That's the advice offered in a post on Bilerico that reflects on the aftermath of Amendment 2's passage in Florida.
This isn't the time to sit quietly by and shrug our shoulders at another loss for the LGBT community in our state. We need our statewide leaders and organizations to step up and galvanize our community and our allies.
And these protests need to extend to the groups (like the Florida Republican Party, the Catholic League, the Baptist League, and many other groups) that gave money and support to Amendment 2. We need to hold politicians accountable- like Governor Crist and others- and make sure there are consequences for their support of hate and bigotry.
We also need to be having conversations like this- figuring out where we went wrong and how we overcome it. Not in closed door meetings with the same leaders that ran these campaigns, but with the entire community.
I also think we need to be proactive. We cannot wait for the religious right to take this to court and try to take away more of our rights. We need to be shaping the argument now.
One thing is clear- we cannot keep sitting idly by while more of our rights are taken away. We had our time to mourn this loss, but now it's time to shake it off and move forward.
We need to regroup, get tough, and keep fighting.
It angers me that, in this day and age, there is still a group of people in this country that have to fight for basic rights that the rest of the population can take for granted, but that is the current reality.
I strongly agree with the points that oppoents of equality need to be held accountable and feel political and PR pain of their choice. It is also critically important that LGBT people don't let themselves slip into a victim mentality. That certainly would not be unjustified, but it also would not be constructive.
Utlimately the victory will not be won until people's hearts and minds are changed to where they truly accept LGBT people as equal members of society. We've seen laws changed and then changed back--that's how you can control behavior to some extent. It's when attitudes change that there can be a lasting victory and end the constant struggle and threat of having something taken away.
We need to follow Jesus' example here. He didn't come to Earth to pass legislation, he came to change hearts and lives of people so individuals could build His kingdom. He didn't leave His work to lawmakers and we shouldn't either.
Click here to read the entire Bilerico post.
November 15, 2008
November 12, 2008
A Time To Reflect On Renewal
Our church is having what we term "renewal" this weekend. Basically, we’re looking for God to renew our passion for Him and to show us what He wants us to do going forward.
As I was thinking about renewal, I likened what we’re doing at our church to what the United States is doing right now. The U. S. has collectively felt for a long time that the country was going in the wrong direction. Now that President-Elect Obama has been voted into office, I think the mood of the country is changing. Whether you voted for him or not, you have to admit that we’re all breathing a sigh of relief that the country might actually be able to get a "renewal" in the months and years to come. Sure, there are those on the religious right that are crying foul and preparing for Armageddon, but for those of us who aren’t right-wingers, we hope for a better day.
My personal hope is that the economy will take a turn for the better. I hope that President Obama will steer our country into a place where we will start to treat each other with respect as people and not worry so much about whether we agree with each other all the time. I hope that all of us will be able to come together as Americans to save our country that is in crisis.
Whether President Obama will be able to facilitate all of the change that he has said he wants to see happen, I really believe that he will help us move in the right direction again and I’m excited about that prospect.
So, let’s look forward with anticipation to the Obama years and pray for him and his family and all of the leadership of our country that God will grant them wisdom and keep them safe and bring all of our troops home soon.
God Bless America!
As I was thinking about renewal, I likened what we’re doing at our church to what the United States is doing right now. The U. S. has collectively felt for a long time that the country was going in the wrong direction. Now that President-Elect Obama has been voted into office, I think the mood of the country is changing. Whether you voted for him or not, you have to admit that we’re all breathing a sigh of relief that the country might actually be able to get a "renewal" in the months and years to come. Sure, there are those on the religious right that are crying foul and preparing for Armageddon, but for those of us who aren’t right-wingers, we hope for a better day.
My personal hope is that the economy will take a turn for the better. I hope that President Obama will steer our country into a place where we will start to treat each other with respect as people and not worry so much about whether we agree with each other all the time. I hope that all of us will be able to come together as Americans to save our country that is in crisis.
Whether President Obama will be able to facilitate all of the change that he has said he wants to see happen, I really believe that he will help us move in the right direction again and I’m excited about that prospect.
So, let’s look forward with anticipation to the Obama years and pray for him and his family and all of the leadership of our country that God will grant them wisdom and keep them safe and bring all of our troops home soon.
God Bless America!
November 11, 2008
A Quick Look Back at What Was Once Heresy
Here are some definitions of the word "heresy" from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary:
1 a: adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma b: denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church c: an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma2 a: dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice b: an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards
Okay, I think you get the picture. Unfortunately, many, members of the LGBT community have had this word hurled or spewed at them when asked to be considered a member in good standing of "the church." People like me think "the church" is wrong by doing that. It wouldn't be the first time "the church" got something very, very important very, very wrong.
That is pointed out with a brief history lesson by Anthony Venn-Brown, one of the leading LGBT advocates in Australia. Here is a summary of the point from his website "The Great Heresy."
1. Once Heresy Now Truth--The world revolves around the sun
2. Once Heresy Now Truth--White and black are equal
3. Once Heresy Now Truth--Two people who love each other should marry no matter the color of their skin
4. Once Heresy Now Truth--Men and women are of equal value and worth
5. Once Heresy Now Truth--Same sex orientation, for a percentage of the population, is a normal expression of sexuality and occurs in all of creation.
Of course, #5 is a work in progress (heck, there are some folks that still don't get 2 through 4), but the point is that it took a while for the other positions of "the church" to change, but they eventually did.
So will the postiion on #5. It is happening even as a write this. Truth always wins out, but not without a fight.
There is much more to check out at "The Great Heresy." Thanks to Anthony for the heads up about his work.
1 a: adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma b: denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church c: an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma2 a: dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice b: an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards
Okay, I think you get the picture. Unfortunately, many, members of the LGBT community have had this word hurled or spewed at them when asked to be considered a member in good standing of "the church." People like me think "the church" is wrong by doing that. It wouldn't be the first time "the church" got something very, very important very, very wrong.
That is pointed out with a brief history lesson by Anthony Venn-Brown, one of the leading LGBT advocates in Australia. Here is a summary of the point from his website "The Great Heresy."
1. Once Heresy Now Truth--The world revolves around the sun
2. Once Heresy Now Truth--White and black are equal
3. Once Heresy Now Truth--Two people who love each other should marry no matter the color of their skin
4. Once Heresy Now Truth--Men and women are of equal value and worth
5. Once Heresy Now Truth--Same sex orientation, for a percentage of the population, is a normal expression of sexuality and occurs in all of creation.
Of course, #5 is a work in progress (heck, there are some folks that still don't get 2 through 4), but the point is that it took a while for the other positions of "the church" to change, but they eventually did.
So will the postiion on #5. It is happening even as a write this. Truth always wins out, but not without a fight.
There is much more to check out at "The Great Heresy." Thanks to Anthony for the heads up about his work.
November 10, 2008
"Vows Than Can't Be Voted Down'
An article in the Washington Post does an excellent job of putting last week's votes in California, Florida, and Arizona that made discrimination parts of those state's constitution in perspective.
While voters were (mistakenly, in my opinion) given the right to take away rights of same-sex couples to receive the legal benefit of marriage, they could not take the act of marriage itself away from them.
From Jennifer Donnelly in the Washington Post:
For months, it made me indignant to think that my neighbors, and the entire state of California, were going to vote on my marriage -- something so deeply personal and spiritual and uniquely mine and my wife's. I wondered: How could they? Why would they?
Then I realized that they wouldn't.
Because on Tuesday, California, you did not vote on whether or not I exist; I am here, and I live in your neighborhood. You did not vote on whether your children will learn about same-sex couples; they will, when they go to school with my child. You did not vote to prevent your children from growing up gay; they already are who they are. You voted on whether to give my family the same status that other families have. You voted on civil marriage rights, not rights having to do with religious marriage or spiritual marriage. No vote can pass judgment on my actual marriage.
I was deeply saddened when Californians approved a state constitutional amendment this week banning same-sex marriage. But I remain married to the love of my life. I jumped the broom with her six years ago.
This article speaks to the truth that marriage is more than a legal agreement--at it's very heart is a covenant relationship between two people in love.
And that, folks, is not up for anyone to vote on.
Click here to read the rest of Jennifer Donnely's article.
