blog

God is Love. God is Light. God is Spirit.

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:51:34 +0100

I am a man who has gone on a journey. Years ago I believed that homosexuality was a damnable sin because it said so in 1 Corinthians 6:9. And I thought Christians should not chicken out regarding the scripture. It is not love to keep one’s mouth shut when you see another in danger of hell. On the other hand at our yearly church meetings I would go and talk with persons who were gay and could not see anything wrong with them. This put me in a difficult place. I thought everyone should be in this difficult place with me. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender persons should face the damning scriptures and conservatives should know real LGBT persons and be confronted by their humanity.

Studying the scriptures gradually changed how I thought about LGBT issues. Now I am the convener for the faith leaders in EqualityToledo our local LGBT rights group. And I believe I am on the side of God.

I used to cherry pick the scriptures. For example I would pick Leviticus 20:13, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.” I would not pick Exodus 31:14 “You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you; everyone who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among the people.” Furthermore keeping the Sabbath day holy is one of the Ten Commandments, men having sex with each other is not. I saw this and changed my ways.

I used to misinterpret Sodom. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah where the people of the town want to rape two angels is not about homosexuality. It is a parable of hospitality. Lot, the good example, invites them home, feeds them and protects them. The townsfolk, the bad example, want to abuse them. Sodom is like a “sundown town” for strangers. That is the term for racist towns where black persons would risk lynching if they are found inside town limits after dark. Ezekiel 16:49 says, “This was the guilt of you sister Sodom; she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” The sin of Sodom was oppression of the helpless, not homosexuality. I saw this and changed my ways.

I used to misinterpret history. No nations were destroyed by God because of their homosexuality. God destroys a lot of nations according to the Biblical record. Never once is homosexuality given as the reason. In the same way, in secular history the Greek or Roman empires did well without regard for their sexual practices. They faltered because of corruption, economic oppression, environmental depletion, and military collapse. It is horrible ignorance of history to think our country is going to hell because we are treating LGBT persons well when for hundreds of years our nation was engaged in the exploitation, rape, and murder that is slavery. Moses led a slave revolt, not a straight sexual morality crusade. God cares about economic oppression not about sexual orientation or identity. I saw this and changed my ways.

So I come to the New Testament where Jesus says nothing about homosexuality (with the possible exception of the Gay Apocalypse of Luke 17:34-37 where what looks like a gay and then a lesbian person are taken up to heaven with God). But Paul writes about it using the term arsen, which refers to young men, not aner, which refers to adults, and he uses the term malakos, which is not effeminate but more like the idle rich, or “those who wear soft clothes”. So I think 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 should read, “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the realm of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, pederasts, rich oppressors, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers- none of these will inherit the realm of God.” This makes sense of 1 Timothy 1:9 as well, where it says…”the law is not laid down for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, pederasts, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching…”

Furthermore I long misread the one possible mention of lesbians in the whole of scripture. When Paul writes in Romans 1:26 that, “Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural.” It is referring to women having anal sex with men, not lesbian sex. And that is all there is on the subject of lesbians from 2337 pages of my Bible. It is an amazing and telling omission. I changed my ways.

Peace, Rev. Ed Heilman

Let's Celebrate All People and Spread a Message of Love

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:09:42 +0100

With the recent teen suicide related to bullying and the recent anti-gay campaign by a local church, I am reminded of the reason it is important to spread love. A local church is spreading the message that “being gay is NOT a gift from God.” I wonder if they are aware of who may really be reading this billboard. I wonder if they considered the idea that a young person who is facing coming out is reading this sign. This sign is reinforcing the message that so many young people are already receiving from their peers, their families, their churches, and the media. And now, they get to read it on the side of the road. This could possibly be on the way home from a long day of being picked on at school. When they return home maybe they will have to hear negative messages from their families. This message can easily be interpreted into “You are not a gift from God. There is something innately wrong with you. Have no hope, you do not deserve love and respect.” As an advocate for anti-bullying, this not only makes me upset, but it’s infuriating.

