MyOutSpirit.com Gay Spirituality Blog

What about Kids?

by Huw Richardson

As some in the GLBT community continue to struggle for the basic freedom to just be - in Nigeria and parts of the USA - others in our community are engaged in different struggles. The marriage debate is giving way in some places to the adoption debate. Since adoption is regulated by the state in the modern world (it was, until a few hundred years ago, a matter of family politics and religious custom) how far can the State go in forcing agencies to provide services? How far can laws go in forcing a change of heart?

Respecting the beliefs of others, even (if grudgingly) the religious Right

Truth is, its hard to get into a discussion about politics without also discussing religion. And when I get into discussions with my friends, on web and blog forums, or with authors who I wish could here me as a verbally respond while reading their books/articles, I am often miffed at how dismissive my fellow progressives and other Left-leaners are towards the faith of the religious Right. Recently I wrote a post on Mormonism which was inspired not only by a few articles I linked to in the post, but also by the Mormon bashing I hear from my progressive friends (who think of themselves as very tolerant). For whatever reason, people whose political beliefs lie a little left of center tend to be a little two faced about respecting diverse religious beliefs, as they continue dismissing fundamentalist and conservative Christians as nut jobs, whackos, or other similar epithets. At times, I’m guilty of it, too.

But do any of us really think that we’re going to get anywhere if we refuse to accept the genuineness and sincerity of fundamentalist and conservative political beliefs? While it may make us feel superior to dismiss those on the other side of the political fence as unintelligent, or worse, in doing so we do ourselves and our democracy a grave disservice. One has to recognize that there are some pretty smart cookies over on the right hand side of the political divide. The sophistication of the Right’s political and media machine betrays the amount of brain power that went into building and maintaining the religious Right. But recognizing the intellectual prowess of the religious Right is just the first step and, in my opinion, the easiest.

Banner news day for gays and religion

By Joe Perez

Christianity Today has an amazing list of links (with relatively few snarky homophobic asides) that roundup a seemingly endless parade of religion and homosexuality news stories.

Commenting, TMatt of GetReligion tries desperately to point to any possible hint of anti-religious bias in these stories. The best he could come up with is the observation that "reparative therapy" shouldn't be framed as an issue of science vs. religion because some (conservative religionist) mental health experts think "reparative therapy" is legit. Next up: GetReligion attacks media bias for present as uncontroversial the idea that the world is round, an obvious affront to the religionists at the Flat Earth Society.

Can't wait 'til Ted "gay, gay, gay, gay, gay" Olsen and GetReligion talk about the burkas.

Anti-burka laws, religious liberty, and the Becket Fund

By Joe Perez

Politicians in the Netherlands want to ban burkas in public places. I haven't thought about the issue much because I don't see it as being a live concern here in the US, but I generally support European democracies in passing laws that restrict behavior deemed contrary to public safety and welfare and communal values. I draw the line at hate-speech laws, but can see a good case to be made that anti-burka laws are significantly different in nature from banning hate speech from the pulpit. For one thing, anti-burka laws aren't concerned with what worshippers do in their homes or houses of worship; they're concerned about public behavior that arguably inhibits rational governmental interests in safety.

Fourth of July thoughts

Around the Fourth of July, like many queer Americans, I remind myself that equal rights, recognition and respect for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-affectionate and Transgender Americans are the inevitable outcome of our national values. Study after recent study tells us that millions of people all around the world hate our country for any one of a number of reasons, and I myself have joined millions of people in the streets protesting the direction our nation is taking. At the same time, in the end, despite my own anger and trepidation about our nation's current leadership and their choices, I'm forced to admit that I still consider myself a patriot because I believe that our country's values still present the U.S.A. with the chance for greatness.

Oh, Canada!

The news from Up North is good, though it's sad to see the United States being left in the dust regarding human rights.  From 365Gay.com:

(Halifax, Nova Scotia) In what may be Canada's highest profile gay wedding of the year two Mounties will wed next month in Nova Scotia.

It is the first same-sex marriage within the RCMP. and the couple will wear the distinctive scarlet dress uniforms the force is known for worldwide the Chronicle Herald newspaper reports.

The perfect activist

This article in EDGE Boston profiles Cholene Espinoza, whose spiritual service is an excellent example for any LGBT person who really wants to create change in the minds and hearts of straight America.

After Hurricane Katrina hit, Espinoza and her partner, Ellen Ratner, traveled to the Gulf Coast to help the victims. Moved by her experience to do even more to help, Espinoza wrote Through the Eye of the Storm (Chelsea Green, 2006), a memoir of their trip that laments not only the devastation of the hurricane itself, but also the difficult path to recovery.

More on the fight for adoption rights

In "Let Catholics Discriminate," Dale Carpenter sings the tune of the antiprogressive mouthpiece, IndeGayForum. It's always a treat to read these supposedly independent and original thinkers offer such original, unpredictable and "outside the box" editorials. Very much to his credit, Carpenter lands some solid punches in this article, such as when he correctly chastises the Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese for the absurd claim that the Roman Church's position on gay adoption has "nothing whatsoever to do with faith." But frankly I'm not sure which is worse: Solmonese's laughable religious illiteracy or Carpenter's despicable advocacy of legal bigotry. I think I'll pass on both.

Discrimination because of perceived orientation

Penn State's ladies basketball coach did discriminate against a former player because she perceived her to be a lesbian, an investigation has concluded.  Here's what the university is threatning her with:

Coach Portland will be required to pay a $10,000 fine, a written reprimand will be put in her personnel file, she will be required to participate in a professional development experience devoted to diversity, and has also been informed that further violations will result in termination with cause.

Duke lacrosse rape case: the homophobia connection

The alleged sexual assault of a young African American woman by members of the Duke University lacrosse has been making national headlines for weeks.  The case is troubling on many grounds.  Rape is always awful, but this case has exposed an ugly undercurrent of sexism and racism among some in America's privileged class.