While voters were (mistakenly, in my opinion) given the right to take away rights of same-sex couples to receive the legal benefit of marriage, they could not take the act of marriage itself away from them.
From Jennifer Donnelly in the Washington Post:
For months, it made me indignant to think that my neighbors, and the entire state of California, were going to vote on my marriage -- something so deeply personal and spiritual and uniquely mine and my wife's. I wondered: How could they? Why would they?
Then I realized that they wouldn't.
Because on Tuesday, California, you did not vote on whether or not I exist; I am here, and I live in your neighborhood. You did not vote on whether your children will learn about same-sex couples; they will, when they go to school with my child. You did not vote to prevent your children from growing up gay; they already are who they are. You voted on whether to give my family the same status that other families have. You voted on civil marriage rights, not rights having to do with religious marriage or spiritual marriage. No vote can pass judgment on my actual marriage.
I was deeply saddened when Californians approved a state constitutional amendment this week banning same-sex marriage. But I remain married to the love of my life. I jumped the broom with her six years ago.
This article speaks to the truth that marriage is more than a legal agreement--at it's very heart is a covenant relationship between two people in love.
And that, folks, is not up for anyone to vote on.
Click here to read the rest of Jennifer Donnely's article.
November 09, 2008
It's About Education
To me, one of the most interesting and troubling issues during this recent election cycle was the issue of education. How can one be against education, you ask? Beats me, but there was a substantial faction of the electorate that held Barack Obama's education against him as proof of his "eletism" while celebrating the fact that Sarah Palin was a "hockey mom' without a great amount of depth on major issues.
It is also interesting to me that the mainstream media is often criticized for leaning to the left, but what does that say when people closest to the news and issues who should therefore be the most educated on the facts and implications of them largely skew progressive instead of conservative?
Knowledge is good. There, I said it.
Here are two excerpts from the Bible that point to the value of knowledge.
Isiah 53:11 (prophesy about the coming of Jesus): After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
One of the powers that Jesus received from God was knowledge. If he did not have understanding, how would he lead, how would he teach?
In Isiah 56:10, we see the other side: Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.
Isn't that interesting, a lack of knowledge and undestanding are responsible for people turning to their own way, seeking their own gain.
I believe this was the single most important factor in the adoption of more discrimination in Californina, Florida, and Arizona on election day. So does Wayne Besen in a column titled "Prop
8 and Race."
Uneducated people - black, white and Hispanic - often derive their power from physical strength. They perceive being gay as weak and antithetical to real manhood. By voicing support for gay rights, they lose status and often fear rivals may perceive them as gay. The easiest way to gain status is dissing faggots. I see this attitude all the time in Brooklyn - in the gym and on the basketball court, where I often play. (Not the best sample, I realize this)
Meanwhile, educated people of all races gain power by outsmarting opponents - not beating them up. This creates a safe space to support gay rights and not lose social status. (Unfortunately, the fact that the conservative black church is a central organizing point for politics makes even educated blacks less likely to vote for gay rights. But, this is secondary to education levels.)
It is understandable that black support for anti-gay efforts drives white gay people nuts. It is difficult to understand how people affected by bigotry can promote bigotry - as if they are selfish people who learned all the wrong lessons from the civil rights movement. But, remember, uneducated people - of all races - are not students of history. They react to the environment around them, which often rewards homophobia.
(Compounding this perception problem is that the vast majority of overt homophobia experienced by urban gays comes from black people. In places like New York City, you almost never hear a white person say “faggot”. But, we hear this from uneducated blacks too often. This makes the problem seem worse than it is. We often forget that we moved to places like New York to escape uneducated whites in rural areas that were just as openly homophobic. In other words - it is about education - not race.)
We can't allow ignorance to rule the day. Wayne has suggestions to help this along in his column. Click here to read the rest of it.
It is also interesting to me that the mainstream media is often criticized for leaning to the left, but what does that say when people closest to the news and issues who should therefore be the most educated on the facts and implications of them largely skew progressive instead of conservative?
Knowledge is good. There, I said it.
Here are two excerpts from the Bible that point to the value of knowledge.
Isiah 53:11 (prophesy about the coming of Jesus): After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
One of the powers that Jesus received from God was knowledge. If he did not have understanding, how would he lead, how would he teach?
In Isiah 56:10, we see the other side: Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.
Isn't that interesting, a lack of knowledge and undestanding are responsible for people turning to their own way, seeking their own gain.
I believe this was the single most important factor in the adoption of more discrimination in Californina, Florida, and Arizona on election day. So does Wayne Besen in a column titled "Prop
8 and Race."
Uneducated people - black, white and Hispanic - often derive their power from physical strength. They perceive being gay as weak and antithetical to real manhood. By voicing support for gay rights, they lose status and often fear rivals may perceive them as gay. The easiest way to gain status is dissing faggots. I see this attitude all the time in Brooklyn - in the gym and on the basketball court, where I often play. (Not the best sample, I realize this)
Meanwhile, educated people of all races gain power by outsmarting opponents - not beating them up. This creates a safe space to support gay rights and not lose social status. (Unfortunately, the fact that the conservative black church is a central organizing point for politics makes even educated blacks less likely to vote for gay rights. But, this is secondary to education levels.)
It is understandable that black support for anti-gay efforts drives white gay people nuts. It is difficult to understand how people affected by bigotry can promote bigotry - as if they are selfish people who learned all the wrong lessons from the civil rights movement. But, remember, uneducated people - of all races - are not students of history. They react to the environment around them, which often rewards homophobia.
(Compounding this perception problem is that the vast majority of overt homophobia experienced by urban gays comes from black people. In places like New York City, you almost never hear a white person say “faggot”. But, we hear this from uneducated blacks too often. This makes the problem seem worse than it is. We often forget that we moved to places like New York to escape uneducated whites in rural areas that were just as openly homophobic. In other words - it is about education - not race.)
We can't allow ignorance to rule the day. Wayne has suggestions to help this along in his column. Click here to read the rest of it.
November 06, 2008
The Religious Right Declares War on LGBT Rights
From Pam's House Blend:
Thus far, 30 states have outlawed homosexual "marriages" by an average close to 70% approval by voters through amendments to the state constitutions. In addition, the voters in Arkansas yesterday approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents. It will be the goal of Christian Coalition to ensure that the other 20 states adopt similar amendments banning homosexual "marriages" including the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut which also had two judicial decisions, by one vote margins, legalizing these abominations.
The energy being expended on finger-pointing needs to be turned into an effort to strategically plan a path forward. With their party out of power at the federal level, the religious right has thrown down the gauntlet, and has an issue to use to empty the wallets of the uninformed and bigoted.
All the Dems, including the President-elect (and in my case, Kay Hagan), who knowingly chose to conflate religious and civil marriage at our peril, have to be held accountable going forward to lend a high-profile voice against this pressure from the right. Hiding behind personal faith is not
going to fly. Questions in the light of this --
* How can we best mobilize to rise to this challenge?
* Are our advocacy organizations ready to deal with this in an effective manner?
* What is the plan at the state level to educate legislators who will be cornered on this issue?
As usual, Pam makes some excellent points, and I would like to add a couple.
*Don't let the Religous Right co-opt discrimination as the "Christian worldview" without being challenged by LGBT Christians and their allies.
*Pray to the Lord for justice to be done in our society. His sense of justice does not include discrimination and blesses love and comitted, covenant relationships.
Thus far, 30 states have outlawed homosexual "marriages" by an average close to 70% approval by voters through amendments to the state constitutions. In addition, the voters in Arkansas yesterday approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents. It will be the goal of Christian Coalition to ensure that the other 20 states adopt similar amendments banning homosexual "marriages" including the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut which also had two judicial decisions, by one vote margins, legalizing these abominations.
The energy being expended on finger-pointing needs to be turned into an effort to strategically plan a path forward. With their party out of power at the federal level, the religious right has thrown down the gauntlet, and has an issue to use to empty the wallets of the uninformed and bigoted.
All the Dems, including the President-elect (and in my case, Kay Hagan), who knowingly chose to conflate religious and civil marriage at our peril, have to be held accountable going forward to lend a high-profile voice against this pressure from the right. Hiding behind personal faith is not
going to fly. Questions in the light of this --
* How can we best mobilize to rise to this challenge?
