Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church: The Religious Right Killed My Family

Sarah Colegrove Majority/Minority Relations 12/4/2012

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church Its Christmas time and almost all of the radio stations are playing Christmas music. On my way home for Thanksgiving break, the radio was tuned into a station that was playing Christmas music. The traditional version of O Holy Night started playing; it was a hymn that I had heard hundreds of times and I started to sing along. As the song neared the end, I suddenly had a moment of perfect clarity. I understood. O Holy Night, written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847 goes as follows:
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviours birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pinning. Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night, O Holy Night, O night divine! O night, O Holy Night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. Oer the world a star is sweetly gleaming, Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land. The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friends. He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim! (O Holy Night Lyrics)

This amazing hymn, that was written over 150 years ago, is a beautiful summation of the gospel. The third stanza, in particular, shows us how majority and minority relations should look on that glorious morn where all oppression shall cease, and how we should practice social justice by

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church incorporating Truly He taught us to love one another. (O Holy Night Lyrics) Unfortunately, the United States is a very fragmented society where clear distinctions have been made between the majority and the minority, which often lead to the suppression and oppression of the minority. Sexual minorities (which for the purposes of this paper refer to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, although there are more sexual minorities), and the rights of those whose sexual orientation fits into the minority group, have become an increasingly hot-topic issue over

the last forty years or so. One of the pervading issues that have been presented is whether sexual minorities should be given the same rights and privileges that the sexual majority (those who fit within the heterosexual norm) has. If so, how do we address the issue when the Christian Church has played a role in shaping the minds that continue to suppress and oppress sexual minorities through their words, doctrine, and even violent action? Sexual minority groups should be given full and equal treatment under the law, and the church needs to step up to be the instruments of change to turn hate into love and acceptance. Sexuality The term homosexuality is relatively new one; it was originally coined in the mid to late 19th century. One of the initial meanings of homosexuality was that it was a mental illness that could be cured to change the sexual preference of the individual who was a deviant because they liked the wrong gender. While the term was not coined until the 19th century, differences in sexual orientation have existed since the beginning of humanity. Over the last few hundred years, society has been less accepting (up until the last thirty years or so when some areas have gradually started to be more welcoming) towards anyone who does not fit the heterosexual norm

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of the day (Andersen & Collins 2010). In the past, things were quite different. In ancient Greece, same-sex sexual relations were accepted. In some areas, these same-sex sexual activities were even a part of their worship. This history of being open to same-sex sexual relations is not just part of the Wests history. A same-sex marriage was recorded during the Ming Dynasty Fujian. China and Japan have a history of being open to same-sex sexual activity. Melaesia, South Aisia, and the Muslim Near East also have traditions of male homoerotic relations. (Donnelly 2003:233) This has changed. Now sexual orientation has been used to dehumanize the other. Sexuality as a Weapon
Long lay the world in sin and error pinning Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. (O Holy Night Lyrics)

Majority superiority and minority oppression have existed throughout much, if not all, of human history. The desire for power and influence has given rise to one group distinguishing themselves from the others. That distinguishing factor can be race, ethnicity, age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, class, etc. Once these groups are created and distinguishable from the other, the group with the most power determines the rights granted to the other groups (Andersen & Collins 2012). In order for a ruling class to rule, there must be arbitrary prohibitions. Of all prohibitions, sexual taboo is the most useful because sex involves everyoneWe have allowed our governors to divide the population into two teams. One team is good, godly, straight; the other is evil, sick, vicious. (Anderson & Collins 249) Sexuality, because it is not as obvious as skin color, can be hidden from society. Those within the minority would be able to become part of the majority if they pretended to be straight, which is the majority. However, this is damaging. Denying yourself, the very core of who you are, to be something that you are clearly not, does not promote your own good or the good of

