise of his Christian duty, to exploit the tragic situation to aid in the manufacturing of a "homosexual agenda." This is not only degrading to Virginia Tech and to the gay community, it clearly prostitutes any notion of family values.
Murray then speaks out against the AFA's approach:
Make no mistake - Christians, blacks and a handful of other groups already enjoy hate crime protection under a 1968 federal civil rights law. All homosexuals are asking is that they be included. If one wants to be against hate crime legislation on the principle that all crimes are motivated by hate, so be it. But one cannot lobby against hate crimes while one enjoys the benefit he is seeking to deny to others. This is the height of hubris.
This debate, though, is not a principled debate on the legitimacy of hate crimes; it is a debate that seeks to pit gays against Christians. It is a debate that seeks to separate, not unite, a debate that seeks to deny truth with tension. For proof, look no further than the American Family Association (AFA).
"Let's face it," wrote AFA founder Don Wildmon in an email, "homosexual and transgender activists know full well that the church is one of last bastions in Western culture that has yet to cave in to the demands of a radical agenda that seeks to redefine fundamental concepts such as marriage, family and gender." There you have it - no middle ground can be had and a scorched earth policy must proceed against the gays to protect Christendom.
Is this what Jesus would do? Nobody knows for sure, but one would think that Christ's name is more in line with an olive branch rather than a billy club.
It's nice to have Mr. Murray on our side of this and other important issues.
Thanks to Good As You for the tip.
April 30, 2007
New York State Becomes Next Marriage Battleground
As he promised during his election campaign, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has introduced legislation that would give same-sex couples full marriage rights in the state.
According to the report in New York's Gay City News, analyists believe the legislation has a good chance of passing the Democratic controlled Assembly, but getting it through the Republican-led Senate will be a much tougher challenge. An ally in that fight could be New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is on record as committing to testify in favor of this type of legislation.
I commend Governor Spitzer for backing up his campaign promise with action, something that is becoming more of a rare occurrence in this nation's political arena,
One of the right-wing's favorite arguements against same-sex marriage is that the majority of people don't want it. That appears not to be the case in New York according to this survey taken by Crain's Business. Published in Crain's New York Business magazine, the poll showed that 63% of voters support a gay marriage law.
I wonder how the right wing will react if they lose this battle in the New York state legislature. Wouldn't it be interesting if they took the issue to court? That wouldn't surprise me and would serve to reinforce my view that hypocrisy is no obstacle as long as they succeed in restricting the rights of GLBT people and recording their bigotry in the laws of this nation.
According to the report in New York's Gay City News, analyists believe the legislation has a good chance of passing the Democratic controlled Assembly, but getting it through the Republican-led Senate will be a much tougher challenge. An ally in that fight could be New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is on record as committing to testify in favor of this type of legislation.
I commend Governor Spitzer for backing up his campaign promise with action, something that is becoming more of a rare occurrence in this nation's political arena,
One of the right-wing's favorite arguements against same-sex marriage is that the majority of people don't want it. That appears not to be the case in New York according to this survey taken by Crain's Business. Published in Crain's New York Business magazine, the poll showed that 63% of voters support a gay marriage law.
I wonder how the right wing will react if they lose this battle in the New York state legislature. Wouldn't it be interesting if they took the issue to court? That wouldn't surprise me and would serve to reinforce my view that hypocrisy is no obstacle as long as they succeed in restricting the rights of GLBT people and recording their bigotry in the laws of this nation.
Do GLBT Celeberties Have a Greater Responsibility?
Are they obligated to come out? That's an interesting question posed in this blog post by Kevin Naff, the editor of the Washington Blade.
The obligation is not to hold pinkies, it’s merely to be honest about who you are. And what straight celebrity feels the need to keep their sexual orientation a “mystery”? From Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson, whose videotaped sexual romps were released for mass consumption, to Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, whose divorce generated headlines for months, the personal lives of straight celebrities are on full view. You can debate whether or not that’s a good thing, but it’s reality. And the standards should be the same for gays.
If Alec Baldwin’s private voicemails to his daughter are fodder for mainstream news coverage, then other gay celebrities should at least be able to answer truthfully whether or not they are gay.
The issue received renewed attention thanks to Out magazine’s deliciously brilliant May cover that features the faces of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and actress Jodie Foster to illustrate a story about the “glass closet.” The magazine also named the ambiguous duo on its list of the 50 most powerful gays.
My colleague, Chris Ciompi, editor of Genre magazine, which is affiliated with the Blade, denounced the Out cover in an interview with the New York Daily News.
"Your right to privacy is a constitutional right," Ciompi said. "Maybe Jodie and Anderson would prefer to be known for their work, not their sexuality. The climate of the United States today still would not allow that to occur. With Anderson, many people would perceive his credibility to be undermined."
The problem with Ciompi’s reasoning is that straight celebrities don’t have the option to be “known for their work,” and the rules should be the same for their gay counterparts. And how does being gay undermine your credibility as a journalist? Cooper has cited that offensive canard in refusing to answer questions about his sexual orientation and the gay media ought not give him cover. As for privacy rights, there are far different legal standards of privacy for public figures. Just ask Alec Baldwin.
I agree with Naff up to a point. Anyone who is marketing themselves as something they are not (which includes a GLBT person passing themselves off as straight) should be held to a standard of at least being honest about who they really are.
Where I part ways with Naff is that you can hardly say straight celeberties are held to that standard. Yes, as he points out, they can flaunt a heterosexual lifestyle and no one even blinks, but sexual orientation is only part of who a person really is. It would be quite a reach to say that the general public has much true insight into the type of people Paris Hilton or Alec Baldwin truly are.
Therefore, if a celeberty is disengenous about his or her sexual orientation, it's hard for me to say that is much if any worse than the difference between image and reality many straight celebs work hard to maintain. I'm not sure at all that GLBT celeberties should be held to a higher standard.
What do you think?
The obligation is not to hold pinkies, it’s merely to be honest about who you are. And what straight celebrity feels the need to keep their sexual orientation a “mystery”? From Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson, whose videotaped sexual romps were released for mass consumption, to Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, whose divorce generated headlines for months, the personal lives of straight celebrities are on full view. You can debate whether or not that’s a good thing, but it’s reality. And the standards should be the same for gays.
If Alec Baldwin’s private voicemails to his daughter are fodder for mainstream news coverage, then other gay celebrities should at least be able to answer truthfully whether or not they are gay.
The issue received renewed attention thanks to Out magazine’s deliciously brilliant May cover that features the faces of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and actress Jodie Foster to illustrate a story about the “glass closet.” The magazine also named the ambiguous duo on its list of the 50 most powerful gays.
My colleague, Chris Ciompi, editor of Genre magazine, which is affiliated with the Blade, denounced the Out cover in an interview with the New York Daily News.
"Your right to privacy is a constitutional right," Ciompi said. "Maybe Jodie and Anderson would prefer to be known for their work, not their sexuality. The climate of the United States today still would not allow that to occur. With Anderson, many people would perceive his credibility to be undermined."
The problem with Ciompi’s reasoning is that straight celebrities don’t have the option to be “known for their work,” and the rules should be the same for their gay counterparts. And how does being gay undermine your credibility as a journalist? Cooper has cited that offensive canard in refusing to answer questions about his sexual orientation and the gay media ought not give him cover. As for privacy rights, there are far different legal standards of privacy for public figures. Just ask Alec Baldwin.
I agree with Naff up to a point. Anyone who is marketing themselves as something they are not (which includes a GLBT person passing themselves off as straight) should be held to a standard of at least being honest about who they really are.
Where I part ways with Naff is that you can hardly say straight celeberties are held to that standard. Yes, as he points out, they can flaunt a heterosexual lifestyle and no one even blinks, but sexual orientation is only part of who a person really is. It would be quite a reach to say that the general public has much true insight into the type of people Paris Hilton or Alec Baldwin truly are.
Therefore, if a celeberty is disengenous about his or her sexual orientation, it's hard for me to say that is much if any worse than the difference between image and reality many straight celebs work hard to maintain. I'm not sure at all that GLBT celeberties should be held to a higher standard.
What do you think?
April 29, 2007
LA Times Sports Columnist is a Transsexual
Now that's not the kind of headline you see every day, but it is true. Los Angeles Times sports columnist Mike Penner announced in his column on April 26 that he was leaving for vacation and coming back in a few weeks as Christine. He is also able to see where this fits in with the big picture:
I am a transsexual sportswriter. It has taken more than 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-wrenching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words. I realize many readers and colleagues and friends will be shocked to read them.
That's OK. I understand that I am not the only one in transition as I move from Mike to Christine. Everyone who knows me and my work will be transitioning as well. That will take time. And that's all right. To borrow a piece of well-worn sports parlance, we will take it one day at a time.
As extensive therapy and testing have confirmed, my brain was wired female.
A transgender friend provided the best and simplest explanation I have heard: We are born with this, we fight it as long as we can, and in the end it wins.
I gave it as good a fight as I possibly could. I went more than 40 hard rounds with it. Eventually, though, you realize you are only fighting yourself and your happiness and your mental health — a no-win situation any way you look at it.
This AP story contains some reactions:
"Mike Penner has been an exemplary contributor to the Los Angeles Times sports pages for over two decades and today's column is no exception," Randy Harvey, the newspaper's sports editor, said in a statement. "The decision to go public cannot have been an easy one and, while we do not make a habit of commenting on the personal and private lives of our journalists, we do look forward to continuing our relationship into the future."
John Amaechi, the first NBA player to publicly come out of the closet as being gay, said he read Penner's column Thursday after returning from a speaking engagement in Berkeley at the University of California.
"It's incredibly bold and far more courageous than anything I could have done," said Amaechi, who spent five seasons in the NBA. "I commend him."
Gay and lesbian activists praised Penner and the Los Angeles Times.
"Christine's still-unfolding story sends a powerful message about the importance of living openly and honestly as does the Times' public support of her transition," said Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
God bless "New Christine" as she enters what will be a fascinating (given the nature of the sports world) and hopefully fulfilling walk in the next chapter of her life.
I am a transsexual sportswriter. It has taken more than 40 years, a million tears and hundreds of hours of soul-wrenching therapy for me to work up the courage to type those words. I realize many readers and colleagues and friends will be shocked to read them.
That's OK. I understand that I am not the only one in transition as I move from Mike to Christine. Everyone who knows me and my work will be transitioning as well. That will take time. And that's all right. To borrow a piece of well-worn sports parlance, we will take it one day at a time.