* Are our advocacy organizations ready to deal with this in an effective manner?
* What is the plan at the state level to educate legislators who will be cornered on this issue?
As usual, Pam makes some excellent points, and I would like to add a couple.
*Don't let the Religous Right co-opt discrimination as the "Christian worldview" without being challenged by LGBT Christians and their allies.
*Pray to the Lord for justice to be done in our society. His sense of justice does not include discrimination and blesses love and comitted, covenant relationships.
November 05, 2008
Moving Beyond the Mixed Message of Election Day
History was made last night with the election of Barrack Obama, who will become the first African-American president of the United States.
As I scanned the various networks subsequent to Obama surpassing the magic number of 270 electoral votes, I saw several instances of African-American journalists, often with great emotion, proclaiming how this was validation of the idea that anything was possible in this country. Lest that be confined to the alleged media bias to the left, even conservative pundit William Bennett chimed in with that sentiment during CNN’s coverage. This monumental event has filled many Americans with a desperately needed injection of hope.
The optimism of unlimited possibilities was denied to members of the LGBT community, however, as discrimination against them was voted into the constitutions of Florida and Arizona and probably California. Residents of these states join those in 27 others that have adopted similar bans against same-sex marriage in recent years.
For most LGBT Americans, possibilities are indeed limited. They are still lesser citizens, required to share equal tax burdens with their straight countrymen but not equal rights. Depending on where one lives, LGBT people still have no rights to legally marry, share property, visit sick partners in hospitals, adopt children, or protection from being fired from their jobs because of their sexual orientation.
Despite this current reality, however, there is still hope.
Back in April of 1968, I was a young boy living with my parents just across the border of the District of Columbia in a Maryland suburb. We were close enough to ground zero of the riots that broke out following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that a vacant house directly behind us was burned to the ground, nearly taking ours with it. Neighbors pitched in to help water down our garage and save our home, then took turns patrolling the streets holding loaded shotguns to protect their loved ones from more violence.
If someone had told me then that we would have an African-American president elected in my lifetime, well, even to a nine-year old that would have seemed pretty far-fetched.
It just so happens, though, that I am still alive and, God willing, will see Barrack Obama inaugurated as our 44th president in January.
Things often don’t change as quickly as we think they should, but they do eventually change for the better. God is good, and good always wins out over evil in the long run. Jesus was quoted in John 16:33 (NIV):
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Freedom will prevail over discrimination because the Lord wants us to be free, and he has already prevailed. There will be a time when LGBT people will claim victory and obtain their rightful, equal, place in American society. Sadly, it may be too late for some of those currently fighting the good fight, but their efforts will not be in vain, just like Dr. King’s life and actions helped pave the way for President Obama.
I therefore encourage my LGBT brothers and sisters to claim the promise of victory from our Lord and the hope that goes along with it as the struggle for equality continues.
As I scanned the various networks subsequent to Obama surpassing the magic number of 270 electoral votes, I saw several instances of African-American journalists, often with great emotion, proclaiming how this was validation of the idea that anything was possible in this country. Lest that be confined to the alleged media bias to the left, even conservative pundit William Bennett chimed in with that sentiment during CNN’s coverage. This monumental event has filled many Americans with a desperately needed injection of hope.
The optimism of unlimited possibilities was denied to members of the LGBT community, however, as discrimination against them was voted into the constitutions of Florida and Arizona and probably California. Residents of these states join those in 27 others that have adopted similar bans against same-sex marriage in recent years.
For most LGBT Americans, possibilities are indeed limited. They are still lesser citizens, required to share equal tax burdens with their straight countrymen but not equal rights. Depending on where one lives, LGBT people still have no rights to legally marry, share property, visit sick partners in hospitals, adopt children, or protection from being fired from their jobs because of their sexual orientation.
Despite this current reality, however, there is still hope.
Back in April of 1968, I was a young boy living with my parents just across the border of the District of Columbia in a Maryland suburb. We were close enough to ground zero of the riots that broke out following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that a vacant house directly behind us was burned to the ground, nearly taking ours with it. Neighbors pitched in to help water down our garage and save our home, then took turns patrolling the streets holding loaded shotguns to protect their loved ones from more violence.
If someone had told me then that we would have an African-American president elected in my lifetime, well, even to a nine-year old that would have seemed pretty far-fetched.
It just so happens, though, that I am still alive and, God willing, will see Barrack Obama inaugurated as our 44th president in January.
Things often don’t change as quickly as we think they should, but they do eventually change for the better. God is good, and good always wins out over evil in the long run. Jesus was quoted in John 16:33 (NIV):
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Freedom will prevail over discrimination because the Lord wants us to be free, and he has already prevailed. There will be a time when LGBT people will claim victory and obtain their rightful, equal, place in American society. Sadly, it may be too late for some of those currently fighting the good fight, but their efforts will not be in vain, just like Dr. King’s life and actions helped pave the way for President Obama.
I therefore encourage my LGBT brothers and sisters to claim the promise of victory from our Lord and the hope that goes along with it as the struggle for equality continues.
November 04, 2008
What Are You Afraid Of?
For those of you who will vote tomororow in states that are considering constitutional amendments that would prohibit same-sex marriage (especially Proposition 8 in California and Proposition 2 in Florida), I ask you onto consider one important question as you cast your ballot:
What are you afraid of?
How does the prospect of same-sex couples receiving the full legal rights of marriage change anyone else's life?
How does the right for same-sex couples to transfer property and visit each other in the hospital just like traditional married couples hurt you?
How does the fact that Bill and Tom can marry hurt Joe and Jane's marriage?
How does Sue and Sally's legal right to marry threaten to increase the divorce rate which usually hovers around 50%.
I believe that if the right of same-sex couples is a threat to your marriage, that is more of a reflection on the health of your relationship than it is an indictment of anyone else.
I believe that the notion of homosexuality being sinful, even in committed relationships, says more about your lack of understanding of the power of God's love than it does any sinful behavior on their part.
Are you afraid of being wrong, that what you've been taught all your life was a mistake, perhaps even an intentional life?
It's never too late to correct that.
Casting a vote for equality in marriage would be a good step in that direction.
What are you afraid of?
How does the prospect of same-sex couples receiving the full legal rights of marriage change anyone else's life?
How does the right for same-sex couples to transfer property and visit each other in the hospital just like traditional married couples hurt you?
How does the fact that Bill and Tom can marry hurt Joe and Jane's marriage?
How does Sue and Sally's legal right to marry threaten to increase the divorce rate which usually hovers around 50%.
I believe that if the right of same-sex couples is a threat to your marriage, that is more of a reflection on the health of your relationship than it is an indictment of anyone else.
I believe that the notion of homosexuality being sinful, even in committed relationships, says more about your lack of understanding of the power of God's love than it does any sinful behavior on their part.
Are you afraid of being wrong, that what you've been taught all your life was a mistake, perhaps even an intentional life?
It's never too late to correct that.
Casting a vote for equality in marriage would be a good step in that direction.
November 03, 2008
An Open Letter To Pastor Rick Warren
I have to start out this post by saying that I have a lot of respect for Rick Warren. I feel he has brought some fresh ideas to ministry that are bringing more people to the Lord. That being said, I felt compelled to write him after receiving the following email from his church...
"For 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion - not just Christianity - has defined marriage as a contract between men and women. There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population. This is one issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have publicly opposed the redefinition of marriage to include so-called "gay marriage." Even some gay leaders, like Al Rantel of KABC oppose watering down the definition of marriage. Of course, my long-time opposition is well known. This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about. There is no doubt where we should stand on this issue. This will be a close contest, maybe even decided by a few thousand votes. I urge you to VOTE YES on Proposition 8 - to preserve the biblical definition of marriage. Don't forget to vote!
Rick WarrenSaddleback ChurchPurpose Driven Network"
Now, since you've read what he had to say, I am sharing what I wrote back to him. I have yet to recieve a response and I'm not holding my breath. Smile.
"Pastor Warren,
I am writing to you today to ask you to rethink and pray about your decision to support Prop 8 in California. While I understand that many Christians can differ in their views of what the Bible says about homosexuality, I think you and I can both agree that Jesus would not discriminate against anyone.
