Religion vs glbt: enemies???
In reading the response to the previous post, I realized that there is some degree of interest in the thoughts expressed there. People do have a concern about religious expression and want to incorporate their lives with those expressions. To be able to crossdress and accepted as Christian, or religious, and so forth.
I have heard it said by many that being religious, especially Christian, is incompatiable with any kind of pro-GLBT stand. This, I believe is a failure on the part of the religious communities that are accepting. We have actually discussed this issue in my congregation and struggle over how to express our very real acceptance while not coming across as being a "one issue" church. Not always an easy thing to do.
The "problem" is that I am part of an old line mainstream denomination that is not about rigorous converting of folks to our denomination. People that belong, belong for various reasons, either born to the church or as new converts BUT not because we are pounding the sidewalks with pamplets proclaiming our message. We, and a lot of those that are more accepting, are very accepting indeed and end up saying in affect that everybody has a right to their own religious convictions. That is wonderful. The only problem is, no stand is made against those religious communities that try and curtail equality, or preach hatred. After all "everybody has a right to their opinion". The result is that the only message people tend to hear, is that God hates the homosexual and the crossdresser etc.
On the other hand, the GLBT activists have heard this and have bought the general idea regarding religion and being GLBT, but with different results. For many of them, any religious expression is suspect because of all the voices of hate. I personally understand this decision with the current, and recent, religious climate in this country being what it is. The problem is that both personally and polically the GLBT movement has in many ways cut off its own nose to spite its face. On the personal level, the individual is left with a very "hopeless" life and on the political front, the movement is seen as anti-religion and since most people in this country at least nominally are "christian" it further divides and helps defeat our cause.
If I only heard the voice of the bible-thumpers who rant and rave about the sins of, very often, homosexuality, causing everything from Huricanne Katrina to the airplanes flying into the World Trade Center, I would very easily come to the conclusion that religion and any sort of GLBT rights movement are in opposition. So I DO understand their stance.
Fortunately there has been some waking up and bridge building on the part of both groups. The more accepting Christians are standing up and saying "hey, mistreatment is not right regardless of what you think about the lifestyle". On the other hand, there has been a recent, and hopefully not too late, attempt on the part of the GLBT movement to express that much of what "we" stand for is consistent with lots of lots of people's expression and understanding of Christianity.
It is my hope that in the next election, it will be clear to more people that they do not have to chose between acceptance of those who are different, and being true to their religious faith. In fact, that being accepting might very well be one of the best ways to EXPRESS that faith.
Here is a link for any that are interested in groups that are trying to make a difference on this front...it is a page on my website and there are obviously a limited number of links. There are others but this will get you started.