Exgay youth advocate Chad W. Thompson wrote a Sept. 1 article for Christianity Today, declaring “Banning Gay Marriage Is Not The Answer.”
Thompson is founder of Inqueery, previously discussed here at XGW.
In the CT article, adapted from his upcoming book, Thompson attempts to steer a more moderate course than many affiliated with the religious right:
Today many churches have created an emotional Catch-22 for LGBT people by opposing their right to marry but neglecting to provide them a safe place to heal. From the gay person’s perspective, it seems that Christians are demanding that they simply disappear.
While he does not concede that there are more than one Christian viewpoint on gay marriage, Thompson does recognize that conservative Christians and gay-marriage proponents tend to talk past one another:
Knowing how to show love begins with knowing how to communicate, and it’s important to understand how people think before trying to communicate with them
Thompson greatly weakens his claim as a moderate by casting only slight skepticism upon propaganda by Dr. Paul Cameron, referring to it as an example of “current research on the health hazards of homosexuality.” But he comes back with an effective statement on the irrelevance of religious-right pseudo-science:
For the purposes of this article, I don’t want to take the time to dissect the research methods that were used to draw these conclusions. I will only say that, while some of the findings in such studies are true, throwing these numbers around while talking to someone who is homosexual will only reinforce, in their minds, the fact that you have stereotyped them. Can you imagine telling your son or daughter that that heterosexual activity is intrinsically wrong because America has a divorce rate estimated at 43 percent, or because three of every ten women killed in the United States die at the hands of a husband or boyfriend?
Promiscuity is more prevalent among gays, but there are many LGBT people in relationships consisting of genuine love. But for many Christians, the only thing that comes to mind when they hear the word homosexual is the militant gay activist marching in a parade and shouting, “We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re coming after your children!”
If we are to be effective purveyors of God’s love, we must commit ourselves to viewing all lesbian or gay people we meet as an individual, rather than making assumptions about who they are or where they’ve been.
While offering tips for antigay Christians to get to know gay people, he nevertheless encourages them to continue battling gay people at the ballot box — without stating what exactly is being voted on: Antidiscrimination laws? Hate crimes laws? Family benefits?
Thompson’s conclusion is similar to that of the antigay jet passenger in a recent commentary by gay columnist Michael Alvear. After a long flight, a Jewish operative for the Christian Coalition comes to realize that her gay columnist seatmate does not fit her stereotypes. But instead of readjusting her stereotypes, the woman pretends Alvear is someone separate from, and unaffected, by her stereotypes and discriminatory agenda.
XGW has ordered Thompson’s new book Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach and we will review it when it is released.
I have run into Michael Alvear position so many times. I have found lots of conservative folks who would rather you lie about your orientation esp. if you are not pegged as “Gay” on sight. I find it rather humorous. He got accused of “flaunting his lifestyle” after being asked, “Are you married? Are you dating…ect. Ect. Not to mention even if he could havelied (and I really can’t think of too many lies that could allow someone to be single and not dating for extended periods of time without suspect of being gay), what would be the consequences? It would be rather embarrassing to forget the name of your “girlfriend” halfway through the flight.
Although I agree with his motives for bring more “Christian” contact with gays, I doubt very much that the fundies would do it. For too long the whole homosexual issue has been viewed as simply a moral one, not a personal one. When I see the 700 club and the like I sometimes wonder how on earth that corrupt form of Christianity could stray so far from the golden rule.
“When I see the 700 club and the like I sometimes wonder how on earth that corrupt form of Christianity could stray so far from the golden rule.”
Answer – $$$$$$$$$$.
“When I see the 700 club and the like I sometimes wonder how on earth that corrupt form of Christianity could stray so far from the golden rule.”
Um, why don’t you ask Diamond Pat Robertson, proprietor of the 700 Club. You know, the one with the mining relationship with the despots in western Africa.
BTW, I know nothing about this Thompson fellow other than what’s posted here, but he certainly isn’t a moderate IM(NS)HO. He writes (according to the post) “From the gay person’s perspective, it seems that Christians are demanding that they simply disappear.” Well, duh–it isn’t just from the gay person’s perspective–it is clear that conservative christians to want gay people to disappear.
i know chad thompson personally, and this book is targeted at the conservative christian community, not the GLBTQ community. to many conservative christians, it is difficult to understand the feelings of gay people, and thus, it is not clear to them that they seem to want gay people to disappear. and anyway, isn’t it better to have conservative christians taking small steps toward tolerance than trying to hide or fix or throw away anyone who doesn’t fit into their narrow idea of whom god loves?
Look – it has taken far too many decades for the Evangelical community to produce this one person who does nothing more than offer a bit more understanding for LGBT people. The Evangelical community, by and large, is funded by powerful people intent on undermining the gay community however they can. Personally, I think the LGBT community needs to say enough is enough – in spite of Chad’s somewhat new outlook. Chad is not doing much that is new, he is marketing the old “love the sin, hate the sinner speech” with a new compassionate face.
It has been my expeirance that there are far more people than you might think, who are starting to cause those in the evangelical circles to rethink their veiws on gays.It may seem like it’s slow going but at least there are some of us who are getting involved to make a differance in those circles.People will form an opinon from a lack of knowlage.Im sure that back in the day there were many a christian who had slaves, but that kind of thinking was abolished.There is always hope that someday they are going to understand and embrace those that are differant from themselfs.Untill then at least I will do my part to help them understand, so that someone else in the future can read about discrimination from a book, and not experiance it inside a church.