You are right when you say that marriage is the ideal that has been held up for thousands of years for men and women. You are right to say that marriage is a biblical concept that should be protected. What I feel you are wrong about is saying that the state should mandate who is allowed to legally marry and who is not able to legally marry.
As a Christian, who is also a lesbian in a 15-year relationship with my partner, I feel very strongly about this issue. Without legal protection for my relationship, I cannot visit my partner in the hospital, make any medical decisions if she is incapacitated, decide where she will be buried if she dies before me, put her on my health insurance, and so on.
From what I've seen of you and your ministry, you seem like a person who is compassionate and wants to act like Jesus did, regardless of what others may think of you. I'm asking you now to do what Jesus would do. I'm asking you to prayerfully consider why you are telling people to support Prop 8. Is it because you truly believe that "traditional marriage" is under attack? I still fail to understand how having my relationship protected, as yours already is, would hurt your relationship. Traditional marriage will always be the ideal and will always be what the majority seek, so why is it that marriage for people like me is so threatening?
The last thing I want to address is the fact that many Christians seem to think that marriage is a religious institution that shouldn't be messed with in the legal arena. What I would like to submit is that marriage is a legal institution that has a religious component. It's a contract between two people. Whether your church chooses to recognize same sex marriage is your business. I would ever ask the government to force your church to perform my wedding ceremony! However, I don't understand why churches such as yours feel that you need to impose your beliefs about marriage on the rest of us in the secular realm.
Please, Pastor Warren, ask yourself if this is really what God would want you to do. Social issues are sticky, to be sure, but the Lord never said life was easy, did He? God bless you."
Sharone
"For 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion - not just Christianity - has defined marriage as a contract between men and women. There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population. This is one issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have publicly opposed the redefinition of marriage to include so-called "gay marriage." Even some gay leaders, like Al Rantel of KABC oppose watering down the definition of marriage. Of course, my long-time opposition is well known. This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about. There is no doubt where we should stand on this issue. This will be a close contest, maybe even decided by a few thousand votes. I urge you to VOTE YES on Proposition 8 - to preserve the biblical definition of marriage. Don't forget to vote!
Rick WarrenSaddleback ChurchPurpose Driven Network"
Now, since you've read what he had to say, I am sharing what I wrote back to him. I have yet to recieve a response and I'm not holding my breath. Smile.
"Pastor Warren,
I am writing to you today to ask you to rethink and pray about your decision to support Prop 8 in California. While I understand that many Christians can differ in their views of what the Bible says about homosexuality, I think you and I can both agree that Jesus would not discriminate against anyone.
You are right when you say that marriage is the ideal that has been held up for thousands of years for men and women. You are right to say that marriage is a biblical concept that should be protected. What I feel you are wrong about is saying that the state should mandate who is allowed to legally marry and who is not able to legally marry.
As a Christian, who is also a lesbian in a 15-year relationship with my partner, I feel very strongly about this issue. Without legal protection for my relationship, I cannot visit my partner in the hospital, make any medical decisions if she is incapacitated, decide where she will be buried if she dies before me, put her on my health insurance, and so on.
From what I've seen of you and your ministry, you seem like a person who is compassionate and wants to act like Jesus did, regardless of what others may think of you. I'm asking you now to do what Jesus would do. I'm asking you to prayerfully consider why you are telling people to support Prop 8. Is it because you truly believe that "traditional marriage" is under attack? I still fail to understand how having my relationship protected, as yours already is, would hurt your relationship. Traditional marriage will always be the ideal and will always be what the majority seek, so why is it that marriage for people like me is so threatening?
The last thing I want to address is the fact that many Christians seem to think that marriage is a religious institution that shouldn't be messed with in the legal arena. What I would like to submit is that marriage is a legal institution that has a religious component. It's a contract between two people. Whether your church chooses to recognize same sex marriage is your business. I would ever ask the government to force your church to perform my wedding ceremony! However, I don't understand why churches such as yours feel that you need to impose your beliefs about marriage on the rest of us in the secular realm.
Please, Pastor Warren, ask yourself if this is really what God would want you to do. Social issues are sticky, to be sure, but the Lord never said life was easy, did He? God bless you."
Sharone
November 02, 2008
Sheltering Kids From Reality
Dana Rudolph, the editor of Mombian, wrote an essay for 365gay.com addressing an issue related to to the campaign against Proposition 8 in California that addresses a critical reality that opponents of gay rights, particularly same-sex marriage, don't want to face:
The right-wing groups trying to revoke marriage equality in California have been making the fictitious claim that unless Proposition 8 passes, schools will be required to teach young children that marriage of same- and opposite-sex couples is equivalent–and that this is a bad thing.
They cite the state education codes that require teachers to instruct children about “respect for marriage and committed relationships” and “the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood (Sections 51933 and 51890).”
As the No On 8 campaign points out, however, Prop 8 does not mention anything about education. Furthermore, California law gives parents the right to prohibit their children from being taught anything about health and family issues at school.
What needs to be emphasized in the back-and-forth on this issue, however, is that regardless of the curriculum, children will learn in schools about the marriage of same-sex couples, because the children of such couples are in schools.
Even during the tender years of preschool and kindergarten, our children, like all others, will talk about their families in class and drag their parents to school plays and soccer games.
See, even if same-sex couples do not have the legal right to marry, they will still exist. Tommy with two dads and Cindy with two moms will still be interacting with their classmates from more traditional families, and they won't think anything is strange about it at all.
That scares the crap out of those who approach LGBT people as second-class citizens and who want to make the case that God will condemn them to Hell. It's happening, though, and neither legislation, constitutional amendments, nor fire and brimstone bigotry from the pulpit seems likely to stop it.
Click here to read the rest of Dana Rudolph's essay.
The right-wing groups trying to revoke marriage equality in California have been making the fictitious claim that unless Proposition 8 passes, schools will be required to teach young children that marriage of same- and opposite-sex couples is equivalent–and that this is a bad thing.
They cite the state education codes that require teachers to instruct children about “respect for marriage and committed relationships” and “the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood (Sections 51933 and 51890).”
As the No On 8 campaign points out, however, Prop 8 does not mention anything about education. Furthermore, California law gives parents the right to prohibit their children from being taught anything about health and family issues at school.
What needs to be emphasized in the back-and-forth on this issue, however, is that regardless of the curriculum, children will learn in schools about the marriage of same-sex couples, because the children of such couples are in schools.
Even during the tender years of preschool and kindergarten, our children, like all others, will talk about their families in class and drag their parents to school plays and soccer games.
See, even if same-sex couples do not have the legal right to marry, they will still exist. Tommy with two dads and Cindy with two moms will still be interacting with their classmates from more traditional families, and they won't think anything is strange about it at all.
That scares the crap out of those who approach LGBT people as second-class citizens and who want to make the case that God will condemn them to Hell. It's happening, though, and neither legislation, constitutional amendments, nor fire and brimstone bigotry from the pulpit seems likely to stop it.
Click here to read the rest of Dana Rudolph's essay.
October 31, 2008
Transgender Acceptance in Some Unexpected Places
One thing I've learned since getting involved with LGBT issues is that it is easier for people to discriminate against facesless groups of minorities than to look them in the eye, perhaps even knowing them personally, and act like a bigot. That is why I believe it is so critically important for more LGBT people to put themselves out there (I know, easy for me to say, but still true) and show people they are not abominations by the way they live their lives and participate in their communities and their churches.
I believe that idea is supported by a post on Bilerico:
According to a new article in The American Prospect, entitled Trans in the Red States, "when we think of states like Nebraska and Wyoming, we think of people like Brandon Teen and Matthew Sheppard, both killed in vicious, nationally publicized hate crimes," and yet, despite the difficulties of living in small, conservative towns similar to Humboldt, Nebraska and Laramie, Wyoming, transgender and gender non-conforming people have chosen to take more visible roles in their communities - volunteering for political campaigns, participating in their local faith communities and even transitioning on the job without negative repercussions. Being visible in rural communities raises awareness and educates community members on issues impacting the trans community; a highly effective strategy that has secured rights for many rural trans communities.
