From USA Today:
Children raised by same-sex couples appear to do as well as those raised by parents of both sexes, suggests an international research review that challenges the long-ingrained belief that children need male and female parents for healthy adjustment.
"It's more about the quality of the parenting than the gender of the parents," says Judith Stacey of New York University, co-author of the comprehensive review. It will be published Friday in the Journal of Marriage and Family.
Sociologists Stacey and Timothy Biblarz of the University of Southern California, spent five years reviewing 81 studies of one- and two-parent families, including gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples. "No research supports the widely held conviction that the gender of parents matters for child well-being," they conclude.
"Children being raised by same-gender parents, on most all of the measures that we care about, self-esteem, school performance, social adjustment and so on, seem to be doing just fine and, in most cases, are statistically indistinguishable from kids raised by married moms and dads on these measures," Biblarz says.
Here's some helpful advice for those would denegrate the idea of same-sex couples raising kids--shut up.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
January 25, 2010
Daily Devotional 1/25/10 Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?
From: Love Worth Finding
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14
A little boy was trying to roll a rock as his father watched from a distance. The boy was heaving and sighing, but he couldn’t turn the stone over.
His dad, with a smile said, “Son, are you using all of your strength?” He said, “Yes, Daddy, I’m using all my strength.” And the father said, “No, you’re not because you have not asked me to help you. My strength is your strength.”
Sometimes we wrestle with problems and say, “I don’t know what to do.” Our Father wants us to say, “I’ve run out of my strength,” and run into His. He is there.
There is no problem too big for Jesus to solve.
Do you believe that? I hope so.
Is there a problem too big for you to solve? Give it to Jesus. He can handle it
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14
A little boy was trying to roll a rock as his father watched from a distance. The boy was heaving and sighing, but he couldn’t turn the stone over.
His dad, with a smile said, “Son, are you using all of your strength?” He said, “Yes, Daddy, I’m using all my strength.” And the father said, “No, you’re not because you have not asked me to help you. My strength is your strength.”
Sometimes we wrestle with problems and say, “I don’t know what to do.” Our Father wants us to say, “I’ve run out of my strength,” and run into His. He is there.
There is no problem too big for Jesus to solve.
Do you believe that? I hope so.
Is there a problem too big for you to solve? Give it to Jesus. He can handle it
January 24, 2010
Committee Chairman Could Scuttle DADT Repeal
From the DC Agenda:
Even if President Obama includes a ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal as part of his upcoming defense budget request, the language could be yanked by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.). (DC Agenda photo by Michael Key)
President Obama is being pressured to include a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal as part of his upcoming defense budget request to Congress, but the response from two key Democrats to such a proposal could hinder any change in the law.
Two lawmakers with considerable sway over defense matters — and whether a repeal will initially be part of the fiscal year 2011 defense budget — are House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.).
As leaders of the congressional committees that handle defense matters, Skelton and Levin get first crack at determining what’s included in the defense budget after the president sends his base bill to Congress in February. The lawmakers can make changes to the president’s request in their chairman’s marks to the legislation before the rest of Congress takes action.
So if Obama includes “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal as part of his defense budget request, it’s possible for either Skelton or Levin to strike the language from the bill if they don’t want it there.
Unfortunately, relying on the courage of congressmen to do the right thing is a very dicey proposition these days.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Even if President Obama includes a ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal as part of his upcoming defense budget request, the language could be yanked by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.). (DC Agenda photo by Michael Key)
President Obama is being pressured to include a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal as part of his upcoming defense budget request to Congress, but the response from two key Democrats to such a proposal could hinder any change in the law.
Two lawmakers with considerable sway over defense matters — and whether a repeal will initially be part of the fiscal year 2011 defense budget — are House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.).
As leaders of the congressional committees that handle defense matters, Skelton and Levin get first crack at determining what’s included in the defense budget after the president sends his base bill to Congress in February. The lawmakers can make changes to the president’s request in their chairman’s marks to the legislation before the rest of Congress takes action.
So if Obama includes “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal as part of his defense budget request, it’s possible for either Skelton or Levin to strike the language from the bill if they don’t want it there.
Unfortunately, relying on the courage of congressmen to do the right thing is a very dicey proposition these days.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
From the SNN Library 1/24/10-"Lead Like Jesus"
Ken Blanchard gained notariety when he wrote the book "The One-Minute Manager." It turns out his faith is at the foundation of his managerial wisdom.