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church society. If I were a lesbian, how would pretending to be straight help me? While being heterosexual is more socially acceptable, it is also more socially acceptable to be a white, educated, middle class, and male. We do not ask people to change their gender or race, so why would we think that pretending your sexual orientation to what society wants is a good thing? There are a wide variety of arguments against sexual minorities that wish to keep the status quo and distribution of power the same. Some argue that we should not be concerned about rights and equality for the sexual minority because it is such a small group. It is statistically inconsequential. We dont know how many people fit into the sexual minority. This is a result of the fear and hatred of the other in our society. I grew up being told that I had no other option for sexual orientation than the heterosexual norm. Therefore, I did not even try to think about the fact that there was a very real possibility that I might be attracted to women, to women and men, or to change societys perception of my gender. What if this hatred and fear of the other was removed from society? What if power and influence was no longer a concern?

How many people would admit that their sexual orientation does not fit the heterosexual norm? I dont know how many, but I do know many people who came out of the closet that were terrified to admit to themselves that they were not what society labeled normal, let alone tell others about their realization. Others have hidden their sexuality because of fear of how their church will react, the thought that they might go to hell because they are despicable sinners, or the violence they may face from society (Cobb 2006). Others have argued that those in the sexual minority are less than human. They are pedophiles, rapists, deviants, perverts, and incredibly promiscuous. They are especially punished by God because they often contract HIV/AIDs. Those in the LGBT community, that unfortunately happen to contract HIV/AIDs are severely stigmatized and thought to be

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church

promiscuous and dirty (even though HIV/AIDs can be contracted through more than just sex and people who only engage in sexual relations with the opposite sex can contract HIV/AIDs). It is their fault that they are dying. Sexual orientation is a choice; they could have chosen to be straight (International Lesbian 2012). The last I knew, any sane person would not choose to become homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered because of all the persecution, stigmatization, oppression, and hatred that they would face. Government and Discrimination
And in his name all oppression shall cease. (O Holy Night Lyrics) Belize: Well I hate America, Louis. I hate this country. Its just big ideas, and stories, and people dying, and people like you. The white cracker who wrote the national anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word free to a note so high nobody can reach it. That was deliberate. Nothing on earth sounds less like freedom to me. You come with me to room 1013 over at the hospital. Ill show you America. Terminal, crazy and mean. - Angels in America (Cobb 2006)

This hatred and fear of the sexual minority has serious implications when it is in found in the government. In the United States, there has been hatred and discrimination put into law against sexual minorities. In 2003, as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas, same-sex sexual activity was finally legalized throughout the entire United States. Up until 2003, fourteen states still outlawed either all, or parts of, what is considered same-sex sexual activity (sodomy, in particular anal sex, was the most commonly outlawed activity) (International Lesbian, 2012). In a way, this would be comparable to the apartheid in South Africa, still keeping African Americans segregated from the rest of society, women from voting, and criminalizing interracial marriage. Not being able to openly love and have communion with another takes away some of our humanness. I [we] cannot be opposed to racism, in which people are discriminated against as a result of something about which they can do nothingand then accept with equanimity the gross injustice of penalizing others for something else they can

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church do nothing about. (Tutu 2004:48) The laws that did not allow individuals to express their love, commitment, and appreciation towards another through sex, without criminalizing the act, were harmful and helped to reinforce the idea that homosexuals were perverts, deviants, pedophiles, rapists, and sexually promiscuous.

In 2011, a law allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military was finally passed. It repealed the destructive dont ask, dont tell policies that had been in place since Clintons administration. Prior to the repeal of dont ask, dont tell, if you were homosexual, you were allowed in the military but you could not tell anyone your sexual orientation. If your orientation was not the heterosexual norm and word got back to your commanding officer, you would be discharged (Human Rights Campaign, 2012). Why? Does being homosexual all of a sudden make you a terrorist and a subversive? Does it all of a sudden turn you so weak that you cannot carry a weapon? Will you suddenly decide to go around raping everyone just because your orientation is different? Same-sex marriage is only available in nine different states while over thirty have bans on either same-sex marriage or civil unions. Recent victories in Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota give some hope for the future. As of now, states are not required to recognize same-sex marriages in other states so while a homosexual couple can marry in New York and get certain rights and privileges (examples are inheritance and estate laws, next of kin, life support decisions, be able to claim marriage on taxes etc.), if that couple were to move to state where same-sex marriage is banned, those rights and privileges could disappear. There is not a law, in most states, that prevent an employer from firing an employee if they found out that person was not the heterosexual norm. Same-sex couples are prevented in most states from adopting children (Human Rights Campaign 2012).