As extensive therapy and testing have confirmed, my brain was wired female.
A transgender friend provided the best and simplest explanation I have heard: We are born with this, we fight it as long as we can, and in the end it wins.
I gave it as good a fight as I possibly could. I went more than 40 hard rounds with it. Eventually, though, you realize you are only fighting yourself and your happiness and your mental health — a no-win situation any way you look at it.
This AP story contains some reactions:
"Mike Penner has been an exemplary contributor to the Los Angeles Times sports pages for over two decades and today's column is no exception," Randy Harvey, the newspaper's sports editor, said in a statement. "The decision to go public cannot have been an easy one and, while we do not make a habit of commenting on the personal and private lives of our journalists, we do look forward to continuing our relationship into the future."
John Amaechi, the first NBA player to publicly come out of the closet as being gay, said he read Penner's column Thursday after returning from a speaking engagement in Berkeley at the University of California.
"It's incredibly bold and far more courageous than anything I could have done," said Amaechi, who spent five seasons in the NBA. "I commend him."
Gay and lesbian activists praised Penner and the Los Angeles Times.
"Christine's still-unfolding story sends a powerful message about the importance of living openly and honestly as does the Times' public support of her transition," said Neil Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
God bless "New Christine" as she enters what will be a fascinating (given the nature of the sports world) and hopefully fulfilling walk in the next chapter of her life.
April 28, 2007
Colorado Springs: Home Base for Homophobia?
It sure seems that way at times, especially since that city is the headquarters for James Dobson's Focus on the (Straight) Family.
Not everybody there is happy about that image, especially those who are trying to attract business to Colorado Springs:
Mike Kazmierski wants the world to know that not everybody in Colorado Springs - home of Focus on the Family, the anti-gay-marriage amendment, the anti-domestic-partnership initiative and Will Perkins - is a flaming anti-gay-rights activist.
"We're really very diverse," said the president of the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp.
As they travel nationally trying to attract new industry, the question comes up all the time," said Jay Patel, a member of the Diversity Forum along with Kazmierski. "They are constantly having to apologize and try to rectify that perceived image."
Kazmierski said the reputation of the Springs as intolerant is widespread. "But like the misperception that Colorado Springs is covered in snow eight months of the year, it's wrong."
Ted Trimpa, a partner at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and a prominent gay activist, agreed.
The image of the Springs "is stuck at where the city was three or four years ago," he said, "and it's a little unfair."
While Focus and other conservative religious organizations still wield tremendous political power in the community, "the dynamic has changed," he said. "People within the Republican Party there have started saying no to extremism.
"We actually may be reaching a tipping point."
Trimpa said gay-rights leaders have an obligation to help the city become genuinely diverse.
"I tell my gay friends we have to let go of the notion of the epiphany.
"There is not going to be a day when the opposition wakes up and says, 'You're right. We're so sorry."'
Instead, the strategy should be one of building mutual respect, he said. "We have got to move to respecting where they come from and at the same time building our own power base."
Could Colorado Springs be a tipping point where right-wing extremists lose their influence in favor of a balanced approach where all people are accepted?
Let's hope so. It would be wonderful to see the city known for being a trendsetter in acceptance rather than bigotry.
Not everybody there is happy about that image, especially those who are trying to attract business to Colorado Springs:
Mike Kazmierski wants the world to know that not everybody in Colorado Springs - home of Focus on the Family, the anti-gay-marriage amendment, the anti-domestic-partnership initiative and Will Perkins - is a flaming anti-gay-rights activist.
"We're really very diverse," said the president of the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp.
As they travel nationally trying to attract new industry, the question comes up all the time," said Jay Patel, a member of the Diversity Forum along with Kazmierski. "They are constantly having to apologize and try to rectify that perceived image."
Kazmierski said the reputation of the Springs as intolerant is widespread. "But like the misperception that Colorado Springs is covered in snow eight months of the year, it's wrong."
Ted Trimpa, a partner at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and a prominent gay activist, agreed.
The image of the Springs "is stuck at where the city was three or four years ago," he said, "and it's a little unfair."
While Focus and other conservative religious organizations still wield tremendous political power in the community, "the dynamic has changed," he said. "People within the Republican Party there have started saying no to extremism.
"We actually may be reaching a tipping point."
Trimpa said gay-rights leaders have an obligation to help the city become genuinely diverse.
"I tell my gay friends we have to let go of the notion of the epiphany.
"There is not going to be a day when the opposition wakes up and says, 'You're right. We're so sorry."'
Instead, the strategy should be one of building mutual respect, he said. "We have got to move to respecting where they come from and at the same time building our own power base."
Could Colorado Springs be a tipping point where right-wing extremists lose their influence in favor of a balanced approach where all people are accepted?
Let's hope so. It would be wonderful to see the city known for being a trendsetter in acceptance rather than bigotry.
April 27, 2007
Indianapolis Billboards Stir Debate
Faith in America and the Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis, IN combined resources to put together an ad campaign with 22 billboards and 1,000 yard signs in the Indiapolis area that contained slogans (and Bible references) such as "Jesus affirmed a gay couple."
Their goal was to get people engaged in discussion and debate about the issues they are raising. Given some of the opposition reported in this article from the Indianapolis Star, mission accomplished.
"Most people right now think the debate over homosexuality is between those who love the Bible -- conservative Christians -- and those who want to throw the Bible out -- godless homosexuals," said Jesus Metropolitan pastor Jeff Miner, who is gay. "That is not reality. This is a debate between people who love the Bible."
Boy, I've learned that lesson first-hand at my church, Believers Covenant Fellowship. There are gay and lesbian members there, especially Apostle Dale Jarrett, that love the Lord and His word as much as any straight person possibly could. I've learned a lot about loving God from him and other GLBT members of my church family.
Other ministers remain certain that the Bible consistently says homosexuality is sinful. In Genesis, the story of Sodom's destruction decries homosexuality, said the Rev. Bob Taylor, of Colonial Hills Baptist Church, a Northeastside congregation.
The billboard campaign doesn't worry him, though, Taylor said, because the Bible is so clear on the issue. "People will always find an excuse to do what they want to do."
That's true, especially when it comes to hating GLBT people.
Their goal was to get people engaged in discussion and debate about the issues they are raising. Given some of the opposition reported in this article from the Indianapolis Star, mission accomplished.
"Most people right now think the debate over homosexuality is between those who love the Bible -- conservative Christians -- and those who want to throw the Bible out -- godless homosexuals," said Jesus Metropolitan pastor Jeff Miner, who is gay. "That is not reality. This is a debate between people who love the Bible."
Boy, I've learned that lesson first-hand at my church, Believers Covenant Fellowship. There are gay and lesbian members there, especially Apostle Dale Jarrett, that love the Lord and His word as much as any straight person possibly could. I've learned a lot about loving God from him and other GLBT members of my church family.
Other ministers remain certain that the Bible consistently says homosexuality is sinful. In Genesis, the story of Sodom's destruction decries homosexuality, said the Rev. Bob Taylor, of Colonial Hills Baptist Church, a Northeastside congregation.
The billboard campaign doesn't worry him, though, Taylor said, because the Bible is so clear on the issue. "People will always find an excuse to do what they want to do."
That's true, especially when it comes to hating GLBT people.
More on African-American Churches and Homosexuality
This article from the Southern Poverty Law Center profiles several of the more outspoken opponents of homosexuality in the African-American church.
Bishop Eddie Long, pastor of a 25,000 member church near Atlanta:
"The problem today and the reason society is like it is, is because men are being feminized and women are being masculine!" he roars. "You can not say, ‘I was born this way.' … I don't care what scientists say!"
The crowd erupts in "amens," laughter and clapping.
Eddie Long is just one example of a growing number of powerful, politically active African-American pastors who are increasingly aligning themselves with the white evangelical Christian leaders who have been building a religiously based anti-gay movement for more than 30 years now. Like their white counterparts, these black anti-gay preachers routinely identify the so-called "homosexual agenda" — not poverty, racism, gang violence, inadequate schools, or unemployment — as the No. 1 threat facing black Americans today. Often, they take their cues from white Christian Right hard-liners like Traditional Values Coalition chairman Louis Sheldon, who told TV pundit Tucker Carlson in January 2006 that homosexuality is "the biggest problem facing inner-city black neighborhoods." Sheldon later delivered the same message to the Congressional Black Caucus, this time accompanied by Bishop Paul Morton, a black anti-gay minister from New Orleans.
Some black ministers have been attracted to the white-dominated religious anti-gay movement by the money and power of white Christian leaders, not to mention "faith-based" grants under the Bush Administration. But it's also obvious that a segment of the black community in America has long had its own negative attitudes toward gays and lesbians. "I'm sure [black ministers] are being co-opted, but they don't need a great deal of co-optation," is how the Rev. Peter Gomes, chaplain of Harvard University, put it to the Village Voice in 2004.
"I think they come to the prejudice on their own."
Sadly, white power brokers like James Dobson aren't the only ones willing to sell out African-American ministers like Eddie Long are also getting their cut and their flocks, particularly any GLBT members, are the ones getting the short end of the deal.
Bishop Eddie Long, pastor of a 25,000 member church near Atlanta:
"The problem today and the reason society is like it is, is because men are being feminized and women are being masculine!" he roars. "You can not say, ‘I was born this way.' … I don't care what scientists say!"
The crowd erupts in "amens," laughter and clapping.
Eddie Long is just one example of a growing number of powerful, politically active African-American pastors who are increasingly aligning themselves with the white evangelical Christian leaders who have been building a religiously based anti-gay movement for more than 30 years now. Like their white counterparts, these black anti-gay preachers routinely identify the so-called "homosexual agenda" — not poverty, racism, gang violence, inadequate schools, or unemployment — as the No. 1 threat facing black Americans today. Often, they take their cues from white Christian Right hard-liners like Traditional Values Coalition chairman Louis Sheldon, who told TV pundit Tucker Carlson in January 2006 that homosexuality is "the biggest problem facing inner-city black neighborhoods." Sheldon later delivered the same message to the Congressional Black Caucus, this time accompanied by Bishop Paul Morton, a black anti-gay minister from New Orleans.
Some black ministers have been attracted to the white-dominated religious anti-gay movement by the money and power of white Christian leaders, not to mention "faith-based" grants under the Bush Administration. But it's also obvious that a segment of the black community in America has long had its own negative attitudes toward gays and lesbians. "I'm sure [black ministers] are being co-opted, but they don't need a great deal of co-optation," is how the Rev. Peter Gomes, chaplain of Harvard University, put it to the Village Voice in 2004.