Amazon.com ratings: 19 out of 21 reviews gave it at least 4 out of 5 stars
SNN rating: 4 stars
"The more I read the Bible, the more evident it becomes that everything I have ever taught or written about effective leadership over the past 25 years, Jesus did to perfection. He is simply the greatest leadership role model of all time." -Ken Blanchard
With simple yet profound principles from the life of Jesus and dozens of stories and leadership examples from his life experiences, veteran author, speaker and leadership expert Ken Blanchard guides readers through the process of discovering how to lead like Jesus. He describes it as the process of aligning two internal domains-the heart and the head-and two external domains-the hands and the habits. These four dimensions of leadership form the outline for this very practical and transformational book.
Click here to read user reviews or order a copy of the book from Amazon.com
Amazon.com ratings: 19 out of 21 reviews gave it at least 4 out of 5 stars
SNN rating: 4 stars
"The more I read the Bible, the more evident it becomes that everything I have ever taught or written about effective leadership over the past 25 years, Jesus did to perfection. He is simply the greatest leadership role model of all time." -Ken Blanchard
With simple yet profound principles from the life of Jesus and dozens of stories and leadership examples from his life experiences, veteran author, speaker and leadership expert Ken Blanchard guides readers through the process of discovering how to lead like Jesus. He describes it as the process of aligning two internal domains-the heart and the head-and two external domains-the hands and the habits. These four dimensions of leadership form the outline for this very practical and transformational book.
Click here to read user reviews or order a copy of the book from Amazon.com
Welcome to Sunday Worship 1/24/10 God's Faithfulness
If you don't have a welcoming church near you, or you just can't make yourself step into one, we're bringing worship to you. Here are links to some worship music and services from open and affirming ministries (all times eastern). I hope you are blessed and take time out of your busy schedule to enter into the Lord's day.
Don't forget to click on the tab on the upper right of this blog and leave your prayer requests in the comment section so we can petition the Lord for your needs.
If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail and share it with us.
Live Sunday Services (all times Eastern)
VIDEO
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa, 11:00 AM
VA-Believers Covenant Fellowship, Vienna, 11:00 AM
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham, 12:00 AM
NC-Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship, Winston-Salem, 12:00 PM
FL-Oasis Fellowship Ministries, Casselberry, 12:00 PM
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa, 1:00 PM
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach, 1:00 PM
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore, 1:30 PM
Canada-Rainbow Community Church, Vancouver 9:00 PM
AUDIO
Canada, Vancouver-Christ Alive Community Church, 10:15 PM
FL-Beacon of Hope Ministries, Dunedin (Living the Good Life radio program) 4:30 PM
Video Archive
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach
FL-Church of the Holy SpiritSong, Ft. Lauderdale
FL-Oasis Fellowship Ministries, Casselberry
FL-New Hope Christian Center, Pensacola
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa
GA-Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta
GA-New Covenant Church of Atlanta
NC-Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship, Winston-Salem
OK-Expressions Community Fellowship, Oklahoma City
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa
TX-The One Church, Garland
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore
Canada-Rainbow Community Church, Vancouver
Audio Archive
AZ-Community Church of Hope, Phoenix
AK-Open Door Community Church, Sherwood
CA-Christ Chapel of Long Beach
CA-Christ Chapel of the Valley, North Hollywood
FL-Beacon of Hope Ministries, Dunedin (Living the Good Life radio program)
FL-Body of Christ Church of God, Largo
FL-New Hope Christian Center, Pensecola
GA-New Covenant Church of Atlanta
KY-Covenant Community Church, Louisville
MD-Kittamaqundi Community, Columbia
NC-Revolution Charlotte
OH-Emmanuel Fellowship Church, Akron
OH-All Saints Community Church, Cortland
TN-Covenant of the Cross, Madison
TX-New Hope Fellowship Church, Dallas
TX-White Rock Community Church, Dallas
TX-Community Gospel Church, Houston
TX-Through Him Fellowship, Houston
UT-Glory to God Christian Church, Ogden
South Africa-Deo Gloria Family Church
Can we pray for you? E-mail straight_notnarrow@yahoo.com
Putting Baseless Bigotry On Triai
Part of the strategy of the attorneys leading the case against California's Proposition 8 is to show the hate and mindless bigotry that helped fuel the campaign that got it passed in November. This AP story via the Miami Herald shows a clear example of that from court testimony:
Hak-Shing William Tam of San Francisco spent five hours testifying Thursday as a hostile plaintiffs' witness to prove that bias toward gays fueled the 2008 campaign to pass the voter-approved measure, known as Proposition 8.