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church Christianity and the Reinforcement of Homophobia
Truly He taught us to love one another. (O Holy Night Lyrics)

There is the overwhelming fear and distrust that has entered the Christian society that homosexuals and other deviants will utterly alter and destroy our society. Our children will never be free to grow up in a safe environment, and that we will all be forced to become a deviant. There are groups, who claim to Christian, throughout the United States that actively protest against same-sex couples. Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, actively goes around the United States protesting the fact that the United States allows homosexuals to exist within its borders. The church uses derogatory language and offensive signs and tells homosexuals they are going to hell (Cobb 2006). In 1999, Matthew and Tyler Williams killed Gary Matson and Winfield Mowder, a gay couple. Matthew told his mom, I had to obey Gods law rather than mans law. I didnt want to do this. I felt I was supposed to. I have followed a higher lawI just plan to defend myself from the scriptures. (What the Bible Says) In 2000, Ronald Gay, who was angry about his last name, shot seven homosexuals, one of whom died. Gay was heard saying, I am a Christian soldier, working for my Lord. (What the Bible Says) My dad is a pastor in a conservative denomination in rural northern Pennsylvania. Homophobia (expressed through both words and actions) has been very much a part of the area. Through transformative dialogue and meaningful discourse, I changed (and have helped to facilitate change in my nuclear family); I no longer am homophobic, rather I am a part of the LGBT community and work to remove the hate, oppression, and stigmas that penetrate deeply in society. I remember an experience that my father shared with me. My father had invited an acquaintance of his, Mike (named has been changed), who is openly homosexual, to attend

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church church. Mike was flabbergasted and nearly in tears. He repeatedly asked my dad if he was

serious that he would be allowed to attend his church. Mike had experienced being kicked out of churches in the past because he was homosexual and could not believe that my dad would allow such a sinner in his church. Currently, there are several people who are openly homosexual that attend the church where my dad pastors. Why do we live in a society where Mike was shocked at my dad inviting him to church? Where the spirit (or soul) cannot feels its worth? Bishop Bruce Simpson shared his experience with homophobia in Diary of a Gay Priest. Simpson entered seminary to become a Catholic priest. While he was there, he discovered that he was gay and that many of the students at the seminary were also gay. Simpson ended up being honest about his sexuality to an archbishop which prompted his exit from the Catholic Church. When he confessed his sexuality, the archbishop told him that would not be able to ordain him. Simpson was checked in on several times while he was still at seminary after that conversation because that archbishop had had a student under his care who had committed suicide because he could no longer hid away his sexuality. Today, Simpson is a bishop in the Old Catholicism tradition; this tradition is open to differences in sexuality and does not require the priests to be celibate (Simpson 2006). Religious Right and the Death of My Family
for the slave is our brother (O Holy Night Lyrics)

The religious right (those who have a very literal understanding of scripture, are typically very protective of their understanding of Christianity, and can seek to implement their morality on the nation this religious right has long been the majority in the Church) in the Christian church has killed my family (Cobb 2006). We are all made in the image of God and are described as being his children. That makes us family as we are each others brother and sister in

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church Christ. When this utter denial of humanity comes from the religious right and violent action is taken against our fellow human beings, not only is the community that we were designed to

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thrive in destroyed, but our family is decimated. Every time another member of the human race is killed, another one of my family members is gone (Tutu 2004). When the violence is coming from within the church because someones sexual orientation is different, it makes it just that much worse. That glorious morn feels farther and farther away (O Holy Night Lyrics). What are the Consequences of the Suppression and Oppression?
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friends. (O Holy Night Lyrics)

