MyOutSpirit.com Gay Spirituality Blog

Remembering Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk (1930-1978) is the first and most famous openly gay male elected official in California, and perhaps the world.  He became the public face of the GLBT rights movement, and his reputation has continued to grow since his assassination on Nov. 27, 1978 (31 years ago today).  He has been called a martyr for gay rights

“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country,” Milk said.  Two bullets did enter his brain, and his vision of GLBT people living openly is also coming true.

Milk has received many honors for his visionary courage and commitment to equality.  In 2009 he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the state of California designated his birthday (May 22) as Harvey Milk Day.  He was included in the Time “100 Heroes and Icons of the 20th Century” for being “a symbol of what gays can accomplish and the dangers they face in doing so.”

He is the subject of two Oscar-winning movies, “Milk” (2008) and “The Times of Harvey Milk” (1984), as well as the book “The Mayor of Castro Street” by Randy Shilts. 

Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 after three unsuccessful efforts to run for office.  He served only 11 months before he was killed, but in that short time he was responsible for passing a tough gay-rights law.

Haunted by the sense that he would be killed for political reasons, Milk recorded tapes to be played in the event of his assassination.  His message, recorded nine days before his death, included this powerful statement:

“I ask for the movement to continue, for the movement to grow, because last week I got a phone call from Altoona, Pennsylvania, and my election gave somebody else, one more person, hope. And after all, that's what this is all about. It's not about personal gain, not about ego, not about power — it's about giving those young people out there in the Altoona, Pennsylvanias, hope. You gotta give them hope.”

Shots fired by conservative fellow supervisor Dan White cut Milk’s life short.  More than 30 years later, the hope and the movement for GLBT rights are more alive than ever.

The Harvey Milk icon painted by Robert Lentz (pictured above) was hailed as a “national gay treasure” by gay author/activist Toby Johnson.  Milk holds a candle and wears an armband with a pink triangle, the Nazi symbol for gay men, expressing solidarity with all who were tortured or killed because of their sexuality.

It is one of 10 Lentz icons that sparked a major controversy in 2005.  Critics accused Lentz of glorifying sin and creating propaganda for a progressive sociopolitical agenda, and he temporarily gave away the copyright for the controversial images to his distributor, Trinity Stores.  All 10 are now displayed there as a collection titled “Images That Challenge.”

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This is cross-posted is part of the new “GLBT Saints” series at the Jesus in Love Blog.  Saints and holy people of special interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people and our allies are covered on appropriate dates throughout the year.  It was written by lesbian author Kittredge Cherry.

Image credit: Harvey Milk of San Francisco
By Brother Robert Lentz, OFM.  Copyright 1987
Courtesy of www.trinitystores.com (800.699.4482)

Equality March invokes GLBT spirit

A powerful invocation prayer launched the speeches at the National Equality March Sunday in Washington DC.

Rev. Troy Perry, the proudly gay founder of Metropolitan Community Churches, set the spiritual tone for the GLBT-rights march with a rousing invocation of history’s great gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender leaders.  He also read a letter of support from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, black anti-apartheid activist from South Africa.  The video of the invocation is well worth watching -- and is hard to find online now.

It was inspiring to hear speaker after speaker stand up for equality.  I felt especially happy to see so many young people involved and energized to take the GLBT movement to the next level.

Aside from the invocation, there wasn’t much spiritual or religious content in the speeches.  I did find out that the Mormon Church is represented in the Utah state senate by the first openly gay state senator in Utah (Scott McCoy)!

And I loved it when March organizer Cleve Jones told the crowd, “We are equal in the eyes of God and we demand equality in the eyes of the law.”
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This post was written by lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry and cross-posted at the Jesus in Love Blog.

Honoring the gay saint of 9/11

A gay priest is considered a saint by many since his heroic death in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

Father Mychal Judge, chaplain to New York City firefighters, responded quickly when Muslim extremists flew hijacked planes into the twin towers. He rushed with firefighters into the north tower right after the first plane hit.

Refusing to be evacuated, he prayed and administered sacraments as debris crashed outside. He saw dozens of bodies hit the plaza outside as people jumped to their deaths. His final prayer, repeated over and over, was “Jesus, please end this right now! God, please end this!”