Tam, who was one of five individuals who signed on as official proponents of the ban and whose names appeared alongside ballot arguments for Proposition 8, acknowledged that he subscribes to beliefs about an alleged link between homosexuality and pedophilia posted on the Internet by a Chinese-American Christian group for which he serves as secretary.
"Do you believe that homosexuals are 12 times more likely to molest children?" attorney David Boies asked.
"Yeah, based on the different literature that I have read," Tam replied.
Hak-Shing William Tam of San Francisco spent five hours testifying Thursday as a hostile plaintiffs' witness to prove that bias toward gays fueled the 2008 campaign to pass the voter-approved measure, known as Proposition 8.
Tam, who was one of five individuals who signed on as official proponents of the ban and whose names appeared alongside ballot arguments for Proposition 8, acknowledged that he subscribes to beliefs about an alleged link between homosexuality and pedophilia posted on the Internet by a Chinese-American Christian group for which he serves as secretary.
"Do you believe that homosexuals are 12 times more likely to molest children?" attorney David Boies asked.
"Yeah, based on the different literature that I have read," Tam replied.
January 23, 2010
Male-on-Male Sexual Harassment on the Rise in the Workplace
From Newsweek:
The Cheesecake Factory is known for its oversize portions, delectable desserts, and family-friendly atmosphere. The restaurant is also accused of creating nothing but disturbing memories for a few of its employees. In 2008 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit after six Cheesecake Factory staffers claimed they were subjected to repeated sexual harassment at the chain's Chandler Mall location in Phoenix, including allegations of sexual fondling, simulated rape, and even being physically dragged into the restaurant's refrigerator. The Cheesecake Factory denies the charges; in November the company settled the dispute by paying $340,000 to the victims.
Surprisingly, it wasn't a group of female workers who were compensated by the popular eatery: it was a group of male employees who claim they were sexually harassed by other men in the workplace. And, as new EEOC filings show, this situation is not unusual. Between 1992 and 2008, the percentage of sexual-harassment charges filed by men with the EEOC doubled from 8 percent to 16 percent. "While some people may think sexual harassment of male employees is a joke, the issue is real," says David Grinberg, spokesperson for the EEOC. "We are seeing more of it, and such conduct has serious legal consequences for employers."
Click here to read the rest of the story.
The Cheesecake Factory is known for its oversize portions, delectable desserts, and family-friendly atmosphere. The restaurant is also accused of creating nothing but disturbing memories for a few of its employees. In 2008 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit after six Cheesecake Factory staffers claimed they were subjected to repeated sexual harassment at the chain's Chandler Mall location in Phoenix, including allegations of sexual fondling, simulated rape, and even being physically dragged into the restaurant's refrigerator. The Cheesecake Factory denies the charges; in November the company settled the dispute by paying $340,000 to the victims.
Surprisingly, it wasn't a group of female workers who were compensated by the popular eatery: it was a group of male employees who claim they were sexually harassed by other men in the workplace. And, as new EEOC filings show, this situation is not unusual. Between 1992 and 2008, the percentage of sexual-harassment charges filed by men with the EEOC doubled from 8 percent to 16 percent. "While some people may think sexual harassment of male employees is a joke, the issue is real," says David Grinberg, spokesperson for the EEOC. "We are seeing more of it, and such conduct has serious legal consequences for employers."
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Encouraging Words 1/23/10-Don't Blame God for Haiti Disaster
The Bible tells us three things that we believe are very pertinent to the tragedy in Haiti:
1) Bad things, some of them very bad, will happen during our time on Earth
2) We won't understand why they happen
3) God can bring good out of anything if we trust Him
When a disaster the magnitude of the Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, and the South Asian tsumami happen, it is natural and understandable for people to question God or even blame Him for allowing there horrible things to happen.