"I think they come to the prejudice on their own."
Sadly, white power brokers like James Dobson aren't the only ones willing to sell out African-American ministers like Eddie Long are also getting their cut and their flocks, particularly any GLBT members, are the ones getting the short end of the deal.
April 26, 2007
"Normalizing Homosexuality"
That's a phrase I've seen recently creep into right-wing rhetoric, so their connotations are obviously negative. Actually, I think developing a sense of normalcy regarding homosexuality in our society would be an important and wonderful step forward.
This is an excerpt from a column written for The Christian Post by former political operative/fellon now evangelist Charles Colson.
They are called “Personal Statements on Being Different.” One of them, from “Esperanza,” reads: “I’ve known for a long time that I am a lesbian.” As a little girl hearing fairy tales about a princess, Esperanza says she knew that, when she grew up, “I would marry the beautiful princess, not the prince.”
Another story involves “Portia,” a boy who grew up feeling like a girl. He changed his name and told his high school principal that he was a transgender. The understanding principal gave him an ID card with his new name on it. Now, “Portia” writes, “I speak about transgender concerns at school” and help other transgender youths get through “the challenges they face.”
These stories are part of the new Montgomery County, Maryland, health classes on homosexuality.
These so-called “personal statements”—all supportive of homosexuality and other disorders—are just the beginning. Students are also told that homosexuality is “innate” and permanent—despite much evidence to the contrary. They are taught that the homosexual lifestyle is not only to be tolerated, but also celebrated. Students are told about “transgendered persons” and so-called sex-reassignment surgery.
.....kids are encouraged to identify their sexual orientation early.
I took the liberty of deleting some of Colson's inflamatory/inaccurate statements because without them he is describing the best way to avoid another generation of anti-gay bigotry--by education. I'm proud to be a resident of Montgomery County and support their progressive actions regarding education about homosexuality. The organization Teach the Facts.org has also had a lot to do with this cirriculum.
Here is how Colson concludes his piece:
We need to make sure our children hear some real-life “personal statements” about homosexuality: by those who overcame same-sex attraction, left the gay lifestyle, and entered a joyful—and healthy—new life.
Now THAT's a fairy tale!
This is an excerpt from a column written for The Christian Post by former political operative/fellon now evangelist Charles Colson.
They are called “Personal Statements on Being Different.” One of them, from “Esperanza,” reads: “I’ve known for a long time that I am a lesbian.” As a little girl hearing fairy tales about a princess, Esperanza says she knew that, when she grew up, “I would marry the beautiful princess, not the prince.”
Another story involves “Portia,” a boy who grew up feeling like a girl. He changed his name and told his high school principal that he was a transgender. The understanding principal gave him an ID card with his new name on it. Now, “Portia” writes, “I speak about transgender concerns at school” and help other transgender youths get through “the challenges they face.”
These stories are part of the new Montgomery County, Maryland, health classes on homosexuality.
These so-called “personal statements”—all supportive of homosexuality and other disorders—are just the beginning. Students are also told that homosexuality is “innate” and permanent—despite much evidence to the contrary. They are taught that the homosexual lifestyle is not only to be tolerated, but also celebrated. Students are told about “transgendered persons” and so-called sex-reassignment surgery.
.....kids are encouraged to identify their sexual orientation early.
I took the liberty of deleting some of Colson's inflamatory/inaccurate statements because without them he is describing the best way to avoid another generation of anti-gay bigotry--by education. I'm proud to be a resident of Montgomery County and support their progressive actions regarding education about homosexuality. The organization Teach the Facts.org has also had a lot to do with this cirriculum.
Here is how Colson concludes his piece:
We need to make sure our children hear some real-life “personal statements” about homosexuality: by those who overcame same-sex attraction, left the gay lifestyle, and entered a joyful—and healthy—new life.
Now THAT's a fairy tale!
Lots At Stake For the GLBT Community In Congress
Along with the hate crimes legislation, the Matthew Sheppard Bill, that I have been writing about, a bill also just got introduced in Congress that would ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
From the report in the Boston Globe:
If Congress passes the bills, gay-rights advocates say, it reflects a dramatic change in the national political landscape. In the dozen years Republicans controlled Congress, GOP lawmakers paid little attention to the gay-rights agenda and kept some gay-friendly legislation from even being considered.
"For millions of Americans, it's a very important affirmation of their lives, and we're not talking about [just] symbolism here," said Representative Barney Frank, a Newton Democrat who is openly gay. "We are talking about real problems that exist in people's lives."
If anyone in Congress has earned the right to pop the cork on a bottle of champagne if these bills get passed, it is Rep. Frank who fought the good fight for equality with very little tangible support for a long time.
"We need stricter enforcement of present [anti discrimination] law, not a new law protecting special classes of people and not others," Cantor said. "Here in this Congress I feel it is not our duty, nor should it be our business, to distinguish between different kinds of murder. Murder is murder."
A group of African-American clergy members rallied on Capitol Hill yesterday against the hate crimes bill, which they said was akin to granting special legal protections to a class of "sinners."
Several of the ministers said they feared the measure could lead to prosecution of church leaders who preach against homosexuality if, for example, a church member were to commit a hate crime against a gay man or a lesbian after listening to a sermon that denounced homosexuality.
Well, then, perhaps they shouldn't preach a message that could stir anyone to violent acts against another person. Amazingly, these ministers showed up in DC to speak out for their right to do just that!
How can anyone claiming to be a Christian and seeking the will of God think that Jesus would want that type of message preached from the pulpit from where He is supposed to be exhaulted?
That is clearly people seeking their own will (to hate homosexuals) ahead of God's will, one of the primary definitions of sin.
From the report in the Boston Globe:
If Congress passes the bills, gay-rights advocates say, it reflects a dramatic change in the national political landscape. In the dozen years Republicans controlled Congress, GOP lawmakers paid little attention to the gay-rights agenda and kept some gay-friendly legislation from even being considered.
"For millions of Americans, it's a very important affirmation of their lives, and we're not talking about [just] symbolism here," said Representative Barney Frank, a Newton Democrat who is openly gay. "We are talking about real problems that exist in people's lives."
If anyone in Congress has earned the right to pop the cork on a bottle of champagne if these bills get passed, it is Rep. Frank who fought the good fight for equality with very little tangible support for a long time.
"We need stricter enforcement of present [anti discrimination] law, not a new law protecting special classes of people and not others," Cantor said. "Here in this Congress I feel it is not our duty, nor should it be our business, to distinguish between different kinds of murder. Murder is murder."
A group of African-American clergy members rallied on Capitol Hill yesterday against the hate crimes bill, which they said was akin to granting special legal protections to a class of "sinners."
Several of the ministers said they feared the measure could lead to prosecution of church leaders who preach against homosexuality if, for example, a church member were to commit a hate crime against a gay man or a lesbian after listening to a sermon that denounced homosexuality.
Well, then, perhaps they shouldn't preach a message that could stir anyone to violent acts against another person. Amazingly, these ministers showed up in DC to speak out for their right to do just that!
How can anyone claiming to be a Christian and seeking the will of God think that Jesus would want that type of message preached from the pulpit from where He is supposed to be exhaulted?
That is clearly people seeking their own will (to hate homosexuals) ahead of God's will, one of the primary definitions of sin.
April 25, 2007
"Ex-Gay' Leader Expresses Opposition to Federal Hate Crimes Bill
Alan Chambers, the President of Exodous International, a ministry that claims to be able to lead homosexuals into a straight lifestyle through "the Gospel of Jesus," has weighed in on "The Matthew Sheppard Bill," which would extend federal hate crimes protection to cases based on sexual identity:
"[R]eally what we're saying is this legislation is unfair, because it means that I was more valuable as a homosexual than I am today as a former homosexual," Chambers told reporters before he began visiting on Capitol Hill April 17. "You know, this law would give special protection to those who are gay and lesbian, yet it doesn't give any protection to those who are children. That's saying that a gay man is more valuable than a child, is more valuable than a grandmother, is more valuable than the majority of Americans. That's just not fair."
"The bill is "primarily being pushed by those in the homosexual activist community, really as a reinforcement that homosexuality is valid, that they need protection, and that's just not the case," said Chambers, who left homosexuality 15 years ago and has been married for more than nine years. "[Homosexuals are] protected as much as I am protected under the Fourteenth Amendment."
First, there is no such thing as a "former homosexual." There are homosexuals like Mr. Chambers who are leading a straight lifestyle. The number of cases of ex-gay leaders being caught in gay bars are too long to list here.
Of course, no one is assigning "value" to a person based on their sexual orientation, or in Mr. Chambers' situation, their current practice. In fact, hate crimes legislation, like that which punishes lynching of African-Americans or church burnings with extra penalties, are designed to prevent minorities from being treated as "less valuable" parts of society. History is littered with examples of violent acts committed against individuals or groups because they are different. Such is currently the case with the GLBT community.
Homosexuality IS valid and they do need protection. Just the fact that someone with the bully pulpit like Mr. Chambers can even question the validity of an entire group of people only, in my opinion, serves to reinforce the need for them to be protected by hate crime legislation accross the nation, not just in a few friendly states.
Thanks to Jesus Politics for the tip.
"[R]eally what we're saying is this legislation is unfair, because it means that I was more valuable as a homosexual than I am today as a former homosexual," Chambers told reporters before he began visiting on Capitol Hill April 17. "You know, this law would give special protection to those who are gay and lesbian, yet it doesn't give any protection to those who are children. That's saying that a gay man is more valuable than a child, is more valuable than a grandmother, is more valuable than the majority of Americans. That's just not fair."
"The bill is "primarily being pushed by those in the homosexual activist community, really as a reinforcement that homosexuality is valid, that they need protection, and that's just not the case," said Chambers, who left homosexuality 15 years ago and has been married for more than nine years. "[Homosexuals are] protected as much as I am protected under the Fourteenth Amendment."
First, there is no such thing as a "former homosexual." There are homosexuals like Mr. Chambers who are leading a straight lifestyle. The number of cases of ex-gay leaders being caught in gay bars are too long to list here.