The article states that people in very small, largely conservative communities like Loveland, Colorado - population 61,000, 92 percent white and heavily evangelical Christian - have surprisingly been receptive to anti-bullying trainings on how to honor and protect students on the basis of gender identity and expression, arming faculty and staff with fact sheets that help them answer any inappropriate questions from students and/or parents about students perceived to be transgender or gender non-conforming as well as students perceived as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
Click here to read the rest of this encouraging story.
I believe that idea is supported by a post on Bilerico:
According to a new article in The American Prospect, entitled Trans in the Red States, "when we think of states like Nebraska and Wyoming, we think of people like Brandon Teen and Matthew Sheppard, both killed in vicious, nationally publicized hate crimes," and yet, despite the difficulties of living in small, conservative towns similar to Humboldt, Nebraska and Laramie, Wyoming, transgender and gender non-conforming people have chosen to take more visible roles in their communities - volunteering for political campaigns, participating in their local faith communities and even transitioning on the job without negative repercussions. Being visible in rural communities raises awareness and educates community members on issues impacting the trans community; a highly effective strategy that has secured rights for many rural trans communities.
The article states that people in very small, largely conservative communities like Loveland, Colorado - population 61,000, 92 percent white and heavily evangelical Christian - have surprisingly been receptive to anti-bullying trainings on how to honor and protect students on the basis of gender identity and expression, arming faculty and staff with fact sheets that help them answer any inappropriate questions from students and/or parents about students perceived to be transgender or gender non-conforming as well as students perceived as lesbian, gay or bisexual.
Click here to read the rest of this encouraging story.
October 29, 2008
Write to Marry Day
It is my pleaseure to be one of the many contributors to Write to Marry Day on the Mombian blog. Here is the announcement of it from Mombian (Dana Rudolph):
Please join bloggers around the country and around the world on Wednesday, October 29 to blog in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples and against California’s Proposition 8.
The event will give bloggers a chance to voice their opposition to Prop 8 and highlight what they may have already done, online or off, to stop the measure. The campaign will also educate California voters of the need to “go all the way” down the ballot to vote on the proposition.
Mike Rogers of PageOneQ approached me last week to ask if I’d organize a blog carnival like Blogging for LGBT Families Day, but this time to help generate awareness and action against Prop 8. I readily agreed, and here it is.
To participate, post on your own blog against Prop 8 on or before October 29, 2008, then submit the link to your post by completing the form below. Links to your own videos on YouTube or other video sites are also accepted.
Many of you have already done much to try and stop Prop 8 in California, donating and raising money, blogging, and talking with friends and family. Please share your efforts and post about them for Write to Marry Day, or submit a link to a previous post. This will help us create a comprehensive view of bloggers’ efforts to stop Prop 8.
I urge you to spread the word about this event as widely as possible, on both LGBT and mainstream sites. All bloggers who are against Prop 8 are welcome to contribute posts, regardless of where they live or whether they are LGBT or not.
As I post this, over 300 posts have been added. I encourage you to click on the link below and peruse the wide variety of stories--there is sure to be something that will pique your interest.
Write to Marry Day
Please join bloggers around the country and around the world on Wednesday, October 29 to blog in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples and against California’s Proposition 8.
The event will give bloggers a chance to voice their opposition to Prop 8 and highlight what they may have already done, online or off, to stop the measure. The campaign will also educate California voters of the need to “go all the way” down the ballot to vote on the proposition.
Mike Rogers of PageOneQ approached me last week to ask if I’d organize a blog carnival like Blogging for LGBT Families Day, but this time to help generate awareness and action against Prop 8. I readily agreed, and here it is.
To participate, post on your own blog against Prop 8 on or before October 29, 2008, then submit the link to your post by completing the form below. Links to your own videos on YouTube or other video sites are also accepted.
Many of you have already done much to try and stop Prop 8 in California, donating and raising money, blogging, and talking with friends and family. Please share your efforts and post about them for Write to Marry Day, or submit a link to a previous post. This will help us create a comprehensive view of bloggers’ efforts to stop Prop 8.
I urge you to spread the word about this event as widely as possible, on both LGBT and mainstream sites. All bloggers who are against Prop 8 are welcome to contribute posts, regardless of where they live or whether they are LGBT or not.
As I post this, over 300 posts have been added. I encourage you to click on the link below and peruse the wide variety of stories--there is sure to be something that will pique your interest.
Write to Marry Day
October 28, 2008
Is Marriage Equality A Barrier To Christ's Message?
Ex-Gay Watch has an article on a speech recently given by Alan Chambers, who is the leader of Exodus International. This group advocates the religious right's contention that being gay is something that you can change if you just pray hard enough. I know that's oversimplifying, but they really believe that attraction to the same sex can be changed because of coming to Christ!
Well, now Mr. Chambers has come out in this speech to a group of California's Prop 8 supporters saying that if marriage equality had been a reality when he was "in the gay lifestyle", it would have been harder for him to come to Christ! Wait a minute... So, where does that leave glbt Christians like me? Is he saying that God can't touch someone right where they are, no matter what is going on in the world? Wow. Has Mr. Chambers been reading the same Bible I have read? I don't think so. My Bible says that God is all-powerful.
Read more about it at:
http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/10/chambers-vote-against-marriage-equality-to-make-it-easier-for-ex-gays/#more-3078
What frustrates me about this speech is that Mr. Chambers makes it seem as though marriage equality will somehow lead to young gay and lesbian people turning their backs on God because, after all, being gay is inherently anti-God and anti-Christian. At least that is what he's implying. It's the old "gay agenda" argument rearing it's ugly head again. Groups like Exodus seem to feel that all glbt people are boozing, pill popping sexaholics who think of nobody but themselves and are out to recruit young children! They have decieved themselves into believing that it's not possible to be a Christian who is on fire for God and also be a glbt person. How sad for them. My life in the Lord is rich indeed and my love for my partner is strong and enduring. I have it good!
Too bad that Mr. Chambers is so unhappy with who he is that he tries to ruin it for the rest of us. I hope one day he realizes that God's love doesn't stop because we love someone of the same gender. God doesn't hate us for being gay. He loves us FOR who we are. He loves ALL of us. No strings attached. It's our job to love Him back. When will the ex-gay folks see that?!
Well, now Mr. Chambers has come out in this speech to a group of California's Prop 8 supporters saying that if marriage equality had been a reality when he was "in the gay lifestyle", it would have been harder for him to come to Christ! Wait a minute... So, where does that leave glbt Christians like me? Is he saying that God can't touch someone right where they are, no matter what is going on in the world? Wow. Has Mr. Chambers been reading the same Bible I have read? I don't think so. My Bible says that God is all-powerful.
Read more about it at:
http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2008/10/chambers-vote-against-marriage-equality-to-make-it-easier-for-ex-gays/#more-3078
What frustrates me about this speech is that Mr. Chambers makes it seem as though marriage equality will somehow lead to young gay and lesbian people turning their backs on God because, after all, being gay is inherently anti-God and anti-Christian. At least that is what he's implying. It's the old "gay agenda" argument rearing it's ugly head again. Groups like Exodus seem to feel that all glbt people are boozing, pill popping sexaholics who think of nobody but themselves and are out to recruit young children! They have decieved themselves into believing that it's not possible to be a Christian who is on fire for God and also be a glbt person. How sad for them. My life in the Lord is rich indeed and my love for my partner is strong and enduring. I have it good!
Too bad that Mr. Chambers is so unhappy with who he is that he tries to ruin it for the rest of us. I hope one day he realizes that God's love doesn't stop because we love someone of the same gender. God doesn't hate us for being gay. He loves us FOR who we are. He loves ALL of us. No strings attached. It's our job to love Him back. When will the ex-gay folks see that?!
October 27, 2008
"Doom and Gloom" Is Not Christian
I'm happy to announce that I will be a regular contributor to Gay Agenda, "a gay focused news source concerned with cutting through the clutter of information online to bring you the interesting and important stories that affect the LGBT community."
Here is my first piece:
The Republican Party continues to use fear mongering as one of it’s prime tactics in this election cycle, and their affiliate, the Religious Right, remains a primary source.
One painfully obvious example of this is a recent letter produced by Focus on the Family Action, quoted in this MSNBC report, titled “Letter from 2012 Obama’s America.”
