God and His Gays
By Harold MeyersonWednesday, March 21, 2007; Page A15
Science is stealing up on America's religious fundamentalists, causing much alarm. Consider the dilemma of the Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and a leading figure in the Southern Baptist firmament.
Writing in his blog this month, Mohler acknowledged that " the direction of the research" increasingly points to the possibility that a "biological basis for sexual orientation exists." Should sexuality be determined in utero, Mohler continued, that still wouldn't justify abortion or genetic engineering.
Nonetheless, as Mohler noted in a later blog post, his admission that the data suggest that homosexuality may be as genetically determined as hair color produced a torrent of irate e-mail from his fellow evangelical Christians. Up to now, the preferred theory among Christian conservatives has been that homosexuality is behaviorally induced and thus can be unlearned. That gave added moral weight to the biblical proscriptions of gay and lesbian sex and to the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality as a sin -- though for those who believe in biblical inerrancy, no added moral weight was necessary.
But once you recognize homosexuality as a genetic reality, it does create a theological dilemma for the Mohlers among us, for it means that God is making people who, in the midst of what may otherwise be morally exemplary lives, have a special and inherent predisposition to sin. Mohler's response is that since Adam's fall, sin is the condition of all humankind. That sidesteps, however, the conundrum that a gay person may follow the same God-given instincts as a straight person -- let's assume fidelity and the desire for church sanctification in both cases -- and end up damned while the straight person ends up saved. Indeed, it means that a gay person's duty is to suppress his God-given instincts while a straight person's duty is to fulfill his.
Mohler's deity, in short, is the God of Double Standards: a God who enforces the norms and fears of a world before science, a God profoundly ignorant of or resistant to the arc of American history, which is the struggle to expand the scope of the word "men" in our founding declaration that "all men are created equal." This is a God who in earlier times was invoked to defend segregation and, before that, slavery.
This is a God whom vast numbers of this nation's self-professed believers (not to mention its nonbelievers, such as I) neither heed nor like very much, particularly the young, who in growing numbers support gay marriage and certainly don't consider gay coupling any more sinful than they do straight coupling. That said, this God still commands millions of followers, among them Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Old Time Religion, who recently declared homosexuality immoral in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
Indeed, this God commands so many followers that the initial tendency of presidential candidates who know better was to duck when they themselves were asked last week about the morality of gay sex. Sen. Hillary Clinton, when first asked if homosexuality was immoral, answered that it was for "others to conclude," before righting herself to say that she didn't think being gay was immoral. Sen. Barack Obama, according to Newsweek, avoided a direct answer three times before coming to his senses and disagreeing with Pace. The spokesperson for Sen. John "Straight-Talk Express" McCain said that "the senator thinks such questions are a matter of conscience and faith for people to decide for themselves." Such political and moral contortions are hardly confined to presidential candidates.
In Utah, a new law requires school principals to police every student organization to ensure that there's no discussion of "human sexuality" (though experts believe the topic may still come up among teenage students). Lest it seem discriminatory, the statute applies to every student group under the sun, but it is entirely a reaction to the formation of gay-straight clubs at Utah high schools.
There is, however, no ban as yet on high school biology teachers discussing the biological basis of homosexuality, and as the data confirming this thesis continue to mount, that could confront even those of Pace's persuasion with Mohler's conundrum: how to reconcile a God who creates homosexuals with a God who condemns practicing homosexuals to hell? A mysterious God may be well and good, but a capricious or contradictory God can inspire so much doubt that He threatens the credibility of the entire religious enterprise.
After all, there are few American believers who don't profess at least some faith as well in the verities of proven science and the rightness of our national credo's commitment to human equality. By effectively insisting that God is a spiteful homo-hater, his followers saddle him with ancient phobias and condemn him to the backwaters of American moral life.
meyersonh@washpost.com
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
from Spa! March 20
Spa! (March 20)
Japan's leading sexual minority politician tells Spa! (3/20) that his path from "pillow biter" to "freedom fighter" shows there's no love in Japanese politics.
Japanese society has long prided itself on being homogenous, but has for a long time bordered on homophobic. Now it's slowly embracing sexual minorities, and there is a growing number of openly transsexual and homosexual politicians; but it wasn't always this way.
Ken Togo ran in 14 elections from 1971 through to 1995, openly and aggressively campaigning as a gay during an era when homosexuality remained well and truly in the closet.
"I was the only one in the political world at the time who ever openly disclosed being an okama," Togo tells Spa!, using to describe his preference the somewhat derogatory Japanese term for gay that is roughly akin to the English "faggot."