Of course, no one is assigning "value" to a person based on their sexual orientation, or in Mr. Chambers' situation, their current practice. In fact, hate crimes legislation, like that which punishes lynching of African-Americans or church burnings with extra penalties, are designed to prevent minorities from being treated as "less valuable" parts of society. History is littered with examples of violent acts committed against individuals or groups because they are different. Such is currently the case with the GLBT community.
Homosexuality IS valid and they do need protection. Just the fact that someone with the bully pulpit like Mr. Chambers can even question the validity of an entire group of people only, in my opinion, serves to reinforce the need for them to be protected by hate crime legislation accross the nation, not just in a few friendly states.
Thanks to Jesus Politics for the tip.
April 24, 2007
Even Safe Havens Not Free From Discrimination
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a nice little atlantic beach town that I've had the pleasure of visiting several times. It is also very friendly to GLBT residents and visitors:
"There's a good sense of community here, both gay and straight," said a man who recently came out of the closet and moved to the town, long known across the East Coast for its gay enclave.
Gays and lesbians elsewhere aren't so lucky.
Across Delaware, incidents that gay and lesbian advocates say amount to discrimination occur every day.
A teacher asked to remove a rainbow sticker. A male nurse subjected to rude comments by a doctor. An office worker who watched as his openly gay supervisor was fired. There could be as many as 500 complaints each year in the workplace alone, according to one analysis.
Members of Delaware's gay community -- estimated at 24,000 -- hope they can sway Senate leadership this year by convincing a majority of Democrats in a key committee to sign on.
The bill would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation in such areas as housing, public accommodations, insurance and employment, putting Delaware in line with 17 other states, according to the civil rights organization The Human Rights Campaign of Washington, D.C.
You can bet the GLBT population of Rehoboth Beach will be keeping a close eye on events in Dover, the state capital, to see if the life they enjoy within the friendly confines of the city limits can be extended throughout the entire state.
"There's a good sense of community here, both gay and straight," said a man who recently came out of the closet and moved to the town, long known across the East Coast for its gay enclave.
Gays and lesbians elsewhere aren't so lucky.
Across Delaware, incidents that gay and lesbian advocates say amount to discrimination occur every day.
A teacher asked to remove a rainbow sticker. A male nurse subjected to rude comments by a doctor. An office worker who watched as his openly gay supervisor was fired. There could be as many as 500 complaints each year in the workplace alone, according to one analysis.
Members of Delaware's gay community -- estimated at 24,000 -- hope they can sway Senate leadership this year by convincing a majority of Democrats in a key committee to sign on.
The bill would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation in such areas as housing, public accommodations, insurance and employment, putting Delaware in line with 17 other states, according to the civil rights organization The Human Rights Campaign of Washington, D.C.
You can bet the GLBT population of Rehoboth Beach will be keeping a close eye on events in Dover, the state capital, to see if the life they enjoy within the friendly confines of the city limits can be extended throughout the entire state.
"Gays and the Black Church"
I thought this was a very interesting article from the site BlackNews.com. He tracks the public dialog about tolerance toward toward gays in the black community back to former NFL star Reggie White (an ordained Pentacostal minister) and the intolerant remarks he made about homosexuality before the Wisconsin state legislature in 1997.
The article cites poll results that show the Africian-American community remains overwhelmingly opposed to same-sex marriage, and that the numbers really aren't moving.
The writer also walks through the process where supporters of a state constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage in Virginia used black ministers to help them pass it.
Here's how the article is summed up:
".....the few black ministers that preach a message of tolerance even as their church’s hemorrhage with dwindling memberships and collections should be applauded. That’s the true Christian message; a message that many Christians seem to have forgotten."
Amen to that.
The article cites poll results that show the Africian-American community remains overwhelmingly opposed to same-sex marriage, and that the numbers really aren't moving.
The writer also walks through the process where supporters of a state constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage in Virginia used black ministers to help them pass it.
Here's how the article is summed up:
".....the few black ministers that preach a message of tolerance even as their church’s hemorrhage with dwindling memberships and collections should be applauded. That’s the true Christian message; a message that many Christians seem to have forgotten."
Amen to that.
April 23, 2007
Free Speech Not Always a Two-Way Street
Among the hysteria some right-wing organizations are using to campaing against The Matthew Sheppard Act (the pending hate-crimes legislation being considered in Congress), one of their main scare tactics is the perceived loss of First Amendment right--some claim that this bill will restrict what can be said in public, even from a pulput, and open preachers to criminal charges under this Act (ridiculous).
Those same people are not screaming about First Amendment rights in this case in Indiana, however. Amy Sorell, the newspaper adviser at Woodlan Junior-Senior High School, has been suspended ever since she allowed an article that encouraged tolerance of homosexuality to be published without prior approval from the school's principal.
Let's clear a couple of things up:
This is not a process issue. There would not have been a problem if the subject had been almost anything other than homosexuality. The process is being used as an excuse to punish the adviser.
There will be no fundamentalist outcry about First Amendment rights being restricted, not because they aren't, but because of the subject matter. The right-wing does not want limits on expression, but only regarding content that supports their beliefs. Right-wing operatives like the Alliance Defense Fund will be sitting this case out.
Stan Pflueger, president of the Fort Wayne chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian and Gays and a graduate of the school district, said he was disappointed with the school system's reaction.
''The spirit of the article is just asking people to consider what your previous beliefs were about this particular subject,'' he said. ''There's a difference between tolerance and agreement.''
Isn't that what school is supposed to do; make kids think?
I think I would have really enjoyed having Ms. Sorell as one of my teachers.
Those same people are not screaming about First Amendment rights in this case in Indiana, however. Amy Sorell, the newspaper adviser at Woodlan Junior-Senior High School, has been suspended ever since she allowed an article that encouraged tolerance of homosexuality to be published without prior approval from the school's principal.
Let's clear a couple of things up:
This is not a process issue. There would not have been a problem if the subject had been almost anything other than homosexuality. The process is being used as an excuse to punish the adviser.
There will be no fundamentalist outcry about First Amendment rights being restricted, not because they aren't, but because of the subject matter. The right-wing does not want limits on expression, but only regarding content that supports their beliefs. Right-wing operatives like the Alliance Defense Fund will be sitting this case out.
Stan Pflueger, president of the Fort Wayne chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian and Gays and a graduate of the school district, said he was disappointed with the school system's reaction.
''The spirit of the article is just asking people to consider what your previous beliefs were about this particular subject,'' he said. ''There's a difference between tolerance and agreement.''
Isn't that what school is supposed to do; make kids think?
I think I would have really enjoyed having Ms. Sorell as one of my teachers.
April 22, 2007
A Speaker Supporting the Federal Hate Crimes Lesiglation
Miguel De La Torre blogged at Ethics Today about his participation in a press conference held in Washington, DC, where several hundred clergy gathered to demonstrate their support for the proposed Hate Crimes legislation currently before Congress. The entire transcript is worth reading, but here are some highlights:
"My Lord and Savior, through words and deeds, has taught me to stand with those who are oppressed. Today, the Congress has an opportunity to redress some of the oppression faced by our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. Today the Congress has an opportunity to be used by the Almighty as an instrument of salvation and liberation.
"Some Christians from the far Right will attempt to paint these as special rights for gays and lesbians, asking where will it all end. I'll tell you where it ends. It ends, in the words of the prophet Amos, when justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like an everlasting stream."
Regardless of what stance Christians take on the issue of homosexuality, all Christians can agree that violent acts against anyone need to be punished by our civil society.
As a Christian, I cannot imagine why the body of Christ would even think twice about supporting these laws.
Neither can I.
"My Lord and Savior, through words and deeds, has taught me to stand with those who are oppressed. Today, the Congress has an opportunity to redress some of the oppression faced by our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters. Today the Congress has an opportunity to be used by the Almighty as an instrument of salvation and liberation.
"Some Christians from the far Right will attempt to paint these as special rights for gays and lesbians, asking where will it all end. I'll tell you where it ends. It ends, in the words of the prophet Amos, when justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like an everlasting stream."
Regardless of what stance Christians take on the issue of homosexuality, all Christians can agree that violent acts against anyone need to be punished by our civil society.
As a Christian, I cannot imagine why the body of Christ would even think twice about supporting these laws.
Neither can I.
April 21, 2007
"Hate Crimes Begin Amid Christian Disapproval"
I pulled that title directly off the headline from a story on The Christian Post. Am I the only one who finds it troubline? Are Christian activist groups willing to be labeled "pro-hate" for opposing this bill primarily because it specifies protections for gender identity? Sadly, it appears some are.
"This is the most dangerous bill in America," said Janet Folger, president of Faith2Action – an organization that fights society’s “culture war,” in a statement.
More dangerous than ones that perpetuate our brave young men and women getting killed in Iraq? Talk about twisted priorities.
"We must stop it," Folger concluded, in a statement, "before they send your grandma, your pastor, or you to jail for sharing your faith or speaking the truth about an agenda that seeks to silence us."
Here's a different view, taking a tad more reasoned approached instead of the right-wing fear-mongering above:
"It punishes acts of discrimination, not bigoted beliefs," explained Caroline Fredrickson, director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Washington Legislative Office, in a statement. "This bill demonstrates that it's possible to vigorously pursue criminal civil rights violations without chilling our First Amendment rights."
Unfortunately, taking away people's ability to spew and encourage hatred could also infringe on the rights of someone like me to write this blog. However, there need to be consequences for bigoted and hatful actions, and I believe this legislation is an important step toward assuring that for GLBT people.
"This is the most dangerous bill in America," said Janet Folger, president of Faith2Action – an organization that fights society’s “culture war,” in a statement.
More dangerous than ones that perpetuate our brave young men and women getting killed in Iraq? Talk about twisted priorities.
"We must stop it," Folger concluded, in a statement, "before they send your grandma, your pastor, or you to jail for sharing your faith or speaking the truth about an agenda that seeks to silence us."
Here's a different view, taking a tad more reasoned approached instead of the right-wing fear-mongering above:
"It punishes acts of discrimination, not bigoted beliefs," explained Caroline Fredrickson, director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Washington Legislative Office, in a statement. "This bill demonstrates that it's possible to vigorously pursue criminal civil rights violations without chilling our First Amendment rights."
Unfortunately, taking away people's ability to spew and encourage hatred could also infringe on the rights of someone like me to write this blog. However, there need to be consequences for bigoted and hatful actions, and I believe this legislation is an important step toward assuring that for GLBT people.
April 20, 2007
Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Worse...
As families and loved ones make plans to bury the victims of Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech, the situation actually took another turn for the worse. Enter Fred Phelps and his band of psychopaths.