Click here to read the rest of the essay.
Here is my first piece:
The Republican Party continues to use fear mongering as one of it’s prime tactics in this election cycle, and their affiliate, the Religious Right, remains a primary source.
One painfully obvious example of this is a recent letter produced by Focus on the Family Action, quoted in this MSNBC report, titled “Letter from 2012 Obama’s America.”
Click here to read the rest of the essay.
October 24, 2008
We Don't Have to Understand
When I first became actively involved in the LGBT community nearly four years ago, I knew there was a lot about them and their issues I did not understand. Thanks to my making the effort to observe and ask LOTS of questions and the time and compassion of others to thoughtlyfully and sincerely answer them, I understand much more than I did then.
One important concept I have also learned is that I don't HAVE to understanding everything that is going on with someone to love them and accept them fast who they are. The story of Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner is one of those situations.
I covered this story when it first went public early last year--Penner was transitioning into Christine Daniels, who was still going to cover sports for the Times and additionally blogging about the transition process.
According to this post on the Trans Group Blog (hat tip to PageOneQ), the blog has been taken down because Christine has decided to reverse the process (which was still far from complete) and has returned to work and live as Mike.
The news has been a bit of a shock to the transgender communities, even if Penner is far from the first person to de-transition. It's left me feeling a variety of things -- mostly sorrow. I'm sorrowful that I'm sure Penner's de-transition will be misused by Christianist fundies to argue in favor of discriminating against trans people. But mostly I'm sorrowful for Penner. In interviews and her blog posts, Daniels seemed so happy and full of hope -- maybe a little naively -- about her future. Whatever has transpired over the past 18 months, Penner must have become pretty miserable to have reached the point of deciding to go back, and even if he has no regrets about doing so, I'm sure he's still hurting at the moment.
If deciding to transition is one of the hardest decisions someone makes in their life, deciding to de-transition is arguably even harder. But the point of "real life experience" as it's known is precisely to find out whether living as a different gender is something you want to to do for the rest of your life. Sometimes you only figure things out by trying them. People make life-altering decisions in all sorts of ways. People get married, get divorced, take jobs and quit them, they move cross-country. Sometimes it's a bad decision, sometimes it's a bad decision that others can see but the person involved can't, sometimes it's what seemed like a good idea at the time, sometimes it's was a good decision that had unexpected consequences.
Why do people de-transition? Sometimes male-to-female transitioners can have unrealistic expectations about what life is going to be like as a woman, the sexism they have to live with -- in addition to the homophobia they can also encounter if their attraction to women means they go from being seen as straight men to being seen as lesbians. Needless to say the sports world probably wasn't friendliest place for MTF transitioner. Sometimes trans men discovered that while becoming men bring privilege it also brings burdens they'd never imagined. Likewise, they can under-estimate the hostility they encounter from some lesbians who angrily denounce them for switching teams. Likewise, sometimes people get stuck in being seen as trans woman not women (or trans men, not men). All of which can be too painful to handle. After all the point of transitioning is usually to make life easier, not more difficult.
Honestly, I don't get it.
The good news is, I don't have to, and neither do you. I hope Lena, the writer of this post, is wrong with her expectation of right-wing fundamentalists using this as propaganda against other transgenders, but I suspect she is right on.
That is not acting with the heart of Christ.
When Jesus told us several times to "love our brother as ourselves" He didn't add qualifiers like "if he is just like you" or "if he shares the same faith you do" or if you understand his sexuality.
We are simply supposed to love. I've never met Mike Penner, but I freely offer him the love of Christ because Jesus instructed us to do so. If you don't get that, let me know and I can help you understand what having the heart of Christ is truly all about.
One important concept I have also learned is that I don't HAVE to understanding everything that is going on with someone to love them and accept them fast who they are. The story of Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Penner is one of those situations.
I covered this story when it first went public early last year--Penner was transitioning into Christine Daniels, who was still going to cover sports for the Times and additionally blogging about the transition process.
According to this post on the Trans Group Blog (hat tip to PageOneQ), the blog has been taken down because Christine has decided to reverse the process (which was still far from complete) and has returned to work and live as Mike.
The news has been a bit of a shock to the transgender communities, even if Penner is far from the first person to de-transition. It's left me feeling a variety of things -- mostly sorrow. I'm sorrowful that I'm sure Penner's de-transition will be misused by Christianist fundies to argue in favor of discriminating against trans people. But mostly I'm sorrowful for Penner. In interviews and her blog posts, Daniels seemed so happy and full of hope -- maybe a little naively -- about her future. Whatever has transpired over the past 18 months, Penner must have become pretty miserable to have reached the point of deciding to go back, and even if he has no regrets about doing so, I'm sure he's still hurting at the moment.
If deciding to transition is one of the hardest decisions someone makes in their life, deciding to de-transition is arguably even harder. But the point of "real life experience" as it's known is precisely to find out whether living as a different gender is something you want to to do for the rest of your life. Sometimes you only figure things out by trying them. People make life-altering decisions in all sorts of ways. People get married, get divorced, take jobs and quit them, they move cross-country. Sometimes it's a bad decision, sometimes it's a bad decision that others can see but the person involved can't, sometimes it's what seemed like a good idea at the time, sometimes it's was a good decision that had unexpected consequences.
Why do people de-transition? Sometimes male-to-female transitioners can have unrealistic expectations about what life is going to be like as a woman, the sexism they have to live with -- in addition to the homophobia they can also encounter if their attraction to women means they go from being seen as straight men to being seen as lesbians. Needless to say the sports world probably wasn't friendliest place for MTF transitioner. Sometimes trans men discovered that while becoming men bring privilege it also brings burdens they'd never imagined. Likewise, they can under-estimate the hostility they encounter from some lesbians who angrily denounce them for switching teams. Likewise, sometimes people get stuck in being seen as trans woman not women (or trans men, not men). All of which can be too painful to handle. After all the point of transitioning is usually to make life easier, not more difficult.
Honestly, I don't get it.
The good news is, I don't have to, and neither do you. I hope Lena, the writer of this post, is wrong with her expectation of right-wing fundamentalists using this as propaganda against other transgenders, but I suspect she is right on.
That is not acting with the heart of Christ.
When Jesus told us several times to "love our brother as ourselves" He didn't add qualifiers like "if he is just like you" or "if he shares the same faith you do" or if you understand his sexuality.
We are simply supposed to love. I've never met Mike Penner, but I freely offer him the love of Christ because Jesus instructed us to do so. If you don't get that, let me know and I can help you understand what having the heart of Christ is truly all about.
October 22, 2008
What Are We Telling the Children?
Right-wing opponents of same-sex marriage, and other steps toward LGBT equality for that matter, often use their children as props--"We must protect our children" from the various sins that they perceive would be the result of legalizing these basic rights.
What are they REALLY telling their children?
This thoughtful column was written by a Los Aneles Times reporter who attended a "Project Marriage" rally that was beamed to 170 churches last Sunday night: (hat tip to PageOneQ)
This is more than a California ballot measure; it's part of a larger battle over rights, religion and culture.
And both sides understand the importance of public perception. That's why the first gay couples to publicly wed four years ago were non-threatening grandmotherly types. And why the battle to keep gays from marrying uses children as its standard bearer.
I could sense the emotional wrestling in the congregation Sunday night. I've felt it in conversations with friends and neighbors -- good-hearted folks, uncomfortable lining up behind such a restrictive measure but unwilling to sanction a cultural shift in the notion of marriage.
"I feel bad saying it, but it's just the way I was raised," one woman told me when I tried to interview her at Sunday's rally. "I don't want my children thinking gay marriage is normal. Because it goes against the Bible."
She feels strongly, she said. But she passed on the chance to take a yard sign or a flier. And she wouldn't give me her name. "I don't want anyone thinking I'm a bigot," she explained.
The reporter in me wanted to prod. What, exactly, is she trying to protect her children from? Being recruited by the "homosexual lobby"? Learning tolerance for alternative lifestyles? Rejection of their parents' values?
But the mother in me had a different thought, as I watched mothers cradling babies in the pews, and grade-schoolers scrambling around the church lobby.
I imagine that some of those little girls will grow up and make families with women, and some sons will fall in love with men.