We believe this essay from Christianity Today gives a balanced and theologically sound perspective on this:
It is important to maintain two contradictory attitudes at once in many areas of Christian theology, and this is one of those areas. These are the two clashing points of view in this case:
Point of view #1: The Creation does declare the glory of God, and the "Thunderstorm Psalm" (Ps. 29: "The Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon . . .") proclaims that message magnificently. God is not only the Creator but also the One who rules over the cosmos. The theophany (a manifestation of the power of God) in the Book of Job (chs. 38-41) is the preeminent biblical passage treating of this subject, and the phrase "the doors of the sea" is derived from 38:8.
Many people have experienced a sort of theophany even in the midst of destruction; people have testified to this even when they have had to face the dire consequences of a natural catastrophe (there are examples of this in Isaac's Storm, the book about the hurricane that destroyed Galveston, and in David McCullough's account of the Johnstown Flood). So the wild, untamed aspect of nature can be either comforting or exhilarating or both, depending on one's point of view.
Point of view #2: At the same time, nature is not benign. Nature is "red in tooth and claw." Nature, like the human race, is fallen and is subject to the powers of the Evil One who continues to occupy this sphere. Flannery O'Connor wrote that her work was about the action of grace in territory held largely by the Devil; we should not fail to realize that "nature" is part of that occupied territory. Nature is often hostile, as Annie Dillard has so powerfully shown us, and the nature-worshipers among us fail to acknowledge this hostility in their pantheistic enthusiasm. Only by action of the Creator will the peaceable kingdom arrive, where the lion lies down with the lamb. (Isn't it suggestive that "Lion of Judah" and "Lamb of God" are both titles of our Lord?)
The conflict between these two realities cannot be resolved in this life. Does the Creator of all that is have the power to say to those tectonic plates, "Be still!" Of course. Then why doesn't he? Why does he permit earthquakes in the poorest country in the hemisphere?
We do not know.
Saying "there is a reason for everything" may be true, but that is a cruel and heartless response at the point of great suffering. The most pastoral response, as well as the most truthful theological response, is to live in the contradiction.
Click here to read the rest of the essay.
How can we trust God without having all the answers? By faith. As horrible as the Haiti disaster is, amazing stories are already surfacing of people who survivied with little to hold on to in the natural, but who exercised faith. God never abandons us. He won't always prevent bad things from happening to us, but he will show us a path to move forward through them--we can both personally testify to that.
1) Bad things, some of them very bad, will happen during our time on Earth
2) We won't understand why they happen
3) God can bring good out of anything if we trust Him
When a disaster the magnitude of the Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, and the South Asian tsumami happen, it is natural and understandable for people to question God or even blame Him for allowing there horrible things to happen.
We believe this essay from Christianity Today gives a balanced and theologically sound perspective on this:
It is important to maintain two contradictory attitudes at once in many areas of Christian theology, and this is one of those areas. These are the two clashing points of view in this case:
Point of view #1: The Creation does declare the glory of God, and the "Thunderstorm Psalm" (Ps. 29: "The Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon . . .") proclaims that message magnificently. God is not only the Creator but also the One who rules over the cosmos. The theophany (a manifestation of the power of God) in the Book of Job (chs. 38-41) is the preeminent biblical passage treating of this subject, and the phrase "the doors of the sea" is derived from 38:8.
Many people have experienced a sort of theophany even in the midst of destruction; people have testified to this even when they have had to face the dire consequences of a natural catastrophe (there are examples of this in Isaac's Storm, the book about the hurricane that destroyed Galveston, and in David McCullough's account of the Johnstown Flood). So the wild, untamed aspect of nature can be either comforting or exhilarating or both, depending on one's point of view.
Point of view #2: At the same time, nature is not benign. Nature is "red in tooth and claw." Nature, like the human race, is fallen and is subject to the powers of the Evil One who continues to occupy this sphere. Flannery O'Connor wrote that her work was about the action of grace in territory held largely by the Devil; we should not fail to realize that "nature" is part of that occupied territory. Nature is often hostile, as Annie Dillard has so powerfully shown us, and the nature-worshipers among us fail to acknowledge this hostility in their pantheistic enthusiasm. Only by action of the Creator will the peaceable kingdom arrive, where the lion lies down with the lamb. (Isn't it suggestive that "Lion of Judah" and "Lamb of God" are both titles of our Lord?)
The conflict between these two realities cannot be resolved in this life. Does the Creator of all that is have the power to say to those tectonic plates, "Be still!" Of course. Then why doesn't he? Why does he permit earthquakes in the poorest country in the hemisphere?