I've written about Phelps, the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS, here before. He gained notoriety by leading his church (almost entirely comprised of family members) to travel across the nation and picket the funerals of U. S. servicemen killed in Iraq. Phelp's twisted justification was that their deaths were a result of and punishment for the nation's embracing of homosexuals (that's a brief summary, you don't want to know more details).
Now Phelps plans to picket the Virginia Tech victim funerals. I only wish I was making that up. Phelps' daughter said, “The evidence is they were not Christian. God does not do that to his servants. You don’t need to look any further for evidence those people are in hell.”
This just in: Phelps has agreed not to picket the funerals in exchange for three hours of air time with conservative radio host Mike Gallagher on Tuesday. I doubt many people reading this blog listen to conservative talk radio, but next Tuesday would be a particularly bad day to check out that program at least. Gallagher's comments seem alturistic enough and his actions could result in sparing these victims' families another layer of pain they clearly don't need or deserve.
As I write this post, there is an ongoing siege at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX where a gunman is on the premisis. If you were uncomfortable with my overtly Christian message yesterday, let me know what you've got that could possibly bring sanity to this world.
I've written about Phelps, the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS, here before. He gained notoriety by leading his church (almost entirely comprised of family members) to travel across the nation and picket the funerals of U. S. servicemen killed in Iraq. Phelp's twisted justification was that their deaths were a result of and punishment for the nation's embracing of homosexuals (that's a brief summary, you don't want to know more details).
Now Phelps plans to picket the Virginia Tech victim funerals. I only wish I was making that up. Phelps' daughter said, “The evidence is they were not Christian. God does not do that to his servants. You don’t need to look any further for evidence those people are in hell.”
This just in: Phelps has agreed not to picket the funerals in exchange for three hours of air time with conservative radio host Mike Gallagher on Tuesday. I doubt many people reading this blog listen to conservative talk radio, but next Tuesday would be a particularly bad day to check out that program at least. Gallagher's comments seem alturistic enough and his actions could result in sparing these victims' families another layer of pain they clearly don't need or deserve.
As I write this post, there is an ongoing siege at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX where a gunman is on the premisis. If you were uncomfortable with my overtly Christian message yesterday, let me know what you've got that could possibly bring sanity to this world.
April 19, 2007
Reflections on Virginia Tech: The Time To Decide Is Now
Since I'm still home recovering from complications following my gallbladder surgery (I've lost 10 pounds but I'm on the mend), I've had more exposure than I normally would to the media coverage of the horriffic Virginia Tech shooting on Monday. It helps that I live in the Washington, DC area, a prime feeder of students to the Blacksburg, Virginia campus five hours away and, tragically, the home of the shooter. Click here or here if your outside the US and don't know what I'm talking about.
One thing struck me during the moving convocation service Tuesday afternoon that brought me to tears; the time to decide is now! What do I mean? Simply, none of those victims, most of them 22 years old or younger, had no reason to suspect that day would be their final one on earth. What if they had not accepted Christ? What if they weren't right with God? They almost certainly have been exposed to the Gospel and had opportunities to say yes to Jesus. If they didn't, they're out of chances.
The cliche "life isn't fair" is most certainly true, or else this tragedy would not have happened. Think of how many times you have commuted to work and driven by a small wood cross on the side of a road where some youngster(s) had been killed in an auto accident. Had they accepted Christ?
Evangelists like Franklin Graham are seizing the opportunity to mobilize an outreach effort in the Blacksburg area and try to salvage something good out of this horror by saving some souls:
"Every one of us is going to die. Every one of us is going to have to stand before God one day. As the Virginia Tech tragedy reminds everyone of the brevity of life, the question is, are we prepared to stand before God," Graham posed.
Sounds a lot like the old man (his father Billy) there, doesn't he? Good stuff.
I know a lot of people who are still pushing God away because they are working through some serious anger or depression issues dealing with family, relationships, career, or the church itself. I really do have some understanding of that and in no way mean to trivialize the difficulty of walking through that emotional minefield.
The good news is, however, that you don't have to do it yourself. Walking with God makes that trip a lot more manageable. We don't have to be "fixed" before we present ourselves to God. If we think that way, we are probably sentencing ourselves to eternal damnation because we can't "fix" ourselves. Thank God, we don't have to. Jesus' death on the cross resolved that for us. If that doesn't make any sense, e-mail me at straight_notnarrow@yahoo.com or contact a local minister. If you don't know of one, I can probably point you in the right direction.
God gave us free will--we aren't mindless drones of His. The downside of that is people like the Virginia Tech shooter are able to commit atrocities and snuff out innocent human life. The upside is, if we choose Him, it won't matter because we'll have eternal life and fellowship with Him.
What's your choice? If you haven't made it for Jesus, I pray you make it today. This link to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will walk you through the steps.
One thing struck me during the moving convocation service Tuesday afternoon that brought me to tears; the time to decide is now! What do I mean? Simply, none of those victims, most of them 22 years old or younger, had no reason to suspect that day would be their final one on earth. What if they had not accepted Christ? What if they weren't right with God? They almost certainly have been exposed to the Gospel and had opportunities to say yes to Jesus. If they didn't, they're out of chances.
The cliche "life isn't fair" is most certainly true, or else this tragedy would not have happened. Think of how many times you have commuted to work and driven by a small wood cross on the side of a road where some youngster(s) had been killed in an auto accident. Had they accepted Christ?
Evangelists like Franklin Graham are seizing the opportunity to mobilize an outreach effort in the Blacksburg area and try to salvage something good out of this horror by saving some souls:
"Every one of us is going to die. Every one of us is going to have to stand before God one day. As the Virginia Tech tragedy reminds everyone of the brevity of life, the question is, are we prepared to stand before God," Graham posed.
Sounds a lot like the old man (his father Billy) there, doesn't he? Good stuff.
I know a lot of people who are still pushing God away because they are working through some serious anger or depression issues dealing with family, relationships, career, or the church itself. I really do have some understanding of that and in no way mean to trivialize the difficulty of walking through that emotional minefield.
The good news is, however, that you don't have to do it yourself. Walking with God makes that trip a lot more manageable. We don't have to be "fixed" before we present ourselves to God. If we think that way, we are probably sentencing ourselves to eternal damnation because we can't "fix" ourselves. Thank God, we don't have to. Jesus' death on the cross resolved that for us. If that doesn't make any sense, e-mail me at straight_notnarrow@yahoo.com or contact a local minister. If you don't know of one, I can probably point you in the right direction.
God gave us free will--we aren't mindless drones of His. The downside of that is people like the Virginia Tech shooter are able to commit atrocities and snuff out innocent human life. The upside is, if we choose Him, it won't matter because we'll have eternal life and fellowship with Him.
What's your choice? If you haven't made it for Jesus, I pray you make it today. This link to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will walk you through the steps.
April 18, 2007
Disney Hosting Gay Weddings, AFA Fears For Innocent Children
Kudos to the Disney corporation for being openminded enough (not to mention business savvy) to announce that it would sell theme park wedding packages to same sex couples.
"We are in the hospitality business and our parks and resorts are open to everyone,” said a Disney spokesman.
Seems pretty rational to me. Being both affirming and good for business is a win-win for the GLBT community and Disney. Now the other side:
Such inclusiveness, says AFA president Tim Wildmon, is why families must be warned. "You could be innocently taking your family to Disney World or Disneyland, and you're walking down the middle of the park and here's comes this parade of wedding attendees [that includes] two men who've just gotten 'married' at Disney World," he says. "That's something to take into consideration before you go and patronize the Walt Disney Company this summer."
My God, innocent children could get exposed to same-sex ceremonies! Oh, the humanity! Not so rational. Or maybe it is. If people see that same-sex couples aren't freaks of nature or deviants as groups like the AFA want us to believe, it would hurt their donations.
It's groups like the AFA, an organization led by an ordained minister that professes Christian values, that continue to be an embarassment to Christians like myself who don't spew hate and bigotry.
"We are in the hospitality business and our parks and resorts are open to everyone,” said a Disney spokesman.
Seems pretty rational to me. Being both affirming and good for business is a win-win for the GLBT community and Disney. Now the other side:
Such inclusiveness, says AFA president Tim Wildmon, is why families must be warned. "You could be innocently taking your family to Disney World or Disneyland, and you're walking down the middle of the park and here's comes this parade of wedding attendees [that includes] two men who've just gotten 'married' at Disney World," he says. "That's something to take into consideration before you go and patronize the Walt Disney Company this summer."
My God, innocent children could get exposed to same-sex ceremonies! Oh, the humanity! Not so rational. Or maybe it is. If people see that same-sex couples aren't freaks of nature or deviants as groups like the AFA want us to believe, it would hurt their donations.
It's groups like the AFA, an organization led by an ordained minister that professes Christian values, that continue to be an embarassment to Christians like myself who don't spew hate and bigotry.
April 17, 2007
A Different Approach to GLBT Activists--Listening
Soulforce's Equality Riders are used to be hassled and arrested or ignored on their visits to Christian colleges, but that apparently won't be the case when they travel to Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. (the Boston area). From the article in the Boston Globe:
But officials at Gordon, where homosexual activity is barred by campus policy, have agreed to host the group for a series of presentations and conversations, saying they believe it will be good for students to hear a variety of views. The college has held three lectures about homosexuality and morality, the Bible, and science, and is highlighting the visit on its website.
"We present lots of ideas in the classroom that we don't agree with -- that's part of education," said Barry J. Loy , the dean of students. "I'm hopeful that they will come here to learn, and we will do the same. We're not keeping our students from them."
Did you catch that--"We present lots of ideas.....that we don't agree with--that's part of education." What a concept! It's easy to be angry as schools like Liberty that scorn these people and the message they are trying to spread, but not so much the folks at Gordon.
Exchanging ideas with those on the other side leads to greater understanding, which can eventually lead to acceptance. Of course the Regent of Liberty U, Dr. Jerry Falwell and his ilk don't want THAT to happen, do they?
But officials at Gordon, where homosexual activity is barred by campus policy, have agreed to host the group for a series of presentations and conversations, saying they believe it will be good for students to hear a variety of views. The college has held three lectures about homosexuality and morality, the Bible, and science, and is highlighting the visit on its website.
"We present lots of ideas in the classroom that we don't agree with -- that's part of education," said Barry J. Loy , the dean of students. "I'm hopeful that they will come here to learn, and we will do the same. We're not keeping our students from them."