This suppression and oppression of sexual minorities has far-reaching consequences for our society. There are a significant number of people that belong to a sexual minority that have committed suicide as a result of societal pressures and bullying from their peers. This bullying from peers and the societal pressures have been applied not only to those who they knew were homosexual, but also to anyone who stepped or appeared to step outside of gender norms. Mark B. committed suicide because of his sexual orientation. He was told that there was no way he could be a Christian and gay; his suicide note said, I just dont know how else to fix this. (What the Bible Says) Mary Lou Wallner initially rejected her daughter, Anna, because she was a lesbian and that did not fit with scripture. Anna committed suicide (What the Bible Says). Matthew Shepard is just one of many different examples where homosexuality has been an excuse to inflict violence on another. Shepard was violently attacked, beaten, tortured, and died from his injuries just because he was gay. Shepard had done nothing wrong except be honest about who he was. The father of one of Shepards killers said that what they did was justified because Shepard had come on to one of them (Teunis & Herdt 2007). What? I am than

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church justified to go out and kill every man that might come on to me? Or would a man than be justified to go out and kill every woman that hits on him? It is absolutely absurd. Even if Sheppard had hit on this mans son or had been flirting with him, why would this constitute

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enacting a death penalty? A pastor from North Carolina wrote an open letter about the Matthew Shepard cased that said, Gays are under the death penalty. His blood is guilty before God (Lev. 20:13). If a person kills a gay, the gays blood is upon the gay and not upon the hands of the person doing the killing. The acts of gays are so abominable to God. His Word is there and we cant change it. (What the Bible Says) I worked at a small camp in rural Virginia whose campers came primarily from the Washington D.C. area. Two of my coworkers were openly gay and struggled for the entirety of the summer. During one session, the boys at camp would consistently say thats gay or no homo meaning that while they might be doing an activity or holding a conversation that may be bending strict gender norms and expectations, they did not have homosexual tendencies. During another session, one of the campers used the words fag and faggot in a very demeaning and derogatory way. I remember hugging one of my coworkers as we cried together. The irrational fear and hatred of anyone who might be different has permeated all ages. The oldest of the campers who expressed overt homophobia was only twelve, while the youngest was just eight. This hatred of the other has penetrated every level of society. What Should be Done?
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices His law is love and his gospel is peace. (O Holy Night Lyrics)

Desmond Tutu, in his book God Has Dream, mentions the concept of Ubuntu. While there is not a literal translation in English, it can be boiled down to I am because You are.

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church Ubuntu is an important concept for the church, and society as a whole, to understand and to apply that understanding to the relations between minority and majority groups. If we are to

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oppress a group in society, we are oppressing more than that group, we are oppressing ourselves. We must be radical. We go to the root, remove that which is festering, cleanse and cauterize, and then a new beginning is a possibility. (Tutu 2004:53-54) Tutu says that, to address the issue of minority oppression and suppression, no matter what the topic is, is through reconciliation. True reconciliation is based on forgiveness, and forgiveness is based on true confession, and confession is based on penitence, on contrition, on sorrow for what you have done. (Tutu 2004:53) Tutu argues that when an issue is so public and prominent, such as apartheid in South Africa, have a public reconciliation process can help the entire society to forgive and heal. Desmond Tutus solution is great, but how do we reach the point where we can start the process of reconciliation? Conversation is the key concept to resolving conflict. Transformative dialogue and meaningful discourse among the factions in society can help to mend the wounds and bring about reconciliation. We are able to recognize that those on the other side are just as human as we are and that we are both loved by God. The change I have experienced, from growing up as homophobic to being a part of the LGBT community, is a direct result of transformative dialogue and meaningful discourse. When we hold conversation on an individual or small-group level, it can allow for ideas and opinions to be shared, evaluated, and path chosen for how those individuals feel about an issue or the actions that they will talk. When those in the conversation, go and have conversation with another, who has conversation with another, who has conversation with another, and so on, change is possible. We start at the roots. There are a few denominations - such as the Affirming Pentecostal Church International, Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Ecumenical Catholic Church, and the

