In God We Trusted
This month IN THE LIFE explores the power of religion to shape our lives, worldview, and our political convictions… providing spiritual guidance and comfort, but often used to promote intolerance and hatred of LGBT people. Looking at the intersection of religion and sexuality, we see how gays and lesbians reconcile their faith within their religious communities.
Regular readers should recognize some familiar faces. See all three segments at In the Life.
H/T: TWO
Regardless of one’s opinion of Exodus, this segment mischaracterizes it by juxtaposing pictures of the “God Hates Fags” protesters from Fred Phelps’ church and like-minded fanatics. I don’t think anyone familiar with any of the Exodus staff or Exodus-related ministries or people would associate that form of hate with Exodus. I think it would be fair and better coverage to address disagreements with Exodus’ principles by not using inflammatory photos of people who have nothing to do with Exodus.
But I think Exodus’ prinicipals are fuel by such attitudes.. the Evangelical Church is Exodus’ main finacnial aid. They may be more compassionate in their approach, but the message is the same.
Religion is dangerous.
TRiG.
Jeff, I would agree with you to a point. The Phelps are unabashedly vulgar and honest in their hateful pronouncements. Exodus on the other hand tries to politely peddle their lies about gay people and the lives gays live.
These lies (describing gay people as drug and sex obsessed 24 hour a day partyers who threaten alll that is good about America) are designed to foster contempt and provide cover for their right wing political allies who work diligently to ensure second class citizenship for gay people.
So, there may be a bit of a difference between Phelps and Exodus, but it is really more in terms of style than substance.
I’ am not a disease to be treated. I am not broken. I am not insane. I am human. Because of a slight difference you are so willing to strip away that humanity in a heartbeat. Am I no different than the black man or asian man or even white man. I am the gay man the one who the entirety of christian religion hates. I am the one who is strong enough to be able to say, “Yes I love another man intimately.” I am the one who has surrendered fear: fear of hatred, fear of loss, fear of people, fear of judgement, fear of love, and fear of death. Aren’t I more of a man than any boy who wishes to remain the same as everyone else out of fear. I am more a man than the religion that is so willing to hate and kill just out of fear and misunderstanding. My brothers we have surpassed the mere mortals that slither and squirm through this world trying to hate and be accepted at the same time. We must be called to love the ones who hate us for even though they might try to suade you into changing because of their insecurities still require your sympathy and love. To win we must love thy neighbor, hate the idea, fight for the cause, and be peaceful in our dealings.
Alex – I both empathize with and take exception to your statement “I am the gay man, the one who the entirety of christian religion hates.” I am VERY sorry that you feel that way, and I apologize for anyone who calls himself a Christian that has led you to believe that. They do not deserve the name Christian if they have promoted the idea of hate. Even groups like Exodus, which is not perfect, do not promote that idea, and I believe the folks I know from Exodus or have attended Exodus conferences would agree. An AUTHENTIC Christian does not hate. And I think you will find that even groups like Exodus, at least in more recent years, do not try to promote change for someone who has no interest in changing, but like me, offer support to someone who struggled with homosexual orientation but desired to have a wife and children and believed that it was possible to love my wife heterosexually (and it has been for 16 years). I can accept that you love another man intimately and would not hate you for that, even though I may have different beliefs than you. But I don’t like to be told either by some in the gay and ex-ex-gay worlds that my life is a lie and that change is not possible. For those who desire it, we should have the same freedom to pursue it if that is what we choose.
Jeff S., you say:
If only that were true. I’m afraid that it’s not. If, like Exodus, you start bringing politics into the matter and campaigning against equality legislation and against other measures designed to prevent injustice to gays and lesbians, on the ground that “change is possible”, then you’re trying, however ineffectually, to promote change for people who have no interest in changing.
You know, I have to agree with you there, because my strongest criticism of Exodus, even while agreeing with them in the basics of my faith, is their foray into political issues. I think they have started to back off after some backlash, but I believe their sole focus should be ministry to people who contact them for help and support and not speaking out on political issues.
That’s the trouble. Some of them start to back off, as you put it, and say that they’re going to keep away from politics from now on, and then before long they’re opening their great big cakeholes again on the political issues.
Their external language has changed a bit, but not their mission. Exodus is the exclamation point in the statement “Homosexuality is Sin!” In appearances such as his Prop 8 interview, Chambers and other ex-gay leaders are able to manipulate the lives of those who want nothing to do with being ex-gay by telling law makers and others that homosexuality is just a condition to be treated, a moral failure to be overcome. “See, look at us. We are fine, upstanding examples of the change we claim, we exist.”
Exodus has avoided defining “change” but at the same time claim it through their “personal testimony.” This makes them a valuable tool for those who are far more obvious about their animus toward GLBTs. Alan becomes the de facto definition and evidence of change all in one just by showing up. A good anecdotal illustration of one’s own life trumps the facts for many in the audience, especially those who want to believe. Of course, it can also backfire.
Exodus does not exist in a vacuum, and their subtle change in tone does not excuse them from adding to the pain of those who feel the need to attempt change in the first place because of organizations like Exodus. In the end, I believe that is a more honest assessment of their goal, to cause people to be unhappy being gay, and to seek change. It’s the part that comes after they come seeking which really does the most harm, linking holiness and salvation to heterosexuality.