I want to lift people up. I believe whole heartedly that Jesus wanted to lift people up. His message shows that it is important to lead by example and love everyone unconditionally whether or not they meet your expectations. Jesus said specifically, “love your neighbor as yourself.” What part of love includes bullying? Jesus would not have gone out of His way to publicly scrutinize anyone. Instead, He would reach out.

As far as homosexuality being a sin, I say this: Humans were not all meant to be the same. God’s plan is not the same for each person. I question how one individual can know God’s plan for another individual. Our route in life is between us and our Creator. The stories used against us can easily be translated to argue many different negative and positive things. But there is never a rule in the Bible that specifically states “homosexuality is a sin.” The love between two individuals is only between them, and their Creator.

Remember, A Child Is Listening

Wed, 18 May 2011 13:12:54 +0100

I recently watched the movie Prayers for Bobby, and I was very moved by this story. The movie is based on the true story of Bobby Griffith and his family. In it Bobby experiences many challenges as he shares his life more completely. It is particularly challenging for Bobby to affirm his gay identity because his family vehemently believes that homosexuality is a sin, based on their religious teachings. His mother receives the news particularly hard and takes it on as her mission to help Bobby to cure his sin. Eventually, things get very tense between Bobby and his family, and the resulting stress leads Bobby to commit suicide.

It is important for me to share this movie and my reaction to it because this story is all too familiar. My friends watching the movie commented that it was "suicide by parents." This is quite a harsh representation of the story, but it rings true in this story and in the experiences of many young LGBT people who have chosen to end their lives. In the story, Mary Griffith is not at peace with her son's death. She searches and searches for the answers, and ultimately comes to the conclusion that indeed she and her husband were responsible for Bobby's death.

She eloquently stated, "I deeply regret my lack of knowledge about gay and lesbian people. I see that everything I was taught and told was bigotry and dehumanizing slander. If I had just listened to my son when he poured his heart out to me I would not be standing here today with you filled with regret. I believe that God was pleased with Bobby's kind and loving spirit. In God's eyes kindness and love are what it's all about. I did not know that each time I echoed eternal damnation for gay people. Each time I referred to Bobby as sick, and perverted, and a danger to our children, his self esteem and his sense of worth were being destroyed. His spirit broke beyond repair. It was not God's will that Bobby climbed over the side of a freeway overpass and jumped directly into the path of an 18-wheeler truck which killed him instantly. Bobby's death was a direct result of his parents ignorance and fear of the word gay." You can see the complete scene on Youtube .

The transformation that Mary went through to arrive at these words was extremely challenging for her and her family. However, she needed the answers. Along the way she was supported by some people she had never reached out to in the past. These were other parents and friends of gay and lesbian people. It was her local PFLAG chapter that helped her to revise her understanding and interpretations of her religious teachings. She also sought out religious answers from the Metropolitan Community Church. Combined, these resources helped her to cure her ignorance of gay and lesbian people, albeit much too late.

Recently, some billboards have been displayed in the Toledo area that send a powerful and positive message to everyone, but especially to religious communities. The Central United Methodist Church has initiated a campaign called, "Being Gay is a Gift from God" as a "prophetic call to the Church to get out of the business of marginalizing gay and lesbian persons from the Church, and to welcome them as full members." Signs like this, no pun intended, show that society is progressing. However, signs like this also remind us about the ignorant oppositional voices. There is no shortage of people commenting against the signs. Regardless of these oppositional voices, it is refreshing to know there are churches making strides to include and support all people in their worship. For a list of other gay-friendly and affirming churches in Ohio please visit this link.

I mention these resources, because if there is anyone reading this blog that just does not know where to turn, I am certain you can find help at the places mentioned above. Just click on the link and you are on your way to a plethora of resources. If you are a parent who has just learned of a child's LGBT identity, please seek out these resources. They will help you to cope and to educate yourself about how best to support your child. If you are an LGBT person, look to these resources as an access point to community. I know I have found great support in making friends and interacting with others in the LGBT community. It has helped me to know myself and to learn my history.