We do not know.
Saying "there is a reason for everything" may be true, but that is a cruel and heartless response at the point of great suffering. The most pastoral response, as well as the most truthful theological response, is to live in the contradiction.
Click here to read the rest of the essay.
How can we trust God without having all the answers? By faith. As horrible as the Haiti disaster is, amazing stories are already surfacing of people who survivied with little to hold on to in the natural, but who exercised faith. God never abandons us. He won't always prevent bad things from happening to us, but he will show us a path to move forward through them--we can both personally testify to that.
LGBT Helping Hands 1/23/10-LGBT Youth Scotland
LGBT Youth Scotland is a national youth organisation working towardsWe provide a range of services and opportunities for young people, families and professionals the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in the life of Scotland.
We provide a range of services and opportunities for young people, families and professionals in order to proactively assist with increasing awareness and confidence, in turn reducing isolation and intolerance.
We support the network of LGBT young people and groups around Scotland and their representatives – the LGBT Youth Council.
We were established in November 1989 by members of the LGBT community in Edinburgh and became a national organisation in April 2003.
Click here to find out more.
We provide a range of services and opportunities for young people, families and professionals in order to proactively assist with increasing awareness and confidence, in turn reducing isolation and intolerance.
We support the network of LGBT young people and groups around Scotland and their representatives – the LGBT Youth Council.
We were established in November 1989 by members of the LGBT community in Edinburgh and became a national organisation in April 2003.
Click here to find out more.
Same-Sex Couples Pay a Steep Price for Marriage-Like Benefits/Protections
From the Chicago Tribune (hat-tip to Twitter account GayRightMedia):
If Howard Wax and Robert Pooley Jr. were a heterosexual couple, they could've gone to their nearest Cook County clerk's office, paid $40 for a marriage license and been wed.
That would have provided them an array of legal protections -- the right to make medical decisions for one another, the ability for one to inherit the other's property.
Instead, the couple paid $10,000 for an attorney to help them roughly simulate -- using wills, trusts and powers of attorney -- the protections that marriage affords. It was a price the men, parents of 3-year-old twins, were willing to pay for peace of mind, though they admit it's far from perfect.
"I feel at least like we're secure now," said Wax, who has been with Pooley for nine years. "It's not perfect, but we're OK."
If Howard Wax and Robert Pooley Jr. were a heterosexual couple, they could've gone to their nearest Cook County clerk's office, paid $40 for a marriage license and been wed.
That would have provided them an array of legal protections -- the right to make medical decisions for one another, the ability for one to inherit the other's property.
Instead, the couple paid $10,000 for an attorney to help them roughly simulate -- using wills, trusts and powers of attorney -- the protections that marriage affords. It was a price the men, parents of 3-year-old twins, were willing to pay for peace of mind, though they admit it's far from perfect.
"I feel at least like we're secure now," said Wax, who has been with Pooley for nine years. "It's not perfect, but we're OK."
Daily Devotional 1/23/10 Proving God in Finances
From: Love Worth Finding
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10
You can say all you want about getting right with God, but if you don’t get right with God in your finances, you are not right with God. The kind of repentance that does not reach the bank account, has never reached the heart.
In Malachi 3:7, God says, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” And the people said, “Wherein shall we return?” God’s answer in verse 8 reveals that they were to return in tithes and offerings.
The point of return is the point of departure. If you’re going to come back to God and if you’re going to renew your fellowship, you’re going to have to begin with the tithe.
It’s time to put the good book to the checkbook!
How are you doing in the area of your tithes and offerings to the Lord?
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10
You can say all you want about getting right with God, but if you don’t get right with God in your finances, you are not right with God. The kind of repentance that does not reach the bank account, has never reached the heart.
In Malachi 3:7, God says, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” And the people said, “Wherein shall we return?” God’s answer in verse 8 reveals that they were to return in tithes and offerings.
The point of return is the point of departure. If you’re going to come back to God and if you’re going to renew your fellowship, you’re going to have to begin with the tithe.
It’s time to put the good book to the checkbook!
How are you doing in the area of your tithes and offerings to the Lord?
January 22, 2010
LGBT South-Asians in America Still Fight Stigma From Their Culture
From New York's Gay News:
Sadat Iqbal said he never planned to come out to his family. But then his father found the porn.