While he was praying, Father Mychal was struck and killed in a storm of flying steel and concrete that exploded when the south tower collapsed. He was the first officially recorded fatality of the 9/11 attack. Father Mychal was designated as Victim 0001 because his was the first body recovered at the scene. More than 2,500 people from many nationalities and walks of life were killed. Thousands more escaped the buildings safely.

After Father Mychal’s death, some of his friends revealed that he considered himself a gay man. He had a homosexual orientation, but by all accounts he remained faithful to his vow of celibacy as a Roman Catholic priest of the Franciscan order.

The charismatic, elderly priest was a long-term member of Dignity, the oldest and largest national lay movement of LGBT Catholics and their allies. Father Mychal voiced disagreement with the Vatican’s condemnation of homosexuality, and found ways to welcome Dignity’s AIDS ministry despite a ban by church leaders. He defied a church boycott of the first gay-inclusive St. Patrick’s Day parade in Queens, showing up in his habit and granting news media interviews.

Many people, both inside and outside the GLBT community, call Father Mychal a saint. He has not been canonized by his own Roman Catholic Church, but some feel that he has already become a saint by popular acclamation, and the Orthodox-Catholic Church of America did declare officially declare him a saint.

The above icon is “Holy Passion Bearer Mychal Judge and St. Francis of Assisi” by Father William Hart McNichols.  It shows Father Mychal with St. Francis of Assisi as the World Trade Center burns behind them. They hold out a veil to gather and help people who cry out in times of violence and terror. In the text accompanying the icon, Father McNichols describes Father Mychal as a Passion Bearer who “takes on the on-coming violence rather than returning it… choosing solidarity with the unprotected.”

Father McNichols is a renowned iconographer and Roman Catholic priest based in New Mexico. After earning a Master of Fine Arts from the Pratt Institute in New York, he studied icon painting with the Russian-American master Robert Lentz. Like Lentz, he paints icons with contemporary subjects, as well as many with classical themes. Some of his icons express compassion for people with AIDS, based on his experiences working at an AIDS hospice in New York City in the 1980s. Father McNichols is one of 11 artists featured in “Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ and More” by Kittredge Cherry.

For more info on Father Mychal Judge, visit his Wikipedia entry or the Saint Mychal Judge blog.

Image credit: “Holy Passion Bearer Mychal Judge and St. Francis of Assisi” By Father William Hart McNichols

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This is cross-posted at the Jesus in Love Blog, where it launches a new “GLBT Saints” series. Lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry will write about saints and holy people of special interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people and our allies on appropriate dates throughout the year.

The Gifts of Stonewall – 40 Years Later

It was the evening of June 27, 1969 – the NYC Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn – and Greenwich Village was turned upside down. These raids were common and people were arrested for being homosexual. Gay men were beaten, dragged onto the streets, and arrested because of their sexuality. But on this night, gays had enough, and fought back in what has been called the Stonewall Riots. For many nights, protestors stood outside the Stonewall Inn and fought off the cops. This is what history has deemed as the beginning of the Gay Movement. And, yes, we have moved forward in so many ways, and yet, not enough in some areas.

 

This weekend marks the 40^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. This is an opportunity to look back with gratitude for all who stood outside the Stonewall Inn and stood up for GLBT rights and say thank you. It is also an opportunity to make sure that all the sacrifices by those who came before us were not made in vain. They prepared the way for greater liberation for all. We can thank them by our continued efforts to educate, advocate, and bring our ideas and visions forward.

 

At a time when our President announces benefits for same-sex federal employees, we still have a military policy of, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” At a time when couples are rushing to Iowa (yes, Iowa!) to get married, many states are telling us that civil unions are enough or worse yet, reversing same-sex marriage.

 

People have told me to wait until the right time to speak about marriage equality, adoptions, and medical protections. “When is the right time for civil rights?” asked Lance Black, screen writer for the movie Milk. He went on to say that this country historically has worked on civil rights issues during times of unrest. Was it good timing when Rosa Parks sat at the front of the bus? Every movement has its time and I believe this is our time to open up the conversation for equality for the GLBT community. If we think back to the time of prosperity during the Clinton presidency, we walked away with two terrible policies, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).