Did you catch that--"We present lots of ideas.....that we don't agree with--that's part of education." What a concept! It's easy to be angry as schools like Liberty that scorn these people and the message they are trying to spread, but not so much the folks at Gordon.
Exchanging ideas with those on the other side leads to greater understanding, which can eventually lead to acceptance. Of course the Regent of Liberty U, Dr. Jerry Falwell and his ilk don't want THAT to happen, do they?
April 16, 2007
Iowa: Another GLBT Rights Battleground State
With a 54-46 edge for Deomcrats in the state House, you would think passing a bill adding sexual orientation and gender idenity to an anti-discrimination bill regarding employment, housing, and public accomodations would get passed. However, in the state of Iowa, some of those Democrats represent some very rural, conservative districts that would have a hard time stomaching any such legislation.
The Iowa senate has already passed this bill, and pressure is coming to bear on the House to do the same as the legislative session comes to a close.
"Civil rights laws are designed to protect groups of people who have faced blatant and historic discrimination," said Carol Ryan Terrell, head of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and Action Fund. "Civil rights laws do not give special protection to any person. They simply create a level playing field and guarantee the provision of tools necessary to fight and end discrimination."
When right-wingers whine about "special rights" they are talking about equal rights being granted to a minority that they are determined to discriminate against. That's one of those phrases that really grinds my cookies.
The Rev. Michael Pater, senior minister at the Urbandale United Church of Christ, said much of the opposition to gay rights comes from conservative religious groups, and lawmakers need to know there is more than one point of view in the religious community.
"The only motivation to withhold civil protection from discrimination and harassment of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered is religious bias," said Pater. "This bias does not serve the public good."
No, discrimination NEVER serves the public good, only those who wish to discriminate. Hopefully 51 members of the Iowa House realize that in time to pass this important legislation before their session is over.
The Iowa senate has already passed this bill, and pressure is coming to bear on the House to do the same as the legislative session comes to a close.
"Civil rights laws are designed to protect groups of people who have faced blatant and historic discrimination," said Carol Ryan Terrell, head of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and Action Fund. "Civil rights laws do not give special protection to any person. They simply create a level playing field and guarantee the provision of tools necessary to fight and end discrimination."
When right-wingers whine about "special rights" they are talking about equal rights being granted to a minority that they are determined to discriminate against. That's one of those phrases that really grinds my cookies.
The Rev. Michael Pater, senior minister at the Urbandale United Church of Christ, said much of the opposition to gay rights comes from conservative religious groups, and lawmakers need to know there is more than one point of view in the religious community.
"The only motivation to withhold civil protection from discrimination and harassment of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered is religious bias," said Pater. "This bias does not serve the public good."
No, discrimination NEVER serves the public good, only those who wish to discriminate. Hopefully 51 members of the Iowa House realize that in time to pass this important legislation before their session is over.
April 15, 2007
"Facing Truth of Being a Gay Christian"
First, sorry the site went a couple of days without being updated. I had my gallbladder removed on Thursday and I'm just beginning to get my legs back under me.
More importantly, Pastor David Shelton of the Christian Community Church of Clarksville, TN was featured in an article published in Clarksville's local newspaper, The Leaf Chronicle. Titled "Facing Truth of Being a Gay Christian," Pastor Shelton talks about that topic in some depth:
Shelton says people can "get away from trying to fix their gay identity, or absolve their gay identity, and be the child of God they were meant to be."
Through his writing and his church, Shelton hopes to show people who have been harmed by the Christian church that they can return to their faith and find love and welcome.
"I want to serve the people who have been hurt, wounded, crushed," he says. "I want to minister to the walking wounded — that's a hard thing to do. A lot of people, when they have arrows sticking out of their backs, they don't want to talk about God."
He offers a message of God's grace, hope and love with no expectation for how people will react to it.
"This is the path I'm taking. I invite people to join me. The good news is Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. And he was resurrected, which is what we celebrate on Easter," Shelton says. "The grace of God is for everybody. That's my mission. That's my message."
It's a wonderful message indeed, one which Pastor Shelton wrote about at some length in his book, "The Rainbow Kingdom: Christianity and the Homosexual Reconciled," which I reviewed here a while back.
David also let me know that this article has spurred quite a discussion over at the site Topix.net. There are, as you would unfortunately expect, some nasty comments is a discussion that had 543 posts to it as I write this, so check it out only if you have the stomach for it.
More importantly, Pastor David Shelton of the Christian Community Church of Clarksville, TN was featured in an article published in Clarksville's local newspaper, The Leaf Chronicle. Titled "Facing Truth of Being a Gay Christian," Pastor Shelton talks about that topic in some depth:
Shelton says people can "get away from trying to fix their gay identity, or absolve their gay identity, and be the child of God they were meant to be."
Through his writing and his church, Shelton hopes to show people who have been harmed by the Christian church that they can return to their faith and find love and welcome.
"I want to serve the people who have been hurt, wounded, crushed," he says. "I want to minister to the walking wounded — that's a hard thing to do. A lot of people, when they have arrows sticking out of their backs, they don't want to talk about God."
He offers a message of God's grace, hope and love with no expectation for how people will react to it.
"This is the path I'm taking. I invite people to join me. The good news is Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. And he was resurrected, which is what we celebrate on Easter," Shelton says. "The grace of God is for everybody. That's my mission. That's my message."
It's a wonderful message indeed, one which Pastor Shelton wrote about at some length in his book, "The Rainbow Kingdom: Christianity and the Homosexual Reconciled," which I reviewed here a while back.
David also let me know that this article has spurred quite a discussion over at the site Topix.net. There are, as you would unfortunately expect, some nasty comments is a discussion that had 543 posts to it as I write this, so check it out only if you have the stomach for it.
April 12, 2007
African-American Gays Often Shunned at Historically Black Colleges
We often look to our institutions of higher learning to be on the cutting endge of social change, but according to this Associated Press story, one thing has been very slow in changing at America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)---GLBT students aren't particularly welcome.
At numerous black colleges students say outdated rules and homophobia block them from forming the gay campus voice common at majority white institutions.
According to the report, a cause-and-effect of this is likely many of these institutions having been founded by religious institutions and African-American churches' (often passionate) opposition to homosexuality.
It's kind of hard to be out on campus and still be successful," said Vincent Allen Jr., head of Safe Space at Atlanta's Morehouse College. "As an out gay man, if I wanted to pledge, that door is pretty much shut to me. That's just the way it is."
This report draws a comparision between some of the major HBCUs in Virginia and large universities like Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia regarding their acceptance of GLBT students and organizations. The HBCU's do not stack up very well.
I have written before that I believe GLBT activists need to find their own voice in the 21st century and not try to piggy-back onto the African-American civil rights struggles of the 1960's, but I still find it ironic that the HBCUs appear to be a stronghold against rights for GLBT students, even more so because of their ties to religious organizations.
Hopefully giving that situation some national attention will help enbarass leaders at those schools to reevaluate their policies and consider making ALL students feel welcome.
At numerous black colleges students say outdated rules and homophobia block them from forming the gay campus voice common at majority white institutions.
According to the report, a cause-and-effect of this is likely many of these institutions having been founded by religious institutions and African-American churches' (often passionate) opposition to homosexuality.
It's kind of hard to be out on campus and still be successful," said Vincent Allen Jr., head of Safe Space at Atlanta's Morehouse College. "As an out gay man, if I wanted to pledge, that door is pretty much shut to me. That's just the way it is."
This report draws a comparision between some of the major HBCUs in Virginia and large universities like Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia regarding their acceptance of GLBT students and organizations. The HBCU's do not stack up very well.
I have written before that I believe GLBT activists need to find their own voice in the 21st century and not try to piggy-back onto the African-American civil rights struggles of the 1960's, but I still find it ironic that the HBCUs appear to be a stronghold against rights for GLBT students, even more so because of their ties to religious organizations.
Hopefully giving that situation some national attention will help enbarass leaders at those schools to reevaluate their policies and consider making ALL students feel welcome.
April 11, 2007
Feature on Ex-Gay Therapy...In Glamour Magazine?
I never pictured Glamour Magazine being a source for this blog, but there is a big-time story featured in the latest issue that certainly pertains to the scope of what I cover here.
Christine Bakke, who recently co-founded the community "Beyond Ex-Gay," was featured in a story titled "They tried to cure me of being gay." Christine talks about the influence Love In Action, the ex-gay group sponsored by Focus on the (Straight) Family had on her parents, and how her mother told her that, since she was a lesbian, they would not be able to spend eternity in heaven together.
Gee, I wonder why she suffered depression and had problems with alcohol?
Christine tried to force herself to live a straight lifestyle, but had a awakening when she saw Peterson Toscano perform his show "Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House," where he talked about his ex-gay experiences. Toscano is the other co-founder of the "Beyond Ex-Gay" community.
This is an interesting story that is far from over, but the new chapter Christine is writing is heading in a much happier direction.
I'm proud that Christine's blog, Rising Up Whole, links back to Straight, Not Narrow. After reading the Glamour article, you might be interested in visiting her site and keeping up with her journey.
Christine Bakke, who recently co-founded the community "Beyond Ex-Gay," was featured in a story titled "They tried to cure me of being gay." Christine talks about the influence Love In Action, the ex-gay group sponsored by Focus on the (Straight) Family had on her parents, and how her mother told her that, since she was a lesbian, they would not be able to spend eternity in heaven together.
Gee, I wonder why she suffered depression and had problems with alcohol?
Christine tried to force herself to live a straight lifestyle, but had a awakening when she saw Peterson Toscano perform his show "Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House," where he talked about his ex-gay experiences. Toscano is the other co-founder of the "Beyond Ex-Gay" community.
This is an interesting story that is far from over, but the new chapter Christine is writing is heading in a much happier direction.
I'm proud that Christine's blog, Rising Up Whole, links back to Straight, Not Narrow. After reading the Glamour article, you might be interested in visiting her site and keeping up with her journey.
Visit The 10th Edition of the Interntional Carnival of Pozitives
As always, I'm pleased to point readers toward the latest edition of the International Carnival of Pozitives. In case you haven't heard of this before, the ICP was founded by Ron Hudson, an HIV positive man, "for people living with HIV/AIDS around the world. This includes every human being on the planet Earth.”
My wife Pastor Brenda has known a disturbing number of people durning her ministry work in the GLBT community that have lost their battle with AIDS. Ron has worked to put together a collection of stories that emphasize surviving, even thriving, with HIV.
