Truth Wins Out is unique among LGBT non-profit organizations because we allow for dissenting views among our writers — at least in our blog section. We live in a democracy with freedom of speech so we strive to allow an array of opinions and ideas because critical thinking is key to personal, emotional and psychological growth. By stirring debate we allow thinking people to explore and ultimately understand the controversial and sometimes uncomfortable issues of religion, sexuality, and politics that Truth Wins Out touches on each day.
Which brings us to the main point: I disagree with Bruce Garrett in his TWO blog post today “Choice: Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other.”
In his column Garrett states that James Hormel is wrong in his assessment that, “The number one problem today as I see it is that people think that being gay is a matter of choice, and they somehow distinguish gay people as having made a choice to be tormented by their society.”
I happen to agree wholeheartedly with James Hormel. The “choice” question is by far the most important of all and a harbinger of whether we are accepted or rejected. A November 2004 Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates poll shows that 79 percent of people who think homosexuality is inborn support civil unions or marriage equality. Among those who believe sexual orientation is a choice, only 22 percent support civil unions or marriage rights. Every single poll on the nature vs. nurture debate yields the same results.
The religious right gets this. Why do you think they have invested millions of dollars to trick Americans into thinking one can “pray away the gay?” They know their “ex-gay” programs are nonsense. Yet they read the polls and understand that if they can convince voters that homosexuality is a frivolous sexual act that can be discouraged or reversed — they will go into the voting booth and vote against our equality. Equally important, the right wing wants to portray homosexuality a “choice” so they can keep GSA’s and anti-bulling measures out of schools. If homosexuality can be taught, they say in their convoluted propaganda, why should it be “promoted” in schools? Indeed, they can even make a case in favor of bullying by saying that whipping potential gay lads into shape is actually good for them in the long run and healthy for society.
However, if sexuality is not a choice, (It isn’t) than obviously LGBT kids can’t be recruited, encouraged, taught or influenced in their orientation (all true).
Garrett makes a solid point when he writes:
Look…nobody questions the fact that race isn’t a choice and that has never made racists question their racism as far as I can tell. Hell…they have their own junk science industry proving that blacks are genetically inferior so prejudice against them is morally justified.
The difference, however, is that black children are not born into families with two white parents. Thus, it is easy to still hate people from another race and stigmatize and discriminate against them. Meanwhile, LGBT children are born into every type of home — conservative, liberal, rich, poor, black, white Latino, etc. When we come out to friends and family members they earnestly want to know “how we became gay, bi, or trans.” If the answer is that it is simply who we are — not a choice — acceptance often follows. However, if the answer is, “I chose to be gay” — well, don’t be surprised if they try to help you “unchoose” by suggesting an “ex-gay” minister or an exorcist or a shrink. That’s just well-meaning, but ignorant and misguided people, trying to “help” a friend or family member.
I fully agree that in a free country it shouldn’t matter if sexual orientation is a choice or it isn’t. It certainly isn’t the governments place to decide how two consenting adults live their lives. However, in the real world it matters a whole hell of a lot. Every poll ever conducted on this matter backs up my point. It also happens to be true that sexual orientation is not a choice. Sure, bisexuals have the option to choose a male or female partner — but the fact they are attracted to and love members of both sexes isn’t a choice. So, why play fast and loose with the facts and assist our enemies in the process? Why not simply and honestly state the truth about our orientation?
I fully agree with Garrett on one matter:
The reason some people are homosexual does not matter to bigots. They just hate us. That hate is what comes first. The justification for it comes later, and takes whatever shape the bigot needs it to have to justify that preexisting hate.
He is entirely correct — the true bigots cynically exploit the choice issue for political gain. These fundamentalists only care about what their stunted and backward interpretation of the Bible says, not about science or biology. Indeed, the issue was addressed by Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:
“If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin.”
In an interview Tuesday (March 6), Mohler said he was referring to a possible hormonal treatment and not arguing for genetic therapy. He said he would also support other hormonal modifications. “If we found out there was a prenatal test to show that a baby would have poor eyesight but a hormonal treatment … would restore full eyesight, what parent would not use that?” he asked. “That’s not genetic treatment. We do want healthy babies.”
Mohler went on to write:
“In the end, the scientific evidence is not morally important, though it may be medically useful. The church’s witness to the biblical condemnation of homosexuality as sin is a crucial test of faithfulness, no matter where the biological research may lead. The church must take its stand on the Word of God, and leave the genes to the geneticists.”