It's common for Japanese politicians to campaign by riding around the streets in a loudspeaker van with a policy message (or more likely the candidate's name) shouted out repeatedly. In his early campaigns, Togo's catchcry was "I'm the faggot. Ken Togo the faggot." Spa! notes Togo's other policy slogans included "I love cocks" and "Slip one in for Ken Togo," a message that could suggest voting for the gay campaigner or, well, something a little different.
Perhaps not surprisingly given the full frontal approach of his campaigning, many people saw Togo was a weirdo, or, more alarming in conformist Japan, a henjin, or "different person." Though now recognized as a harbinger of better fortunes, even large sectors of the gay community once hated Togo because they believed his approach further alienated them from mainstream society, which tended -- and sometimes still tends -- to view all political homosexuals as militant.
Togo was unrepentant, though, and in 1977 formed the Zatsuminto -- the Crude People's Party.
"Gays weren't the only people discriminated against. Lesbians, the disabled, entertainment industry workers, they're all discriminated against," Togo says. "Until all discrimination and segregation are eliminated, there's no true liberty of equality."
Togo struggled to find much support throughout his political career, a fate that seems to have baffled him but one he has come to terms with.
"What's wrong with a man loving a man? I think it's far more shameful to live a life while lying to yourself. What's truly shameful is not ever being loved," the 74-year-old says. tells Spa! "I'm too old for politics now. If I ever get the chance now, I wouldn't mind talking about what love is, and what discrimination is. I've got my bar now (in Shinjuku's Golden Gai). I've had it since January. This is the stage where I'll play out the last few acts of my life."
Togo sees current Japanese politics as a heartless wasteland.
"There's no love in Japanese politics. There's nothing shameful about standing around holding each other's cocks," the veteran gay rights campaigner tells Spa! "A society that criticizes people for loving people isn't much of a society. We need more love. It's clearly far more important to have sexual politics with love than it is to just have plain politics." (By Ryann Connell)
March 15, 2007
Japan's leading sexual minority politician tells Spa! (3/20) that his path from "pillow biter" to "freedom fighter" shows there's no love in Japanese politics.
Japanese society has long prided itself on being homogenous, but has for a long time bordered on homophobic. Now it's slowly embracing sexual minorities, and there is a growing number of openly transsexual and homosexual politicians; but it wasn't always this way.
Ken Togo ran in 14 elections from 1971 through to 1995, openly and aggressively campaigning as a gay during an era when homosexuality remained well and truly in the closet.
"I was the only one in the political world at the time who ever openly disclosed being an okama," Togo tells Spa!, using to describe his preference the somewhat derogatory Japanese term for gay that is roughly akin to the English "faggot."
It's common for Japanese politicians to campaign by riding around the streets in a loudspeaker van with a policy message (or more likely the candidate's name) shouted out repeatedly. In his early campaigns, Togo's catchcry was "I'm the faggot. Ken Togo the faggot." Spa! notes Togo's other policy slogans included "I love cocks" and "Slip one in for Ken Togo," a message that could suggest voting for the gay campaigner or, well, something a little different.
Perhaps not surprisingly given the full frontal approach of his campaigning, many people saw Togo was a weirdo, or, more alarming in conformist Japan, a henjin, or "different person." Though now recognized as a harbinger of better fortunes, even large sectors of the gay community once hated Togo because they believed his approach further alienated them from mainstream society, which tended -- and sometimes still tends -- to view all political homosexuals as militant.
Togo was unrepentant, though, and in 1977 formed the Zatsuminto -- the Crude People's Party.
"Gays weren't the only people discriminated against. Lesbians, the disabled, entertainment industry workers, they're all discriminated against," Togo says. "Until all discrimination and segregation are eliminated, there's no true liberty of equality."
Togo struggled to find much support throughout his political career, a fate that seems to have baffled him but one he has come to terms with.
"What's wrong with a man loving a man? I think it's far more shameful to live a life while lying to yourself. What's truly shameful is not ever being loved," the 74-year-old says. tells Spa! "I'm too old for politics now. If I ever get the chance now, I wouldn't mind talking about what love is, and what discrimination is. I've got my bar now (in Shinjuku's Golden Gai). I've had it since January. This is the stage where I'll play out the last few acts of my life."
Togo sees current Japanese politics as a heartless wasteland.
"There's no love in Japanese politics. There's nothing shameful about standing around holding each other's cocks," the veteran gay rights campaigner tells Spa! "A society that criticizes people for loving people isn't much of a society. We need more love. It's clearly far more important to have sexual politics with love than it is to just have plain politics." (By Ryann Connell)
March 15, 2007
GLEN welcomes Speaker of New York City Council to dublin
Speaker Christine Quinn Gets a Warm Welcome in a Diverse and Dynamic Ireland
“New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn will receive a warm welcome in the diverse and open melting pot that is modern Ireland” said Eoin Collins, Director of Policy Change in GLEN ~ Gay and Lesbian Equality Network.