I'm proud to say I'll be hosting an edition here at Straight, Not Narrow, probably this summer. I encourage you to take some time to check out edition #10.
My wife Pastor Brenda has known a disturbing number of people durning her ministry work in the GLBT community that have lost their battle with AIDS. Ron has worked to put together a collection of stories that emphasize surviving, even thriving, with HIV.
I'm proud to say I'll be hosting an edition here at Straight, Not Narrow, probably this summer. I encourage you to take some time to check out edition #10.
April 10, 2007
GSA Clubs "A Haven From Hurt"
From the Salt Lake Tribune:
When a student in Cara Cerise's ceramics class at Salt Lake City's Highland High School told her he had a solution to the gay marriage issue, she was ready to listen.
"Just kill everyone who's gay," she remembers the classmate saying.
Shocked, Cara started to cry. The daughter of a gay man, the teenager knew she needed to find a safe haven at school where she would not be judged.
It was through the school's gay-straight alliance (GSA), now melded into Highland's social-justice club, that Cara found a home.
Despite this and stories like it that are described in detail within the article, the Utah state legislature recently voted to add restrictions like requiring parental permission for students to join school-affiliated clubs. It was generally understood that this was an effort to undermine the ability of GLBT students to participate in GSAs since they would have to tell their parents what club they were joining.
Hal Newman, an openly gay history teacher at Hunter High, believes the mere existence of a GSA has the power to change the way people think. "Just by being, we raise consciousness," he said.
Of course, that's what religious conservatives don't want.
Several students have told him that without the club, they would have contemplated suicide.
For some students, the adult suspicion of GSAs can be explained by the age gap between politicians and teenagers today. They're criticizing something that's totally unfamiliar.
"I just don't think they understand what the club is all about, because they didn't have that when they were in high school," said Cara, the Highland student. "Things have changed."
True enough, and they continue to change despite efforts of anti-gay activists to turn back the clocks and keep GLBT students cowering in their closets.
When a student in Cara Cerise's ceramics class at Salt Lake City's Highland High School told her he had a solution to the gay marriage issue, she was ready to listen.
"Just kill everyone who's gay," she remembers the classmate saying.
Shocked, Cara started to cry. The daughter of a gay man, the teenager knew she needed to find a safe haven at school where she would not be judged.
It was through the school's gay-straight alliance (GSA), now melded into Highland's social-justice club, that Cara found a home.
Despite this and stories like it that are described in detail within the article, the Utah state legislature recently voted to add restrictions like requiring parental permission for students to join school-affiliated clubs. It was generally understood that this was an effort to undermine the ability of GLBT students to participate in GSAs since they would have to tell their parents what club they were joining.
Hal Newman, an openly gay history teacher at Hunter High, believes the mere existence of a GSA has the power to change the way people think. "Just by being, we raise consciousness," he said.
Of course, that's what religious conservatives don't want.
Several students have told him that without the club, they would have contemplated suicide.
For some students, the adult suspicion of GSAs can be explained by the age gap between politicians and teenagers today. They're criticizing something that's totally unfamiliar.
"I just don't think they understand what the club is all about, because they didn't have that when they were in high school," said Cara, the Highland student. "Things have changed."
True enough, and they continue to change despite efforts of anti-gay activists to turn back the clocks and keep GLBT students cowering in their closets.
Other Sheep Seeks Donors to Sponsor LGBT Trip to Kenya
I received this from Steve Parelli, the Executive Director of the organization Other Sheep. Their mission statement is "Other Sheep is the only worldwide ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to empowering sexual minorities throughout the world with the Good News of God's unconditional love for all and salvation through God's Son, Jesus Christ."
Steve forwarded this press release regarding their upcoming trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Please consider supporting their efforts.
Emmanuel Kamau (known as "Aunty Ivy" throughout Africa) has invited Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz of Other Sheep to come to Nairobi, Kenya, this summer (July and August 2007) to conduct "safe space" groups that will focus on instruction and discussion on issues and interests pertaining to homosexuality.
Emmanuel Kamau is Founder (1997) and Director of Ishtar MSM (men who have sex with men), an organization that works among gay men for HIV and AIDS education and prevention. He has served on UN and state advisory councils and is an international speaker. He recently became interested in Other Sheep through contact with Other Sheep's New York City committee that works to distribute throughout Africa the book The Children Are Free: Reexaming the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships, co-authored by Rev. Jeff Miner and John Tyler Connoley.
Kamau, while visiting family in the United States, traveled to New York City in March of 2007 and for eleven days resided in the home of Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz during which time he met twice with the NYC Other Sheep committee to discuss and plan for Other Sheep's 2007 summer work in Nairobi with Ishtar MSM.
Steve Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, and Jose Ortiz his partner of nine years and Other Sheep Coordinator for Africa, will conduct the Nairobi "safe space" groups. A curriculum will be used that will emphasize homosexuality as it relates to religion, society, family members, the social sciences and psychology, and human rights. Targeted participants will be the LGBT community, their parents and friends, and any interested party. Three different locations will be chosen in Nairobi for weekly meeting places in order to reach a wider range of people within the city. Each "safe place" class will run for four weeks. Kamau, Parelli and Ortiz will use the time between classes to meet and connect with individuals. It is hoped that a permanent pro-active group will grow out of these meetings and will continue to meet on a regular basis creating fellowship and addressing the areas of need particular to the group and the region.
Other Sheep is currently seeking donors to help with costs. Financial gifts can be sent to Other Sheep, c/o Gordon I. Herzog, Co-Chairperson, Board of Directors, 16768 Old Jamestown Rd. Florissant, MO 63034. Other Sheep is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization. Donors will receive a receipt for their contributions. Questions can be directed to Steve Parelli at sparelli2002@yahoo.com.
Here's a direct link with more information about this project:
http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Kenya_Project_2007_Donor_Page.html
Steve forwarded this press release regarding their upcoming trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Please consider supporting their efforts.
Emmanuel Kamau (known as "Aunty Ivy" throughout Africa) has invited Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz of Other Sheep to come to Nairobi, Kenya, this summer (July and August 2007) to conduct "safe space" groups that will focus on instruction and discussion on issues and interests pertaining to homosexuality.
Emmanuel Kamau is Founder (1997) and Director of Ishtar MSM (men who have sex with men), an organization that works among gay men for HIV and AIDS education and prevention. He has served on UN and state advisory councils and is an international speaker. He recently became interested in Other Sheep through contact with Other Sheep's New York City committee that works to distribute throughout Africa the book The Children Are Free: Reexaming the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships, co-authored by Rev. Jeff Miner and John Tyler Connoley.
Kamau, while visiting family in the United States, traveled to New York City in March of 2007 and for eleven days resided in the home of Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz during which time he met twice with the NYC Other Sheep committee to discuss and plan for Other Sheep's 2007 summer work in Nairobi with Ishtar MSM.
Steve Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, and Jose Ortiz his partner of nine years and Other Sheep Coordinator for Africa, will conduct the Nairobi "safe space" groups. A curriculum will be used that will emphasize homosexuality as it relates to religion, society, family members, the social sciences and psychology, and human rights. Targeted participants will be the LGBT community, their parents and friends, and any interested party. Three different locations will be chosen in Nairobi for weekly meeting places in order to reach a wider range of people within the city. Each "safe place" class will run for four weeks. Kamau, Parelli and Ortiz will use the time between classes to meet and connect with individuals. It is hoped that a permanent pro-active group will grow out of these meetings and will continue to meet on a regular basis creating fellowship and addressing the areas of need particular to the group and the region.
Other Sheep is currently seeking donors to help with costs. Financial gifts can be sent to Other Sheep, c/o Gordon I. Herzog, Co-Chairperson, Board of Directors, 16768 Old Jamestown Rd. Florissant, MO 63034. Other Sheep is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization. Donors will receive a receipt for their contributions. Questions can be directed to Steve Parelli at sparelli2002@yahoo.com.
Here's a direct link with more information about this project:
http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Kenya_Project_2007_Donor_Page.html
April 09, 2007
Tolerance Would Be a Start
I'm encouraged that columns like this seem to be appearing more often in the mainstream media. No new ground here, but I believe this piece in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is worth reading nonetheless for the way the writer, O. Ricardo Pimentel, approaches the subject:
Parents sued a Massachusetts school district after, in one case, class material that included a gay family came home and, in another case, after a teacher read from a book about two gay princes.
Given their resistance to having their children exposed to such notions, it's inescapable that what the suing parents are really saying is gays are bad. And because the parents cited their religion, that gays are against God's law. Which are all ways of saying, "You disgust me so much that I need to shelter my school-age children from even knowing you exist until I get a chance first to convince them that you are disordered."
Yes, this is the stuff tolerance is made of.
Or maybe they will, in what they perceive to be a burst of magnanimity, tell their children to hate the sin but love the sinner. The message in that for gays? Submit (change so that there are no more of you left); go away; just keep it to yourself (hide who you are and what you, yuck, do).
Yes, this is what people tell people they love.
This poppycock might be cloaked in the fine raiment of religious freedom or choice, but the folks who utter it are judging one group of people who, near as I and compelling research can tell, were made by the same God they believe in. In other words, not created by their social environments but by whatever occurs in that wondrous process when humans are created.
The courts ruled against the parents that brought suit, which of course resulted in charges of the court system furthering the infamous "homosexual agenda," which is what the right wing usually says when courts choose upholding the U. S. Constitution rather than their bigotry.
You've got to love a writer who uses the word "poppycock," but I wish Mr. Pimentel had not focused on the word "tolerance." Sure, that would be a major improvement over the attitudes he derides in his column, but is that the end goal we're seeking with the GLBT community? Should I walk up to the gay and lesbian members of my church next Sunday, hug them, and say, "I tolerate you." I know at least with a couple of them, I'd better plan on ducking if I pulled something like that.
Tolerance is an incremental step, much like civil unions are in the issue of same-sex marriage, but acceptance of GLBT people as full-fledged members of society needs to be the end result. A bad rash, you can tolerate. Traffic at rush hour, you can tolerate. Gay and lesbian people should be accepted.
Why? Because they're people and God made them.
Thanks to PageOneQ for the tip.
Parents sued a Massachusetts school district after, in one case, class material that included a gay family came home and, in another case, after a teacher read from a book about two gay princes.