Obviously, LGBT people do not fit into Mohler’s religious fantasy or his creation storyline — so we have no right to exist, and if we exist we must remain marginalized and invisible. If science finds a way to identify us in the womb, we will likely be targeted for extinction by allegedly “pro-life” individuals. They will probably justify their actions by leaning on their superstitions belief that homosexuality is caused by demons. In their twisted and perverse minds this will allow them to rationalize that they are destroying an evil demon, not a genuine human life. Rest assured they will devise a gay exception to their abortion rules the moment science makes this scenario possible.
While we will not move much of the religious right, the “choice” issue still resonates with and moves the vast majority of people towards acceptance. This idea is best articulated by Lady Gaga when she sings her hit “Born this Way.”
To recap:
1) James Hormel was right — the choice issue is key (Hormel’s got a new book!)
2) In a free country it shouldn’t matter — but polls say it actually does
3) Religious zealots hate us no matter what the science reveals (they aren’t fans of research)
4) Learning that sexual orientation isn’t a choice moves mainstream Americans towards acceptance
Bruce Garrett started a healthy debate on this site. I’d love to know what our readers have to say about this vital issue. Please let us know your thoughts.
“We’ve (Southern Baptists) lied about the nature of homosexuality and have practiced what can only be described as homophobia. We’ve used the choice language when it is clear that sexual orientation is a deep inner struggle and not merely a matter of choice.” – President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Albert Mohler, speaking at this year’s SBC convention in Phoenix. Mohler also said: “Only the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ gives a homosexual person any hope of release from homosexuality.”
This is certainly a half a loaf (at best). The last part of his statement seems to contradict the first half. However, it is quite impressive that the SBC has admitted to lying — which undermines the “ex-gay” myth. Who would have thought that the SBC would renounce the canard that homosexuality is a choice? Did our call for an apology play into this? I really don’t know. But, I do know this is what progress looks like. Sometimes, you get sweeping change. Other times it occurs in baby-steps.
Coalition members at the table include, left to right: Anthony Spearman; Brent Childers, executive director of Faith in America; Wayne Besen, Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director; Mitchell Gold, founder of Faith in America; and Jack McKinney, a former pastor and counselor. The meeting took place June 15 at the Phoenix Convention Center between sessions of the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.
A coalition of homosexual leaders and their allies met for more than 30 minutes Tuesday with Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright, with the leaders demanding an apology from the SBC and Wright refusing to budge, saying that Scripture is clear on the issue.
The remarkable meeting — cordial the entire time — took place between the morning and afternoon sessions of the SBC in Wright’s annual meeting office at the Phoenix Convention Center.
The nine-person coalition included representatives of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Faith in America and Truth Wins Out. They protested outside the convention hall and requested to deliver petitions to Wright, who decided to turn the event into a dialogue. Several members of the media also attended.
“I was proud to be a part of this historic meeting,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “This was a rare opportunity to give a first-hand account of the harm the Southern Baptist Convention’s teachings have caused LGBT people, particularity youth. I was also able to look Bryant Wright directly in the eyes and tell him that his ‘ex-gay’ ministries don’t work and are shattering lives.”
I am here to say that you cannot pray away the gay. And, if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you are fine just the way you are.
Unfortunately, the Southern Baptist Convention is one of the nation’s foremost promoters of so-called “ex-gay” ministries, which try to unsuccessfully change people from gay to straight – and destroy many lives in the process.
The cruel message delivered by the Southern Baptist Convention is that LGBT people are defective and less than whole. That we are sick, immoral, and sinful.
The “ex-gay” message is destructive and one of false hope. It is rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization in America, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the Academy of Pediatrics. The American Psychiatric Association says that attempts to change sexual orientation can cause “anxiety, depression, and self-destructive behavior.”
I know this to be true, because I deal with the brave survivors of such ministries. Even after they escape, they deal with the lifelong trauma and mental scars associated with trying to change a core part of their being.
And it’s not just the gay victims of such ministries. By encouraging marriage to so-called “ex-gays”, the Southern Baptist Convention is harming spouses who enter unsustainable marriages.
How many families is the Southern Baptist Convention willing to sacrifice on the altar of false family values?
While the Southern Baptist Convention cannot change people from gay-to-heterosexual – they can change their harmful anti-gay policies.
First, they need to acknowledge that we don’t live lifestyles, but whole, rich and fulfilling lives.
Second, the Southern Baptist Convention should immediately apologize for the grave harm it has caused LGBT people.