I wonder what message are we really sending them now? And what will their parents tell them then?
Polls show that Proposition 8 is currently on track to passing, which would overrule recent the California Supreme Court ruling and post the discriminatory prohibition of same-sex marriage into the state's constitution.
Are Californian's really so insecure in their marriages that they feel threatend by the opportunity for same-sex couples to tie the know legally? Are they so blinded by right-wing rhetoric and blind adherance to tradition that they would allow this to happen? Is there such a widespread misunderstanding of the love of Christ that this hate and fear driven initiative would actually receive enough votes to pass?
Please join me in praying that it doesn't.....for the children's sake.
What are they REALLY telling their children?
This thoughtful column was written by a Los Aneles Times reporter who attended a "Project Marriage" rally that was beamed to 170 churches last Sunday night: (hat tip to PageOneQ)
This is more than a California ballot measure; it's part of a larger battle over rights, religion and culture.
And both sides understand the importance of public perception. That's why the first gay couples to publicly wed four years ago were non-threatening grandmotherly types. And why the battle to keep gays from marrying uses children as its standard bearer.
I could sense the emotional wrestling in the congregation Sunday night. I've felt it in conversations with friends and neighbors -- good-hearted folks, uncomfortable lining up behind such a restrictive measure but unwilling to sanction a cultural shift in the notion of marriage.
"I feel bad saying it, but it's just the way I was raised," one woman told me when I tried to interview her at Sunday's rally. "I don't want my children thinking gay marriage is normal. Because it goes against the Bible."
She feels strongly, she said. But she passed on the chance to take a yard sign or a flier. And she wouldn't give me her name. "I don't want anyone thinking I'm a bigot," she explained.
The reporter in me wanted to prod. What, exactly, is she trying to protect her children from? Being recruited by the "homosexual lobby"? Learning tolerance for alternative lifestyles? Rejection of their parents' values?
But the mother in me had a different thought, as I watched mothers cradling babies in the pews, and grade-schoolers scrambling around the church lobby.
I imagine that some of those little girls will grow up and make families with women, and some sons will fall in love with men.
I wonder what message are we really sending them now? And what will their parents tell them then?
Polls show that Proposition 8 is currently on track to passing, which would overrule recent the California Supreme Court ruling and post the discriminatory prohibition of same-sex marriage into the state's constitution.
Are Californian's really so insecure in their marriages that they feel threatend by the opportunity for same-sex couples to tie the know legally? Are they so blinded by right-wing rhetoric and blind adherance to tradition that they would allow this to happen? Is there such a widespread misunderstanding of the love of Christ that this hate and fear driven initiative would actually receive enough votes to pass?
Please join me in praying that it doesn't.....for the children's sake.
October 21, 2008
We're Back
When I posted on August 17 that Straight, Not Narrow was going on hiatus, I really did not expect to be picking up the mantle again, especially so soon, but apparently I just needed a break, not a long term separation from this blog.
I appreciate Sharone's contributions, which will continue. I also welcome other voices who want to join the discussion we have here. If you want to contribute a GLBT affirming post that is compatible with a Christian progressive viewpoint, I'd love to hear from you.
You probably won't see as many posts as we had before the hiatus, but I hope the quality will compensate. I had gotten away from much original writing here, and that's something I plan on changing going forward.
We'll be adding a couple of new features soon and continue to bring you news items concerning the fight for LGBT equality in society and the church.
I appreciate Sharone's contributions, which will continue. I also welcome other voices who want to join the discussion we have here. If you want to contribute a GLBT affirming post that is compatible with a Christian progressive viewpoint, I'd love to hear from you.
You probably won't see as many posts as we had before the hiatus, but I hope the quality will compensate. I had gotten away from much original writing here, and that's something I plan on changing going forward.
We'll be adding a couple of new features soon and continue to bring you news items concerning the fight for LGBT equality in society and the church.
Human Rights Should NOT Be Granted By the Whim of the Majority
If my legal rights to marry, adopt children and avoid discrimination at work were subject to a vote (the infamous "will of the people") every so often, I would be confident that they would be upheld because, as a straight man, those rights are agreed upon by a clear majority of the people. Even then, however, I would have to wonder what kind of justice is really being done if my basic rights were subject to a referendum.
I believe the answer is that it would not be true justice. Just look at when Jesus was crucified. Pontius Pilate, trying to wash his hands of making any decision, asked the mob outside which prisoner he should release, Jesus or Barabbas, a convicted murderer. The overwhelming majority of the crowd wanted Jesus crucified allowng Barabbas to go free.
Fortunately, that story had a happy ending DESPITE the will of the majority. LGBT people in most parts of the United States are not that fortunate, having to constantly fight for rights people like me take for granted. Those who oppose equality often cite "the will of the people." Even victories for equality are constantly challenged by right-wing zealots who just won't give up.
Unfortunately, the majority usually votes in its perceived self interest, which often includes insuring minorities don't enjoy the same legal rights or social status. Judges who see these miscarriages of justice and have the nerve to rule accordingly are scorned and labeled "activist judges" who "legislate from the bench."
Brenda and I strongly support full and completely equal rights for same-sex couples and oppose any and all efforts to codify discrimination in state constitutions.
Here is a piece written by Lisa Neff on 365gay.com who shares her frustration in watching basic human rights put up for a vote.
A search for progressive issues on ballots finds too few across the country — and the interests seem more with protecting domestic animals than people. There is a real possibility that in California, the vote will be to ban gays and lesbians from marrying and another vote will require a more humane treatment of pregnant pigs, calves and hens by mandating a minimum living space.
Please, don’t get me wrong — I support the animal rights matter, known as Proposition 2. I just wish I could count on more support for humane treatment of people.
I believe the answer is that it would not be true justice. Just look at when Jesus was crucified. Pontius Pilate, trying to wash his hands of making any decision, asked the mob outside which prisoner he should release, Jesus or Barabbas, a convicted murderer. The overwhelming majority of the crowd wanted Jesus crucified allowng Barabbas to go free.
Fortunately, that story had a happy ending DESPITE the will of the majority. LGBT people in most parts of the United States are not that fortunate, having to constantly fight for rights people like me take for granted. Those who oppose equality often cite "the will of the people." Even victories for equality are constantly challenged by right-wing zealots who just won't give up.
Unfortunately, the majority usually votes in its perceived self interest, which often includes insuring minorities don't enjoy the same legal rights or social status. Judges who see these miscarriages of justice and have the nerve to rule accordingly are scorned and labeled "activist judges" who "legislate from the bench."
Brenda and I strongly support full and completely equal rights for same-sex couples and oppose any and all efforts to codify discrimination in state constitutions.
Here is a piece written by Lisa Neff on 365gay.com who shares her frustration in watching basic human rights put up for a vote.
A search for progressive issues on ballots finds too few across the country — and the interests seem more with protecting domestic animals than people. There is a real possibility that in California, the vote will be to ban gays and lesbians from marrying and another vote will require a more humane treatment of pregnant pigs, calves and hens by mandating a minimum living space.
Please, don’t get me wrong — I support the animal rights matter, known as Proposition 2. I just wish I could count on more support for humane treatment of people.
October 04, 2008
O. J. Simpson...the new verdict
Erica and I watched CNN last night and saw that the jury in the latest O. J. Simpson trial was still deliberating. My first thought was, "Not again!". I was so hoping that he would get a guilty verdict this time.
When the first trail happened in the 90's, Erica and I watched it with almost a morbid curiosity from the slow car chase in L. A. to the not-guilty verdict. I think we all did. I admit that I really felt he was guilty and was frustrated when he was able to go home to his family. I felt he was treated differently as some sort of reverse discrimination ploy to right the wrong of so many black men who had gone to prison for crimes they hadn't committed in the past.
As someone who's older and wiser, hopefully, I was surprised at my own fleshly reaction to the guilty verdict in this trial. I was, at first, gleeful. It was kind of like, "He's going to get his now. Justice served!".
However, as someone who has learned a lot about forgiveness in the last few years, I stopped and checked myself. This man is still a human being. Whether he is guilty of murder or not is debated. Whether he is guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery could also be debated. One thing is clear... Jesus would forgive him. Jesus would see past the crimes he has committed, or been accused of. He would tell O. J. Simpson, as he told the woman caught in adultery in the Bible, "Go and sin no more.".