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church Episcopal Church that have started to take the first very necessary steps (Welcoming

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Denominations). We dont say we are a black church, we dont say that we are a gay church or a straight church, we dont say that we are anything other than a church that celebrates our oneness in Christ. Im convinced that has turned out to be the real key to being able to hold this diverse group of folks together. (Anderson & Collins 2010:524) As this change towards love and acceptance slowly starts to ripple across the United States in churches, it speaks hope for the future of this majority/minority issue. The children in these churches will learn about and understand a God that does not hate people who are different. Church, as a socializing agent, will help to influence future generations as they society, the workforce, and the government to redistribute the power, to make us all equal, and to love each other for who we are.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. (O Holy Night Lyrics)

We are the agents of change for our world. It is through us, that God will appear and the world will rejoice as reconciliation, love, acceptance, equality are sought and granted to all. A new and glorious age in human history will be upon us. Conclusion
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. (O Holy Night Lyrics)

These endless divisions that we create between us and that we live and die for whether they are our religions, our ethnic groups, our nationalities are so totally irrelevant to God. God just wants us to love each other. Many, however, say that some kinds of love are better than others, condemning the love of gays and lesbians. But whether a man loves a woman or another man, or a woman loves a man or another woman, to God it is all love, and God smiles whenever

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church

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we recognize our need for one another. (Tutu 2004:47-48) Sexual minorities have always been present throughout history and have been oppressed for centuries. This oppression can be seen in the Church and the laws government enacts both of which the majority can control. This needs to change. This oppression needs to turn to love and acceptance. O Holy Night! I dream of one day being able to sing that song around Christmas time and know that all of us truly do love each other. That the chains of oppression have been removed so that our brothers, sisters, and even ourselves will be truly free. Through this freedom our actions, thoughts, lives our very essence screams the perfect love of God for all of society. This incredible work requested by a forgotten parish priest, written by a poet who would later split from the church, given soaring music by a Jewish composer, and brought to Americans to serve as much as a tool to spotlight the sinful nature of slavery as tell the story of the birth of a Savior has become one of the most beautiful, inspired pieces of music ever created. Its beauty is so much more than just the words; it is the story of diversity behind the music; it is a song that survived banishment by the French Catholic Church. It brings hope that maybe, we too might survive the oppression of sexual minorities. I end with the final verse of O Holy Night:
Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. And is his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim! (O Holy Night Lyrics)

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church Works Cited Andersen, Margaret L. and Patricia Hill Collins. 2010. Race Class & Gender: An Anthology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Cobb, Michael. 2006. God Hates Fags: The Rhetoric of Religious Violence. New York: New York University Press. Collins, Ace. "The Amazing Story of 'O Holy Night'.", Retrieved 12/4, 2012. (www.findthepower.com). Donnelly, Jack. 2003. Universal Human Rights: In Theory & Practice. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. 2009. , Retrieved November 18, 2012. (www.igla.org). O Holy Night Lyrics. Retrieved 12/2/2012. (www.carols.org.uk) Simpson, Bruce J. 2006. "Diary of a Gay Priest." Pp. 59-66 in Homosexuality., edited by D.M. Hougen and M.J. Box. New York: Greenhaven Press.

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Teunis, Niels and Gilbert H. Herdt. 2007. Sexual Inequalities and Social Justice. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Tutu, Desmond. 2004. God has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for our Time. New York: Image Books Doubleday. "Welcoming Denominations." 2012. Retrieved 12/4/2012. (www.gaychurch.org).

Sexual Minorities, Law, and the Church "What the Bible Says - And Doesn't Say - About Homosexuality", Retrieved 12/2/2012. (www.soulforce.org).

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