Third, it should treat LGBT people with dignity, respect, and full acceptance.
The big story from the SBC’s annual meeting is the election of Fred Luter Jr. as the denomination’s first African-American vice president. This would have been inconceivable only a generation ago. Clearly, it is only a matter of time before a gay man or woman also leads the Southern Baptist Convention.
We look forward to this day. And, it is a day I guarantee will happen sooner than many people think.
This week, I will be standing out in 107-degree heat delivering a petition with 10,000 signatures to the Southern Baptist Convention asking the group to apologize for its treatment of LGBT people. The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Believe OutLoud, 1 Voice, Faith in America, GetEqual, and Soulforce will join my organization, Truth Wins Out, in this action.
Some skeptics ask – Why waste time appealing to this hostile and intransigent group that has no intention of apologizing?
The first reason is to reach LGBT youth who are growing up in Southern Baptist homes. Some of these young men and women have tumultuous experiences like Ben Alley. According to the Des Moines Register:
Ben Alley misses his parents. He’s 18 and just graduated from East Marshall High School in Le Grand, with scholarships to almost cover his costs at the University of Iowa. It’s a time for open houses and pride. But he won’t be getting that from his once-close family — the Southern Baptist minister father and the mother who home-schooled him early on.
They’re not dead; he’s dead to them. In his sophomore year, Ben informed his parents that he is gay. They informed him he wouldn’t be coming home after school the next day — or ever again.
The second reason we are asking for an apology is because it’s aspirational and serves as a map of what the SBC must do to stop the harm it is perpetrating against LGBT people. Clearly, the SBC will not change positions overnight, but the first step to an apology is asking – and that is what we are doing.
Third, it is critical that we hold the SBC accountable for supporting morally bankrupt and scientifically unsound “ex-gay” programs.
“The anti-gay teachings of the Southern Baptist church nearly led me to suicide,” said Dr. Jerry Stephenson, a former Southern Baptist minister and board member for Truth Wins Out. “I entered an ‘ex-gay’ ministry that falsely claimed I could change my sexual orientation and this led to a deep depression. Only after I accepted my true self was I able to reconcile my faith and sexual orientation.”
Finally, the SBC likes to portray its position on homosexuality as an unchangeable moral absolute. The facts, however, show that the SBC has changed its positions on minorities before.
Indeed, June 15th marks the eleven-year anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention’s historic apology to African Americans for the denomination’s support of slavery and segregation. Sadly, it took the SBC 150 years to finally acknowledge the tremendous suffering, death, and devastation caused by their misreading of Scripture. We’ll never know how much better the world might be had this apology occurred in 1895 instead of 1995.
Describing the apology proclamation, the SBC’s Richard Land said:
“Well, it says that slavery played a role in the formation of the convention and that too often we had not acted to promote racial equality, and we apologize for that. We lament that. We grieve over that and we repent of it and we ask for the forgiveness of our African-American brothers and sisters.”
Given the arc of justice and the trajectory of history, there is no doubt the SBC will offer a full-fledged apology to the LGBT community in the future. However, this will take time – considering the SBC did not apologize for the sin of racism until 1989 (They apologized for slavery in 1994).
For those who think an apology is a pipe dream, just remember that it was only 1958 when the late Baptist minister and segregationist Rev. Jerry Falwell preached in a sermon, “The true Negro does not want integration. He realizes his potential is far better among his own race.”
Within years of making this despicable statement, Falwell saw the light and reversed course. Fortunately, times change and old prejudices wither on history’s vine. George Wallace, who for most of his career was the face of segregation, renounced and apologized for his previous views. In our day, prominent political figures as diverse as Bill Clinton, Laura Bush, Ken Mehlman, and Cindy McCain have gone from opposing marriage equality to publicly supporting it.
The big story from the SBC’s annual meeting is the election of Fred Luter Jr. as the denomination’s first African-American Vice President. Such progress was inconceivable only a generation ago. Clearly, it is only a matter of time before a gay man or woman also leads the Southern Baptist Convention.
Each year, polls show more people support LGBT equality than ever. If the SBC does not change with the times, membership will decline and the denomination will wither as the majority of Americans come to view the SBC’s views as immoral and fringe. Two words, “I’m sorry” would show that the SBC was ready to leave its spotty past behind and truly enter the 21st Century.