“The continued exclusion of gay groups from the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York is completely at odds with the diverse, accepting and dynamic Ireland of today” continues Eoin Collins, “where people from all walks of life join together in celebration of our national day”.
Last April the Taoiseach (prime minister of Ireland) Bertie Ahern was one of the first prime ministers in the world to launch the program of a lesbian and gay organization (see reports and pictures from the Taoiseach at the GLEN website http://www.glen.ie/events/visit.html. He stated
“Sexual orientation is not an incidental attribute. It is an essential part of who and what we are…… Sexual orientation cannot and must not be the basis of a second class citizenship”
The Taoiseach further stated:
“The most successful cities in the world are those that foster cultural diversity. This success manifests itself economically as well as socially. A Touchstone of this diversity is the manner in which gay and lesbian rights are respected”. Taoiseach speaking at opening of GLEN (see speech at http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=200&docID=2542 ).
According to Kieran Rose, Chair of GLEN: “Previously many gay people had to emigrate for two reasons: to get a job and to be in a society where it was possible to live openly and happily as gay; now gay people are coming to this country for the same two opportunities” (see Opinion piece by Kieran Rose on progress in Ireland at http://www.glen.ie/public/pdfs/Taoiseach%20OpEd.pdf
All parties in the Irish Parliament support the enactment of legislation giving legal recognition to lesbian and relationships. Successive Governments have also enacted legislation that has put Ireland in the forefront internationally in legal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Contact Eoin Collins Director of Policy Change tel (0113531) 4732603 or mobile (011353)879273341
“New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn will receive a warm welcome in the diverse and open melting pot that is modern Ireland” said Eoin Collins, Director of Policy Change in GLEN ~ Gay and Lesbian Equality Network.
“The continued exclusion of gay groups from the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York is completely at odds with the diverse, accepting and dynamic Ireland of today” continues Eoin Collins, “where people from all walks of life join together in celebration of our national day”.
Last April the Taoiseach (prime minister of Ireland) Bertie Ahern was one of the first prime ministers in the world to launch the program of a lesbian and gay organization (see reports and pictures from the Taoiseach at the GLEN website http://www.glen.ie/events/visit.html. He stated
“Sexual orientation is not an incidental attribute. It is an essential part of who and what we are…… Sexual orientation cannot and must not be the basis of a second class citizenship”
The Taoiseach further stated:
“The most successful cities in the world are those that foster cultural diversity. This success manifests itself economically as well as socially. A Touchstone of this diversity is the manner in which gay and lesbian rights are respected”. Taoiseach speaking at opening of GLEN (see speech at http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=200&docID=2542 ).
According to Kieran Rose, Chair of GLEN: “Previously many gay people had to emigrate for two reasons: to get a job and to be in a society where it was possible to live openly and happily as gay; now gay people are coming to this country for the same two opportunities” (see Opinion piece by Kieran Rose on progress in Ireland at http://www.glen.ie/public/pdfs/Taoiseach%20OpEd.pdf
All parties in the Irish Parliament support the enactment of legislation giving legal recognition to lesbian and relationships. Successive Governments have also enacted legislation that has put Ireland in the forefront internationally in legal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Contact Eoin Collins Director of Policy Change tel (0113531) 4732603 or mobile (011353)879273341
Monday, March 19, 2007
Gay rights in Latin America Out of the closet (from The Economist)
Gay rights in Latin America Out of the closet
Mar 8th 2007
LIMA From The Economist print editionAnd into politics
LATIN AMERICANS are surprisingly tolerant of homosexuality—within limits. Though they may face taunts and violence, men in particular can sometimes lead openly, even flamboyantly, gay lives as long as they conform to certain stereotypes (such as working as hairdressers). Those who prefer to be discreet usually benefit from Catholic society's widespread "don't ask, don't tell" tolerance of private foibles. It is when they start challenging norms and agitating for legal rights that the trouble typically starts.
LATIN AMERICANS are surprisingly tolerant of homosexuality—within limits. Though they may face taunts and violence, men in particular can sometimes lead openly, even flamboyantly, gay lives as long as they conform to certain stereotypes (such as working as hairdressers). Those who prefer to be discreet usually benefit from Catholic society's widespread "don't ask, don't tell" tolerance of private foibles. It is when they start challenging norms and agitating for legal rights that the trouble typically starts.
Giving the kiss-off to machismo
Now, this too is gradually changing. In January two lesbians became the first same-sex couple to register a "civil solidarity union" in Coahuila, the first Mexican state to legalise such partnerships. This month Mexico City will follow suit. Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, and the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul also allow same-sex unions.