Are there consequences for our actions? Of course! However, it's not my mission in life to judge this man, as much as I'd love to do so. My job as a Christian is to love him and forgive him. He is most certainly headed for prison. Consequences are harsh. There are those in Christian circles who would say that God is punishing him. I don't believe that prison is God's punishment. I believe that God allows consequences for our actions, but that jail is man's punishment.
We live in an exciting time. We are beyond the cross, and that means we are deserving of punishment, but Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we wouldn't have to be punished anymore.
My hope is that O. J. Simpson will accept the gift that Christ offers and that he will know this truth someday. Until that time, I will try to follow Jesus' example and humbly forgive those who have done wrong. If I don't forgive, how can I truly understand the great forgiveness that I have been given? How can I ask God to forgive me?
When the first trail happened in the 90's, Erica and I watched it with almost a morbid curiosity from the slow car chase in L. A. to the not-guilty verdict. I think we all did. I admit that I really felt he was guilty and was frustrated when he was able to go home to his family. I felt he was treated differently as some sort of reverse discrimination ploy to right the wrong of so many black men who had gone to prison for crimes they hadn't committed in the past.
As someone who's older and wiser, hopefully, I was surprised at my own fleshly reaction to the guilty verdict in this trial. I was, at first, gleeful. It was kind of like, "He's going to get his now. Justice served!".
However, as someone who has learned a lot about forgiveness in the last few years, I stopped and checked myself. This man is still a human being. Whether he is guilty of murder or not is debated. Whether he is guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery could also be debated. One thing is clear... Jesus would forgive him. Jesus would see past the crimes he has committed, or been accused of. He would tell O. J. Simpson, as he told the woman caught in adultery in the Bible, "Go and sin no more.".
Are there consequences for our actions? Of course! However, it's not my mission in life to judge this man, as much as I'd love to do so. My job as a Christian is to love him and forgive him. He is most certainly headed for prison. Consequences are harsh. There are those in Christian circles who would say that God is punishing him. I don't believe that prison is God's punishment. I believe that God allows consequences for our actions, but that jail is man's punishment.
We live in an exciting time. We are beyond the cross, and that means we are deserving of punishment, but Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we wouldn't have to be punished anymore.
My hope is that O. J. Simpson will accept the gift that Christ offers and that he will know this truth someday. Until that time, I will try to follow Jesus' example and humbly forgive those who have done wrong. If I don't forgive, how can I truly understand the great forgiveness that I have been given? How can I ask God to forgive me?
September 20, 2008
Jesus called...He wants His religion back!
As the election draws near, I have been really growing more and more frustrated with the fact that the so-called religious right have hijacked Christianity and are doing it a disservice.
In the Bible, Jesus said to love your enemies. The Bible also says that we should be harmless as doves and wise as serpents. Does this sound like Sarah Palin, John McCain, James Dobson, or any of the miriad other religious right leaders?? Not a one.
Case in point: John McCain is constantly saying that Obama will raise taxes and talks about how awful that is. Well, Jesus said to render to Ceasar (or the government) what is Ceasar's and to God what is God's. Sounds like God isn't against taxes as long as we tithe first. By the way, Obama's plan would only raise taxes on anyone making $250,000 or more a year. That is only 5% of Americans. Just so you know.
Also, on the issue of Sarah Palin... Palin has apparently energized the base of the Republican party, which are conservatives. Palin seems to want to make it known all across our land that Christians are for outlawing abortion in the case of rape or incest. She also, as mayor of her small town in Alaska, advocated for a law that required women who were rape victims to pay for their rape kits! Governor Palin believes that global warming isn't caused by pollution, but is just natural. She is under investigation for trying to abuse her power as governor to get her brother-in-law fired. I could go on and on.
What really infuriates me is the fact that Sarah Palin has become a "poster child" for Christianity to a lot of Americans who are not Christians. Therefore, they are liable to think that most, or all, Christians are like her and believe as she does. It reflects on all of us! Why have the religious right allowed this to go on? Because they truly believe that having her in office would be better, with all of her flaws and total lack of experience, than to have Barack Obama in office. This is not because of his or her policies. It's because of religious bigotry. It's also because we, as Christians, have been told over the years that we need to "take back this Country for God". Somehow, we've gotten the idea that our government needs to be inherently and overtly Christian or we're not doing what God wants.
When did we decide that God wanted us to force people to accept Jesus as their Savior?! Did God ever say that? Not in my Bible! Our government is here for civil laws and to make sure our country is run by the people and for the people. It's not so that God can exercise His power over the people. He already has the power He needs. He has it all! So, it would seem that Christians who want to control the government for God are really the ones who want power.
I'm tired of being told what I, as a Christian, am supposed to think or support. Long ago, I decided that what I had always known Christianity to be wasn't that at all. Being gay didn't mean I couldn't be a Christian. Now, I'm seeing more and more that being a Christian is what God says it is. I won't go back to listening to so-called Christian leaders and not questioning them in light of the Word of God. Everything should go through that filter. Sarah Palin doesn't pass that test, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, not many Christian leaders do either.
So, I've come to understand that I need to call people on their stuff when they go against the Word. When someone tells me that God hates fags, I'm going to look them in the face and say, "God doesn't hate anyone!". When they tell me that voting Republican is the only way God would have us vote, I'm going to say, "God isn't a Republican...He's an Independent!". I will no longer be silent in the face of my religion being hijacked.
Thanks for reading.
Sharone
In the Bible, Jesus said to love your enemies. The Bible also says that we should be harmless as doves and wise as serpents. Does this sound like Sarah Palin, John McCain, James Dobson, or any of the miriad other religious right leaders?? Not a one.
Case in point: John McCain is constantly saying that Obama will raise taxes and talks about how awful that is. Well, Jesus said to render to Ceasar (or the government) what is Ceasar's and to God what is God's. Sounds like God isn't against taxes as long as we tithe first. By the way, Obama's plan would only raise taxes on anyone making $250,000 or more a year. That is only 5% of Americans. Just so you know.
Also, on the issue of Sarah Palin... Palin has apparently energized the base of the Republican party, which are conservatives. Palin seems to want to make it known all across our land that Christians are for outlawing abortion in the case of rape or incest. She also, as mayor of her small town in Alaska, advocated for a law that required women who were rape victims to pay for their rape kits! Governor Palin believes that global warming isn't caused by pollution, but is just natural. She is under investigation for trying to abuse her power as governor to get her brother-in-law fired. I could go on and on.
What really infuriates me is the fact that Sarah Palin has become a "poster child" for Christianity to a lot of Americans who are not Christians. Therefore, they are liable to think that most, or all, Christians are like her and believe as she does. It reflects on all of us! Why have the religious right allowed this to go on? Because they truly believe that having her in office would be better, with all of her flaws and total lack of experience, than to have Barack Obama in office. This is not because of his or her policies. It's because of religious bigotry. It's also because we, as Christians, have been told over the years that we need to "take back this Country for God". Somehow, we've gotten the idea that our government needs to be inherently and overtly Christian or we're not doing what God wants.
When did we decide that God wanted us to force people to accept Jesus as their Savior?! Did God ever say that? Not in my Bible! Our government is here for civil laws and to make sure our country is run by the people and for the people. It's not so that God can exercise His power over the people. He already has the power He needs. He has it all! So, it would seem that Christians who want to control the government for God are really the ones who want power.
I'm tired of being told what I, as a Christian, am supposed to think or support. Long ago, I decided that what I had always known Christianity to be wasn't that at all. Being gay didn't mean I couldn't be a Christian. Now, I'm seeing more and more that being a Christian is what God says it is. I won't go back to listening to so-called Christian leaders and not questioning them in light of the Word of God. Everything should go through that filter. Sarah Palin doesn't pass that test, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, not many Christian leaders do either.
So, I've come to understand that I need to call people on their stuff when they go against the Word. When someone tells me that God hates fags, I'm going to look them in the face and say, "God doesn't hate anyone!". When they tell me that voting Republican is the only way God would have us vote, I'm going to say, "God isn't a Republican...He's an Independent!". I will no longer be silent in the face of my religion being hijacked.
Thanks for reading.
Sharone
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