PHOENIX – A new coalition announced that it was starting a petition drive today on the GetEQUAL website calling on the Southern Baptist Convention to apologize for the harm its teachings have caused the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The petition will be hand-delivered following an 8 A.M. ‘Teach-In’ outside the SBC’s annual meeting in Phoenix on Wednesday, June 15, a day that marks the 16th anniversary of that religious group’s historic apology to African Americans for supporting slavery and Jim Crow laws.
“We call on the Southern Baptist Convention to stop misusing the Bible to promote religion-based bigotry and start recognizing the enormous pain and suffering caused by its mistreatment of LGBT people, particularly vulnerable youth,” said Dr. Jack McKinney, a former Southern Baptist minister and spokesperson for Faith in America. “History has not been kind to the Southern Baptist Convention’s record on minorities and it is making the same awful mistake today by perpetuating abuse against gay people.”
“The anti-gay teachings of the Southern Baptist church nearly led me to suicide,” said Dr. Jerry Stephenson, a former Southern Baptist minister and board member for Truth Wins Out. “I entered an ‘ex-gay’ ministry that falsely claimed I could change my sexual orientation and this led to a deep depression. Only after I accepted my true self was I able to reconcile my faith and sexual orientation. The Southern Baptist Convention needs to apologize because its policies are hurting real people.”
Indeed, the Southern Baptist Convention is one of the nation’s leading promoters of the so-called “ex-gay” industry, which browbeats people into attempting to “pray away the gay.” Bob Stith, national strategist for gender issues and the representative of the Task Force on Ministry to Homosexuals, leads the SBC’s “ex-gay” program. Last week, Stith harshly criticized President Barack Obama for issuing a “Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month” proclamation.
Today’s petition drive is being organized by the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Believe OutLoud, Faith in America, GetEQUAL, Soulforce and Truth Wins Out.
“We strongly urge the Southern Baptist Convention to end the harm it is causing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community by offering a sincere and heartfelt apology,” reads a letter that petition signers will send to the SBC’s leadership. “Instead of SBC churches fostering parents’ love for their gay children, anti-gay attitudes promoted from pulpits are causing youth to be cast off by their families and become homeless. The church walls should be a refuge, not a place where vulnerable LGBT youth are often rejected and mistreated.”
“We urge everyone to sign our petition, pass it along to friends, and post it on websites and social networks,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director, Wayne Besen. “Additionally, if you are in the Phoenix area, we hope that you will consider joining our protest and petition delivery. It is critical that we stand up to religion-based bigotry and point out the destructive nature of anti-LGBT prejudice and discrimination.”
We will announce further details later this week on the direct action and petition delivery in Phoenix.
Even in the world of Baptist churches in the South and Southwest, there is hope:
Broadway Baptist Church of Forth Worth has pulled out of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in yet another congregation-denomination split over homosexuality.
[...]
Brent Beasley, Broadway’s pastor, called the break “sad” but necessary.
“We’re committed to welcoming all people here, and we would not want to do anything that would be hurtful to anyone just to please the BGCT,” Beasley said.
Broadway has long had openly gay members, a reality that became widely known in 2008. That’s when the church had a much-publicized internal dispute over whether same-sex couples should be included in the church’s photo directory.
The Southern Baptist Convention and BGCT hold that homosexual behavior is a sin, and media reports of Broadway’s acceptance of gays brought the church into conflict with both groups.
The SBC cut ties with Broadway in 2009, and Broadway chose not to participate in the BGCT’s 2009 annual meeting, avoiding a likely challenge to seating the church’s messengers.
Oh well. I’m sure Broadway will come out better than ever, as they no longer have to associate with hatemongers.
In 1998, the Southern Baptist Convention condemned a 1997 Supreme Court ruling against a claim that churches enjoy a virtually unlimited right to build wherever they wish. The Court ruled in City of Boerne v. Flores that a municipality may enforce reasonable zoning restrictions against a Catholic church on a non-sectarian basis. In other words, the restriction could not be based upon religious belief.
Right Wing Watch points out that the SBC called the Supreme Court ruling “one of the worst decisions rendered by the Supreme Court in its long history.”
This week, both the SBC and Focus on the Family contradicted themselves: They applauded — and misinterpreted — the ruling. Focus on the Family’s CitizenLink sided with the SBC’s Richard Land, stating that government should block construction of houses of worship if a community objects.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., an ardent proponent of the president’s agenda, was quick to move away from Obama’s statement, and said on Monday that the mosque “should be built somewhere else.”
Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention, said even though the vast majority of Muslims condemn the 9/11 attacks, building a mosque near Ground Zero is “unacceptable.”