Iqbal, now 22, realized he was gay when just a child. As a curious ten-year old living in Queens, he surfed the Internet for sexually explicit images of men. A couple of years later, his father, a first-generation immigrant from Bangladesh, sensed something brewing and browsed through the computer. He confronted Iqbal about the graphic sites he found on Internet Explorer’s history.
“He told me to change this side of me, to tighten the screws in my head,” said Iqbal, his voice dropping.
From that moment, Iqbal said, he began to rebel by “acting out” and sneaking out of the house late at night. During one of his nocturnal escapades, he got mugged, and his parents had to fetch him from the police station. That left him even more conflicted than before.
“I felt isolated and alienated,” he recalled.
New York City may be one of the world’s gay capitals, but life is not easy for many South Asians. Stigma about homosexuality runs deep, and most say they have to hide their sexual identity from family. Such intolerance comes despite legal strides back home. Nepal’s Supreme Court in late 2008 ordered the government to legalize same-sex marriage, and India decriminalized gay sex among consensual adults last July. But that doesn’t change the thinking of many parents.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Sadat Iqbal said he never planned to come out to his family. But then his father found the porn.
Iqbal, now 22, realized he was gay when just a child. As a curious ten-year old living in Queens, he surfed the Internet for sexually explicit images of men. A couple of years later, his father, a first-generation immigrant from Bangladesh, sensed something brewing and browsed through the computer. He confronted Iqbal about the graphic sites he found on Internet Explorer’s history.
“He told me to change this side of me, to tighten the screws in my head,” said Iqbal, his voice dropping.
From that moment, Iqbal said, he began to rebel by “acting out” and sneaking out of the house late at night. During one of his nocturnal escapades, he got mugged, and his parents had to fetch him from the police station. That left him even more conflicted than before.
“I felt isolated and alienated,” he recalled.
New York City may be one of the world’s gay capitals, but life is not easy for many South Asians. Stigma about homosexuality runs deep, and most say they have to hide their sexual identity from family. Such intolerance comes despite legal strides back home. Nepal’s Supreme Court in late 2008 ordered the government to legalize same-sex marriage, and India decriminalized gay sex among consensual adults last July. But that doesn’t change the thinking of many parents.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
What Jesus DID Say Also Supports LGBT People
In LGBT Christian circles, you often hear it pointed out that Jesus did not directly address homosexuality in scripture. This is of course a very important fact, but this video shows that what our Savior actually said is also affirming of gay people:
Where Does China Stand on Gay Rights?
From the UK's Guardian (hat-tip GayAgenda):
It's a peculiarly Chinese way of dealing with things, the last-minute cancellation. Now China's gay community have learned, just like music festival organisers before them, that even licences and assurances can't protect a controversial event from a late knock on the door from the police. But Friday's cancellation of China's first official gay pageant, hours before it was due to begin in Beijing, will sting more than most government interventions. This was supposed to mark a new dawn for China's LGBT population. Instead, after a decade of mixed signals, China's gay community just wants the government to talk straight for once.
It's easy to see why the Chinese gay rights movement has been left wondering just where it stands. Homosexuality was only removed from the state-approved list of mental illnesses in 2001, and since the government has broadly taken a laissez-faire approach to the issue. While Beijing is home to a handful of gay clubs, it would be extremely unusual to see a gay couple openly affectionate in any other public place. It appeared the government was happy for a gay community to exist, as long as it broadly stayed out of the public eye.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
It's a peculiarly Chinese way of dealing with things, the last-minute cancellation. Now China's gay community have learned, just like music festival organisers before them, that even licences and assurances can't protect a controversial event from a late knock on the door from the police. But Friday's cancellation of China's first official gay pageant, hours before it was due to begin in Beijing, will sting more than most government interventions. This was supposed to mark a new dawn for China's LGBT population. Instead, after a decade of mixed signals, China's gay community just wants the government to talk straight for once.
It's easy to see why the Chinese gay rights movement has been left wondering just where it stands. Homosexuality was only removed from the state-approved list of mental illnesses in 2001, and since the government has broadly taken a laissez-faire approach to the issue. While Beijing is home to a handful of gay clubs, it would be extremely unusual to see a gay couple openly affectionate in any other public place. It appeared the government was happy for a gay community to exist, as long as it broadly stayed out of the public eye.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
Daily Devotional 1/22/10 No Offense, No Effect
From: Love Worth Finding
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
A pulpit committee approached me one time and said, “We need a pastor for our church.” I said, “I know just the guy. He is a fantastic preacher and has a fiery evangelistic spirit, but he has health problems and he’s kind of old.” I continued, “He’s also been in jail several times.”
