In some ways this subject is outside our normal scope (hence the open forum designation), but I feel there is a tie to the ex-gay equation as our own Daniel Gonzalez has recently illustrated. Faith, especially for Christians, can be both a motivating factor to seek out ex-gay therapy and, tragically, it can also be a casualty of that same mission. I don’t think Exodus or it’s member ministries realize just how detrimental this process can be.
This article from the New York Times, “Gay and Evangelical, Seeking Paths of Acceptance” is an honest peek into the lives of people who refuse to surrender either their faith or a large chunk of their humanity for the sake of those who just don’t agree with them about how God is working in their lives.
A lot of people are freaked out because their only exposure to evangelicalism was a bad one, and a lot ask, ‘Why would you want to be part of a group that doesn’t like you very much?’ ” Mr. Lee said. “But it’s not about membership in groups. It’s about what I believe. Just because some people who believe the same things I do aren’t very loving doesn’t mean I stop believing what I do.
This speaks to attitudes we sometime experience here at XGW. People have been hurt – some deeply – and any mention of church or God or faith brings that all back. For the gay Christian’s part, many Christians assume we couldn’t possibly be “true Christians” while many gay people wonder why we would even want to be.
The article also mentions Justin Lee. He’s a great guy and his website is a truely unique oasis for gay Christians to discuss their ongoing journey. Take a few minutes to read the article and post if it strikes any thoughts for you.
It’s an easy read and uncommonly fair:
Speaking of Evangelicals, The New York Times contrasts the attitued of Rev. Tony Compolo:
The Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, an American Baptist minister and a professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University in Pennsylvania, said he was opposed to what he called “same-gender eroticism.” Dr. Campolo said that many evangelicals, influenced by Christian radio, had come to believe that homosexuality was largely a choice and that homosexuals “choose to be evil.”
Others, he said, subscribe to theories, now discredited by psychologists, that men become gay because they had a domineering mother or were victims of sexual abuse as children.
“People on Christian radio have portrayed gays as insatiable, promiscuous people, which they are not,” Dr. Campolo said, “and they describe gay people as fungus on society that must be exterminated.”
Given the sadness many evangelicals say they feel for the former pastors, he added, “what we’re seeing here is a growing awareness among evangelicals that they have oversimplified, made false judgments and been very, very mean to the gay and lesbian community.”
with that of Focus on the Family
The Rev. H. B. London Jr., vice president for church and clergy at Focus on the Family, is part of the three-member team working with Mr. Haggard to restore the “health and wellness” of his family. Mr. London said he believed that homosexuality was a choice and that childhood trauma could make someone gay.
Yeah, London, Focus’d kinda be who Compolo is talking about when he mentions the negative influences of Christian radio, wouldn’t it? Ya know, the part about false judgments, discredited theories, and very, very mean?
While I disagree with Compolo about committed same-sex relationships (I agree with his wife), I think he’s a man who does not view gay people as nothing more than the target in a culture war to be anihilated without care. From all that they say and do it’s clear to me that Focus, Dobson, and his compatriots (including the leadership at Exodus) clearly do.
“what we’re seeing here is a growing awareness among evangelicals that they have oversimplified, made false judgments and been very, very mean to the gay and lesbian community.”
Wow, that is encouraging to hear! There is some hope.
Just a stray thought, but seriously do you ever wonder how much money FOTF, FRC, et al, collect from doing exactly what Campolo described above? Have you ever seen one of those fundraising letters where they ask for money to fight the “homosexual agenda” and of course now “gay marriage?” One wonders what poor, unsuspecting group will be next when they finally can’t sell this hate against gays for enough donations to make it worth the effort.
Well we know of at least one who made the decision not to sell his soul (or his beliefs) to the highest anti-gay bidder.
From an article about Jim and Tammy Faye’s son Jay Bakker and his new reality show:
In episode two, Jay will make a tough decision that could threaten his church: Should he declare himself a gay-affirming minister? Over fast food outdoors on a bright Atlanta day, he discusses it with Amanda.
“So speaking out in behalf of the gay community and gay Christians is something I should do?” he asks her.
“Absolutely, without question,” she agrees, even as she warns there’ll be a backlash.
She’s right. A conservative foundation wastes no time pulling thousands in funding.
That’s OK. “Salvation is free. It’s a gift,” Jay tells me in New York months later.
“But if I start to compromise now, where am I gonna be in 20 years? I want to be able to encourage other people not to compromise about their passions, their feelings — and not to be afraid that, if you share your convictions with the rest of us, you’re in danger of being thrown out.”
I am hesitant to believe the Right Wing Evangelicals have any inclination to see the wrong in their ways of spewing hate toward homosexuals; should such be the case, I will be tremendously surprised.
As has always been the case, as more people ocme out and admit that they are gay, there is more acceptance of gay people.
It is harder and harder to continue to try and portay gays as the “other” when someone that you really like and respect in your family, work or church comes out.
These pastors being “outed” or coming out on their own force people to reexamine their beliefs. But more important it is the much lower profile coming out to family and friends that does far more to undermine the Religious Right’s campaign of hate. People who have a loved one who is gay are more and more turned off by the hateful rhetoric of the Religious Right. As that group grows, Dobson and the rest will have to adjust their rhetoric or become irrelevant.
Here’s an interesting piece from the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) regarding transgender issues and spirituality.
(quoted in entirety by NCTE’s Justin Tanis’s permission –Autumn)
The focus of this summit is on policy (denominational and
public policy) so if folks are looking for a general session on
transgender spirituality, this probably won’t suit them. Instead, the conference is
primarily for people of faith who want to make policy change.