Given their resistance to having their children exposed to such notions, it's inescapable that what the suing parents are really saying is gays are bad. And because the parents cited their religion, that gays are against God's law. Which are all ways of saying, "You disgust me so much that I need to shelter my school-age children from even knowing you exist until I get a chance first to convince them that you are disordered."
Yes, this is the stuff tolerance is made of.
Or maybe they will, in what they perceive to be a burst of magnanimity, tell their children to hate the sin but love the sinner. The message in that for gays? Submit (change so that there are no more of you left); go away; just keep it to yourself (hide who you are and what you, yuck, do).
Yes, this is what people tell people they love.
This poppycock might be cloaked in the fine raiment of religious freedom or choice, but the folks who utter it are judging one group of people who, near as I and compelling research can tell, were made by the same God they believe in. In other words, not created by their social environments but by whatever occurs in that wondrous process when humans are created.
The courts ruled against the parents that brought suit, which of course resulted in charges of the court system furthering the infamous "homosexual agenda," which is what the right wing usually says when courts choose upholding the U. S. Constitution rather than their bigotry.
You've got to love a writer who uses the word "poppycock," but I wish Mr. Pimentel had not focused on the word "tolerance." Sure, that would be a major improvement over the attitudes he derides in his column, but is that the end goal we're seeking with the GLBT community? Should I walk up to the gay and lesbian members of my church next Sunday, hug them, and say, "I tolerate you." I know at least with a couple of them, I'd better plan on ducking if I pulled something like that.
Tolerance is an incremental step, much like civil unions are in the issue of same-sex marriage, but acceptance of GLBT people as full-fledged members of society needs to be the end result. A bad rash, you can tolerate. Traffic at rush hour, you can tolerate. Gay and lesbian people should be accepted.
Why? Because they're people and God made them.
Thanks to PageOneQ for the tip.
April 08, 2007
Hope: The Message of Easter
When I looked out at our congregation during this morning's church service as I prepared to read one of the scripture passages, I knew there were some people sitting there who desperately needed to hear the message of Easter--the message of hope.
I worship a God who came to earth in human form, allowed Himself to die a brutal death, then arose from the dead all to be the beacon of hope toward eternal life and eternal peace with Him once our time in the flesh was done.
He permitted His earthly body to be killed to show us what He was willing to endure for us, to show us how much He loved us. He then conquered death by rolling back the stone from his burial tomb and raising from the dead to show us how powerful faith in Him truly was.
I write this tonight, as I do most of my work here, to the GLBT community, especially those of you who have little or no hope of a better life awaiting you, either here on earth or in heaven. Part of that is probably because you've had it hammered in your head to where it saturates your psyche that you don't deserve God's love because you are a homosexual. You've probably been lectured to, possibly by your own family, how God hates gays and lesbians and the only path to heaven is to pray to Him to change your very nature.
That's God filtered through what they've been taught and/or their own prejudices. Unfortunately, that really tells you more about the person delivering that message than it does about God.
Apostle Dale, as he so often does, nailed it during his message this morning. He knows that people run across the Believers Covenant Fellowship website and see his smiling face on the home page. They know nothing about him, but sometimes they try to learn by asking others without making direct contact with him. It's tough to get a clear understanding of who someone is if you don't establish direct contact with them.
You see, that's what those who spread the message of hate toward homosexuals don't want GLBT people to do. They want gay and lesbian people to accept that God is as THEY say He is. Regardless of how authoratative they sound, how many years they may have spent in seminary, and how many verses of the Bible they quote to make their point, it is still THEIR point.
We all need to understand God by asking God who He is. We need to get into his word, the Bible, for ourselves. I regard the Bible as the roadmap to God, the pathway to understanding and receiving salvation and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Don't shake you head and say that He won't listen to you. Don't assume he won't communicate with you in some way. I know I don't hear his voice but I reach points of clarity and understanding when I seek him out. He will do the same for you. He wants to reach out and love you just as you are. I've seen first hand at my church when God has taken GLBT people from the depths of despair and given them love and hope.
Don't take my word for it. Seek God for yourself. If you don't know where to start, e-mail me at straight_notnarrow@yahoo.com or seek out Apostle Dale as bcfemail@aol.com. We can point you in the right direction, regardless of if you are straight, gay, lesbian, and no matter what type of sins you may have committed, so you can join us in walking with God.
Your peace and eternal happiness is not determined by any preacher, parent, spouse, family member, or friend. It's solely between you and God. He's reaching out for you right now. All you need to do is reach back.
God bless you on this Easter Sunday.
I worship a God who came to earth in human form, allowed Himself to die a brutal death, then arose from the dead all to be the beacon of hope toward eternal life and eternal peace with Him once our time in the flesh was done.
He permitted His earthly body to be killed to show us what He was willing to endure for us, to show us how much He loved us. He then conquered death by rolling back the stone from his burial tomb and raising from the dead to show us how powerful faith in Him truly was.
I write this tonight, as I do most of my work here, to the GLBT community, especially those of you who have little or no hope of a better life awaiting you, either here on earth or in heaven. Part of that is probably because you've had it hammered in your head to where it saturates your psyche that you don't deserve God's love because you are a homosexual. You've probably been lectured to, possibly by your own family, how God hates gays and lesbians and the only path to heaven is to pray to Him to change your very nature.
That's God filtered through what they've been taught and/or their own prejudices. Unfortunately, that really tells you more about the person delivering that message than it does about God.
Apostle Dale, as he so often does, nailed it during his message this morning. He knows that people run across the Believers Covenant Fellowship website and see his smiling face on the home page. They know nothing about him, but sometimes they try to learn by asking others without making direct contact with him. It's tough to get a clear understanding of who someone is if you don't establish direct contact with them.
You see, that's what those who spread the message of hate toward homosexuals don't want GLBT people to do. They want gay and lesbian people to accept that God is as THEY say He is. Regardless of how authoratative they sound, how many years they may have spent in seminary, and how many verses of the Bible they quote to make their point, it is still THEIR point.
We all need to understand God by asking God who He is. We need to get into his word, the Bible, for ourselves. I regard the Bible as the roadmap to God, the pathway to understanding and receiving salvation and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Don't shake you head and say that He won't listen to you. Don't assume he won't communicate with you in some way. I know I don't hear his voice but I reach points of clarity and understanding when I seek him out. He will do the same for you. He wants to reach out and love you just as you are. I've seen first hand at my church when God has taken GLBT people from the depths of despair and given them love and hope.
Don't take my word for it. Seek God for yourself. If you don't know where to start, e-mail me at straight_notnarrow@yahoo.com or seek out Apostle Dale as bcfemail@aol.com. We can point you in the right direction, regardless of if you are straight, gay, lesbian, and no matter what type of sins you may have committed, so you can join us in walking with God.
Your peace and eternal happiness is not determined by any preacher, parent, spouse, family member, or friend. It's solely between you and God. He's reaching out for you right now. All you need to do is reach back.
God bless you on this Easter Sunday.
April 07, 2007
Another Anti-Bullying Battleground
Shouldn't governments do everything possible to insure that public schools are a safe place for ALL students? There are, to me at least, a surprising number of legislators who disagree, and it just makes my hair hurt.
One of the major issues being debated these days across the United States that affects the GLBT community is bullying in schools. Michigan has turned into a battleground state for that issue, and it's a battle GLBT students are in serious danger of losing.
The bill under consideration lists several specific areas for which students may not be harassed, one of them being homosexuality. From the Detroit Free Press article:
Opposition largely exists because the measure would prohibit bullying based on a victim’s sexual orientation — along with a number of other characteristics such as height, weight, religion and race.
Michigan law shouldn’t formally recognize homosexual behavior, conservatives say, nor should gays get special protection. Republicans favor a broad ban against all bullying in schools.
"Formally recognize homosexual behavior?" What are they doing, forming their own government and seeking diplomatic relations? Not recognizing GLBT students will keep them in their place, these conservatives are probably hoping--the closet.
Gay rights groups and others respond that the bills don’t single out any group and say listing why students may be harassed would keep schools from ignoring certain types of intimidation.
A law would send a strong message that bullying must be taken seriously, says Kevin Epling of East Lansing, whose 14-year-old son, Matt, killed himself in 2002 after being smeared with raw eggs and syrup during a hazing incident.
“This isn’t a political issue. This is a very simple issue of right and wrong,” Epling said. “Our kids should not have to be going to school and fearing for their own safety.”
If the measure is enacted, it would be the first time state law separates gays and lesbians into a protected class, according to the Midland-based American Family Association of Michigan.“Public school officials have a legal duty not to put children at risk by in any way legitimizing or encouraging homosexual behavior,” said Gary Glenn, the group’s president.
I wonder if Mr. Glenn has spoken to Mr. Epling. Perhaps Mr. Glenn should visit Matt Epling's grave and consider how legitimate Matt's life was.
One of the major issues being debated these days across the United States that affects the GLBT community is bullying in schools. Michigan has turned into a battleground state for that issue, and it's a battle GLBT students are in serious danger of losing.
The bill under consideration lists several specific areas for which students may not be harassed, one of them being homosexuality. From the Detroit Free Press article:
Opposition largely exists because the measure would prohibit bullying based on a victim’s sexual orientation — along with a number of other characteristics such as height, weight, religion and race.
Michigan law shouldn’t formally recognize homosexual behavior, conservatives say, nor should gays get special protection. Republicans favor a broad ban against all bullying in schools.
"Formally recognize homosexual behavior?" What are they doing, forming their own government and seeking diplomatic relations? Not recognizing GLBT students will keep them in their place, these conservatives are probably hoping--the closet.
Gay rights groups and others respond that the bills don’t single out any group and say listing why students may be harassed would keep schools from ignoring certain types of intimidation.
A law would send a strong message that bullying must be taken seriously, says Kevin Epling of East Lansing, whose 14-year-old son, Matt, killed himself in 2002 after being smeared with raw eggs and syrup during a hazing incident.
“This isn’t a political issue. This is a very simple issue of right and wrong,” Epling said. “Our kids should not have to be going to school and fearing for their own safety.”
If the measure is enacted, it would be the first time state law separates gays and lesbians into a protected class, according to the Midland-based American Family Association of Michigan.“Public school officials have a legal duty not to put children at risk by in any way legitimizing or encouraging homosexual behavior,” said Gary Glenn, the group’s president.
I wonder if Mr. Glenn has spoken to Mr. Epling. Perhaps Mr. Glenn should visit Matt Epling's grave and consider how legitimate Matt's life was.
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