“As a Baptist who believes in religious freedom and separation of church and state, I strongly support religious communities’ right to have places of worship within reasonable distance of where they live,” Land said. “However, no religious community has an absolute right to have a place of worship wherever they choose, regardless of the community’s objections.”
What Focus didn’t say:
1. After the 1997 Supreme Court ruling, Congress passed — under pressure from the Christian Right — the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act which restored the ability of religious institutions to disregard local government objections to land use.
2. Unlike the Supreme Court, Focus and the SBC now contend that Big Government should discriminate against proposed religious facilities on the basis of undesired religious belief, not on the basis of zoning concerns.
The Family Research Council, a spinoff of Focus, helpfully identifies the religious affiliations that should be exempt from its desired government crackdown:
(The Awakening Conference was sponsored by the Freedom Federation and held April 15-16 at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA. Truth Wins Out’s founder Wayne Besen reports live from the event )
If the Religious Right fringe one day establishes a theocracy in America, no one will be able to credibly claim that they did not explicitly broadcast their dubious intentions. Having just spent two days at “The Awakening” conference at the late Rev. Jerry Falwell’ Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, one message was unmistakable: Many key Religious Right figures vehemently reject separation of church and state and believe America is a fundamentalist Christian nation.
“The Bible is the government of the people, by the people and for the people,” thundered Cindy Jacobs of General’ International from the stage. “I believe there is an awakening to do just that.”
What’ frightening is that many leaders on the Religious Right hold a basic belief system that is seemingly incompatible with democratic forms of government. Their central tautological argument is that liberty originated from God and so the only way to be truly free is through a theocratic system that honors the creator of freedom.
Huh? Exactly.
According to this mindset, God has ordained the faithful to be in positions of leadership, rendering any form of government that does not elevate these “chosen ones” or reflect their extreme views as illegitimate.
The Saturday night rally began with a surprising controversy. Lou Engle (pictured), the constantly rocking, intense, mustachioed cleric of The Call with the booming voice of a professional wrestler declared, “We are here to honor all denominations. There will be no tongues tonight.”
This left many in the audience offended, and well, tongue-tied. In a huff, several people stormed out of the main chapel. Sensing a gaffe, Engle soon reappeared on-stage and happily declared, “I apologize, we can speak in tongues!”
At this heavily advertised event, there was no shortage of the paranoid and prejudiced. But, one pleasant surprise was that attacks on LGBT people were on the decline. The crowd was more riled about President Barack Obama’ healthcare plan, which the Family Research Council’ Tony Perkins referred to onstage as “a socialistic time bomb.”
The big news at the conference came from Engle. While sitting in the audience during the “LGBT Agenda” breakout session, he spoke up and conceded that the next generation of evangelical Christians is largely supportive of LGBT rights (but not abortion). Engle said that when he preaches against gay people, the Christian youth often “rage against him.” Engle, a giant in right wing circles, said that the far right has lost on this issue barring a miracle, such as an intercession at a 500,000 strong youth rally. When he floated this idea to the activists on-stage, The Liberty Counsel’ Matt Barber said they should privately discuss such a rally after the forum.
Good luck with that idea, considering the breakout session at Falwell U. drew only 15 people. Virtually everyone in the small crowd was a hardcore anti-gay activist from groups such as Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX). Clearly, gay bashing was an issue that was not motivating many young people, as it has been in the past. (Although, it seems Engle’ group, The Call, may already be testing his intercession plan in Uganda) (Read More)
Truth Wins Out is unique among LGBT non-profit organizations because we allow for dissenting views among our writers — at least in our blog section. We live in a democracy with freedom of speech so we strive to allow an array of opinions and ideas because critical thinking is key to personal, emotional and psychological growth. By stirring debate we allow thinking people to explore and ultimately understand the controversial and sometimes uncomfortable issues of religion, sexuality, and politics that Truth Wins Out touches on each day.
Photo by Kent Harville
I am here to say that you cannot pray away the gay. And, if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you are fine just the way you are.
If the Religious Right fringe one day establishes a theocracy in America, no one will be able to credibly claim that they did not explicitly broadcast their dubious intentions. Having just spent two days at “The Awakening” conference at the late Rev. Jerry Falwell’ Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, one message was unmistakable: Many key Religious Right figures vehemently reject separation of church and state and believe America is a fundamentalist Christian nation.
The Saturday night rally began with a surprising controversy. Lou Engle (pictured), the constantly rocking, intense, mustachioed cleric of 