 

Everyone has their views and I respect that. What I really desire is a society that honors love between adults. I dream of a day when it is not a matter of straight marriage and gay marriage, but honoring love. I have been with my partner for 15 wonderful years.  We are present in the lives of our families during both times of joy and pain. We have lost loved ones and have been there for each other through sickness and health. Yet, I have to consciously decide when and to whom to share my life’s story and how. I have to choose how to answer medical forms which often leave my relationship out when I am asked to circle, “married, single or divorced.” I have had to accept being introduced (after 15 years) as my partners “friend.” I accept that change is slow and I accept that change is possible – because on a personal level, I have changed how I show up in the world and live my life with openness and vulnerability.

 

The best part of my life is the fact that I share it with everyone – men, women, gay, straight, bi-sexual, African American, Indian,  white, social workers, city workers, life coaches, shamans, writers,  nuns, nurses, business owners etc…I love that we are all of it. We are woven into the fabric of society.

 

The gift of Stonewall is that we stood up and said we are here – see us. I didn’t “come out” because I wanted people to tolerate me. I came out because I wanted folks to know I love and hurt like everyone else. This is a time of celebrating 40 years of a rich and diverse community. This year, I invite you to stand alongside a gay or lesbian friend or family member. Stand alongside and thank them for the gift of love and courage they give to the world. Stonewall lives on.

 

I am grateful for all the men and women who went before me and stood up for their right to be loved and love others – no matter their sexual orientation. I am grateful for all those in the Stonewall Rebellion. I am grateful for my loving life partner, Lorene, for 15 wonderful years.

Trans Heroes Honored for Stonewall's 40th Anniversary

VISIT THE GALLERY OF HONORED TRANSGENDER HEROES

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the International Court System, in collaboration with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, is recognizing 40 transgender and gender- nonconforming individuals for their contribution toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.

To mark this occasion, the International Court System is showcasing these "40 Trans Heroes" on its Web site at www.impcourt.org/Trans40/ to highlight the importance of the transgender and gender-nonconforming community as an equal and important part of the broader LGBT community. The "40 Trans Heroes" were solicited and selected from hundreds of nominations by a special committee of the International Court Council.

"This is by no means a complete list or a 'best of' or 'top 10' list. It is merely a beginning tribute to the thousands of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals that have made our modern-day movement possible," says Thom Hansen, president of the International Court Council. "This momentous tribute to the transgender community is a long time coming. The International Court System is honored to partner with the Task Force. Together, we pay tribute to those whose lives and works have impacted each and every one of us."

"On the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, let's remember the legacy of those who started our struggle for equality and liberation," says Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Recognizing 40 of the many transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals who have worked tirelessly and passionately in favor of full LGBT equality throughout these four decades is a reminder of the determination and persistence of the transgender community and of the human spirit. Let's continue to honor these important contributions toward a more just and equal society for all of us."

The International Court System will present a commemorative plaque inscribed with the names of these outstanding individuals on June 25 to be placed at the Stonewall Inn.

MyOutSpirit.com would like to make it 41 by recognizing the work of Barbara Satin.

Barbara Satin is a transgender activist involved with both the local and national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. Besides serving on a number of local GLBT boards, she is a founder of GLBT Generations, a group that works to educate people about the needs of LGBT persons as they grow old. Nationally, Barbara serves on the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ, the first transgender woman to have a national leadership role in that denomination. She is also an adviser to the Civil Marriage Collaborative.

Barbara served as Interim Program Director for the Institute of Welcoming Resources during the first half of 2007 and stayed on as IWR & Faith Work Consultant working on special projects. She is also a member of the Spirit of the Lakes United Church of Christ in Minneapolis, where she is involved in developing and marketing a 41 unit senior housing cooperative.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH BARBARA SATIN ADDRESS THE CREATING CHANGE CONFERENCE

Radical Faeries 30th Anniversary Events

 
Radical Faerie co-founder, Don Kilhefner, and author Mark Thompson will give a talk on the Radical Faeries at 2pm on Sunday, February 15, 2009, at the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, 909 West Adams Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA.