Argentina and Costa Rica too are considering giving legal recognition to same-sex unions. Last month Colombia's Constitutional Court granted gay couples who have lived together for more than two years the same inheritance rights as married heterosexuals. A bill to give them the same social-security rights is pending in Colombia's Congress.
The beginnings of a shift are visible in more conservative countries as well. In 2004 Peru's Constitutional Court struck down a law that banned members of the armed forces from having homosexual relations, whether on or off base, while the police's human-rights manual instructs officers not to mistreat gays, lesbians or transvestites. A Peruvian activist, Jorge Bracamonte, ran for a seat in the Andean Parliament last year, not so much to win (he didn't) but in order to campaign against homophobia. Even in Chile, where divorce has been legal only since 2004, a gay-rights group has begun lobbying politicians to legislate against discrimination.
Such legal changes would have been unthinkable in the region a decade ago. Abortion remains illegal in many Latin American countries. However, gays who campaign for change still face prejudice, and worse. The International Lesbian and Gay Association, a Brussels-based NGO, reported that in 2005 a gay man was killed every two days in Latin America solely because of his sexuality. In Brazil, whose government launched a campaign against homophobia in 2004, 2,509 gay men have been murdered over the past decade.
"Countries that have made the most progress, such as Brazil and Mexico, also have the highest levels of hate crimes," says Mr Bracamonte, a historian. The more they come out of the closet, the easier targets gay people become. In January an immigration judge in the United States who had previously denied a Mexican gay man's asylum bid, on the ground that he could conceal his sexual orientation and was therefore not in danger of persecution as a homosexual, reversed his decision.
Same-sex unions face powerful opposition from conservative political parties and the Catholic church. Because of that, campaigners have so far pushed only for civil unions, not marriage. But across the region, gay groups are slowly becoming part of the political scene.
Copyright © 2007 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved.
Letter of MP Beilin to the Polish President, Lech Kaczynski
8 March 2007
His Excellency
Mr. Lech Kaczynski
President of the Republic of Poland
Via the Polish Embassy, Tel Aviv
Your Excellency,
Subject: Your Excellency’s comments in Ireland regarding gay people
I was very sorry to read the negative comments you made about gay people during your recent state visit to Ireland.
As the chairman of the Meretz-Yachad Party, a leading social-democratic party in Israel, and as a member of the Israeli parliament, I find it necessary to convey to you my feelings of dismay and concern in the face of such intolerant and demeaning remarks about fellow human beings, especially coming from a person serving as head of state.
I believe that the role of political figures, especially in the highest echelons of government, is to promote a more peaceful and tolerant society, and to improve the lives of our citizens, whoever they are.
Our sensitivity to the gay communities of the world should be higher in the wake of the discrimination that gay people have suffered in recent history, especially in Europe during the Nazi and fascist times. To say, therefore, as you were quoted to have said, that “homosexual culture” was a threat to the survival of the human race, raises troubling ghosts from the past, and reminds me, as a Jew, of humanity’s darkest hours.
Mr. President, the historical links between so many of Israel's citizens and Poland ensure that your remarks about different minorities in your country draw special attention. Your negative remarks about gay people arouse in many of us feelings of deep discomfort, undermining our efforts at building relations of cultural and political trust between our two nations.
Yours Sincerely,
Yossi Beilin
Member of the Israeli Knesset
Chairman of the Meretz-Yachad Party
His Excellency
Mr. Lech Kaczynski
President of the Republic of Poland
Via the Polish Embassy, Tel Aviv
Your Excellency,
Subject: Your Excellency’s comments in Ireland regarding gay people
I was very sorry to read the negative comments you made about gay people during your recent state visit to Ireland.
As the chairman of the Meretz-Yachad Party, a leading social-democratic party in Israel, and as a member of the Israeli parliament, I find it necessary to convey to you my feelings of dismay and concern in the face of such intolerant and demeaning remarks about fellow human beings, especially coming from a person serving as head of state.
I believe that the role of political figures, especially in the highest echelons of government, is to promote a more peaceful and tolerant society, and to improve the lives of our citizens, whoever they are.
Our sensitivity to the gay communities of the world should be higher in the wake of the discrimination that gay people have suffered in recent history, especially in Europe during the Nazi and fascist times. To say, therefore, as you were quoted to have said, that “homosexual culture” was a threat to the survival of the human race, raises troubling ghosts from the past, and reminds me, as a Jew, of humanity’s darkest hours.
Mr. President, the historical links between so many of Israel's citizens and Poland ensure that your remarks about different minorities in your country draw special attention. Your negative remarks about gay people arouse in many of us feelings of deep discomfort, undermining our efforts at building relations of cultural and political trust between our two nations.
Yours Sincerely,
Yossi Beilin
Member of the Israeli Knesset
Chairman of the Meretz-Yachad Party
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