They began to shake their heads, and one said, “Well, we don’t know whether he’s the man we want or not.” I said, “Well, don’t worry; you couldn’t get him. He’s already in heaven, and his name is Paul.”
You don’t want someone who can rub shoulders with the people of this world and not rub any salt in their wounds. Where there is no offense, there is no effect.
Pray for the people who occupy the pulpits in our churches that they would not water down the truth of God’s Word, but be strong to proclaim its power.
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
A pulpit committee approached me one time and said, “We need a pastor for our church.” I said, “I know just the guy. He is a fantastic preacher and has a fiery evangelistic spirit, but he has health problems and he’s kind of old.” I continued, “He’s also been in jail several times.”
They began to shake their heads, and one said, “Well, we don’t know whether he’s the man we want or not.” I said, “Well, don’t worry; you couldn’t get him. He’s already in heaven, and his name is Paul.”
You don’t want someone who can rub shoulders with the people of this world and not rub any salt in their wounds. Where there is no offense, there is no effect.
Pray for the people who occupy the pulpits in our churches that they would not water down the truth of God’s Word, but be strong to proclaim its power.
January 21, 2010
Is the Window for LGBT Rights Legislation Closing?
That's the view of Steve Charing, editor of Baltimore OutLoud LGBT newspaper:
Back in March 2009 when President Obama's approval rating was still gaudy, I wrote that we had a window of opportunity to secure key legislative LGBT victories. ENDA, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," repeal of DOMA and the passage of a comprehensive hate crimes bill (recently enacted) all seemed within grasp.
The President's popularity, his campaign promises, and a more lgbt-friendly Democratic-controlled Congress created the formula for potentially historic victories in the lgbt arena. The time was right.
I also opined that we needed to seize this window of opportunity now because things can change in a hurry. In March I wrote:
"If history has taught us anything, nothing lasts forever. Mr. Obama could stumble as the economy tumbles more. He could be accused of allowing “bonus-gate” to erode an already low trajectory for consumer confidence. There could be an international crisis—somewhere, anywhere. Patience could easily wear thin. .. Anything can happen that could derail this presidency."
And so it did.
Back in March 2009 when President Obama's approval rating was still gaudy, I wrote that we had a window of opportunity to secure key legislative LGBT victories. ENDA, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," repeal of DOMA and the passage of a comprehensive hate crimes bill (recently enacted) all seemed within grasp.
The President's popularity, his campaign promises, and a more lgbt-friendly Democratic-controlled Congress created the formula for potentially historic victories in the lgbt arena. The time was right.
I also opined that we needed to seize this window of opportunity now because things can change in a hurry. In March I wrote:
"If history has taught us anything, nothing lasts forever. Mr. Obama could stumble as the economy tumbles more. He could be accused of allowing “bonus-gate” to erode an already low trajectory for consumer confidence. There could be an international crisis—somewhere, anywhere. Patience could easily wear thin. .. Anything can happen that could derail this presidency."
And so it did.
Encouraging Words 1/21/10-Nepal To Hold Gay Weddings...on Mt. Everest
How cool is this? From the Malaysia Sun via Twitter account EmpoweringSpirits:
Nepal is set to stage same-sex weddings on Mount Everest as part of a bid to promote the country as the homosexual tourism capital of Asia.
According to a report in The Telegraph, Nepal's homosexual community will host a tourism conference next month to explore how to attract wealthy gay visitors to boost the country's war-ravaged economy.
The country's new constitution will legalise homosexual marriage in May this year, when "Pink Mountain" will begin offering luxury honeymoon and wedding packages.
Nepal is set to stage same-sex weddings on Mount Everest as part of a bid to promote the country as the homosexual tourism capital of Asia.
According to a report in The Telegraph, Nepal's homosexual community will host a tourism conference next month to explore how to attract wealthy gay visitors to boost the country's war-ravaged economy.
The country's new constitution will legalise homosexual marriage in May this year, when "Pink Mountain" will begin offering luxury honeymoon and wedding packages.
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