Antebellum Gallery in Hollywood, CA, is sponsoring an art exhibition celebrating the Radical Faeries 30th Anniversary.  Opening reception is February 28th, 2009, at 7pm.  www.antebellum.us.ms

Honoring GLBT Christian pioneers

Today is the 40th anniversary of Metropolitan Community Churches, a denomination that ministers primarily in the GLBT community.  A set of historical photos is posted at the Jesus in Love Blog in honor of the occasion.

MCC was founded in 1968 in Los Angeles by Troy Perry, a Pentecostal minister who was defrocked for being gay.  He was incredibly brave and visionary to create a church where gays and lesbians were welcome back in 1968, when homosexuality was still considered a sin, a sickness and a crime.  He put an ad in the local gay newspaper and held the first worship service in his living room on Oct. 6, 1968.

I believe it’s important to preserve our history.  In the photo above, MCC members protested for gay rights in the church at a National Council of Churches “Faith and Order” meeting in Berkeley, California, in March 1993. The “Faith and Disorder” protest was led by Kittredge Cherry, third from right, who was MCC’s international ecumenical director at the time.  Signs say:  “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re going to church,” “Ruth and Naomi, Jonathan and David, me and my girlfriend,” “Thank God I’m gay” and “We’re everywhere.”

For more photos and the stories behind them, visit the Jesus in Love Blog.

PASSAGES: John Burnside, Co-Founder of Radical Faeries and Partner of Harry Hay, Passes at 91

[from White Crane Magazine]  It is just incredibly sad to announce that John Burnside, Harry Hay's lifetime partner, has passed, peacefully in San Francisco, surrounded by the circle of Radical Faeries who have taken care of him since Harry passed.

John Lyon Burnside III
November 2, 1916 – September 14, 2008

John Lyon Burnside III passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in this home on Sunday, September 14, 2008, surrounded by the Circle of Loving Companions who had been caring for him. He had been recently diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.

John was an activist, inventor, dancer, physicist, a founder of the Radical Faeries, and partners for nearly 40 years with Harry Hay. Hay started the Gay rights organization the Mattachine Society in 1950 and is considered a founder of the modern gay freedom movement.

READ THE REST OF WHITE CRANE'S OBITUARY ABOUT JOHN BURNSIDE'S LIFE AND LEGACY

Speaking for the Circle of Loving Companions, John’s friend of 27 years, Joey Cain said:

“We are sadden by our dear, sweet John’s passing, but are gratified that John’s last years were happy and he was surrounded by people who loved him. His life dispelled the notion that haunted all the early LGBT freedom fighters, that without the hetero family structure you will die lonely and unloved. The work that John, Harry and the other LGBT pioneers did has dispelled that destiny forever for all of us.”

Donations in John’s honor may be made to the Harry Hay Fund, to continue the activist work of John Burnside and Harry Hay.  Donations may be sent to

The Harry Hay Fund
c/o Chas Nol
174 ½ Hartford Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

ADDENDA:

A celebration of the life of John Burnside
Saturday, November 8, 2008
12:00 noon
San Francisco LGBT Community Center
1800 Market Street
San Francisco

Fellow Radical Faerie Co-Founder, Don Kilhefner, sent the following poem - written by Mary Oliver when her partner passed - in honor and remembrance of John:

PASSAGES: Lesbian Marriages

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon / Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Today we mourn the death of Del Martin, 87, who died today in San Francisco, California.  Martin and Phyllis Lyon, her partner of 55 years, became the first legally married same-sex couple in the State of California on June 16, 2008. In 1955, the couple joined six other lesbians in founding the Daughters of Bilitis in San Francisco, the first lesbian rights organization in the nation.  Read the obituary from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.   

There's also reason to celebrate, though, if you visit your local supermarket, where you'll find exclusive, heart-warming photos of the wedding of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi gracing the cover of the latest issue of PEOPLE MAGAZINE. 

Click here to view the photos now, but please pick up the issue of PEOPLE to read the article and show your thanks for PEOPLE putting lesbian love in front of every person in America.

October is gay history month, didn't you know

Or so says the Broward County library system.

The inaugural Gay and Lesbian History Month, organized by the Broward County library system, is this month featuring a series of cultural and historic programs and films that highlight gay and lesbian issues.