To end this entry I would again like to quote Mary Griffith, "There are children like Bobby sitting in your congregations. Unknown to you they will be listening as you echo Amen, and that will soon silence their prayers. Their prayers to God for understanding, and acceptance, and for your love. But your hatred and fear and ignorance of the word gay will silence those prayers. So, before you echo Amen in your home and place of worship. Think, think and remember a child is listening."

Equality for all: We Must Protect all LGBTQ Youth from Bullying and Suicide

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:26:43 +0100

The recent suicidal deaths of several LGBTQ or perceived LGBTQ individuals greatly sadden us at EqualityToledo. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones of those individuals who have recently died. The recent news reports tell us about Billy Lucas, 15, who hanged himself on 9/9/10 at his Indiana home after years of reported harassment by students who judged him to be gay. Asher Brown, a 13-year-old in Harris, TX, who had reportedly recently come out, took his life with a gun on 9/23/10 after years of being picked on for his size, religion, clothing and perception that he was gay. Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old in Tehachapi, CA, who passed away on 9/28/10 after 9 days on life support from hanging himself. Police reported he had been mercilessly taunted by fellow students over his perceived sexual orientation. Tyler Clementi, 18, a Rutgers freshman, who leapt to his death on 9/22/10 from the George Washington Bridge after a roommate allegedly broadcast him via the Internet in a same-sex encounter behind closed doors in his dorm room. And Raymond Chase, a 19-year-old openly gay sophomore from Johnson and Wales, who hanged himself in his dorm room on 9/29/10.

Also, last week, in our own State, Tyler Wilson, an 11-year-old boy in Findlay was taunted with homophobic remarks and had his arm broken by two schoolmates who apparently assumed him to be gay because he decided to join a cheerleading squad that had been all-female. As a gymnast, he was interested in the athletic elements of cheering. Since returning to school, he's been threatened with having his other arm broken, too.

EqualityToledo is committed to continuing its work to protect and defend young people against bullying in schools and universities through our Safe Schools Project. While we know these are not new occurrences, the recent media attention around bullying of LGBTQ youth reminds us all of the seriousness of bullying and the fact that LGBTQ young people do not feel safe, accepted or protected.

Judy Shepard of the Matthew Shepard Foundations stated it well in her recent appeal: “Our young people deserve better than to go to schools where they are treated this way. We have to make schools a safe place for our youth to prepare for their futures, not be confronted with threats, intimidation or routine disrespect.

Quite simply, we are calling one more time for all Americans to stand up and speak out against taunting, invasion of privacy, violence and discrimination against these youth by their peers, and asking everyone in a position of authority in their schools and communities to step forward and provide safe spaces and support services for LGBT youth or those who are simply targeted for discrimination because others assume they are gay. There can never be enough love and acceptance for these young people as they seek to live openly as their true selves and find their role in society.

Suicide is a complicated problem and it is too easy to casually blame it on a single factor in a young person's life, but it is clear that mistreatment by others has a tremendously negative effect on a young person's sense of self worth and colors how he or she sees the world around them. Parents, educators and peers in the community need to be vigilant to the warning signs of suicide and other self-destructive behaviors in the young people in their lives, and help them find resources to be healthy and productive.”

We echo these sentiments. EqualityToledo’s Safe School Project is continuing to work to protect and defend LGBTQ young people in schools and universities. We are working to increase awareness so these senseless deaths that stemmed from bullying and harassment can be eliminated. We strive to live in a society where our youth can be who they are. We encourage your activism and support because we cannot do this work alone.

For additional resources to any LGBT youth contemplating suicide, we urge you to immediately reach out to The Trevor Project, day or night, at (866) 4-U-TREVOR [866-488-7386] or visit http://www.thetrevorproject.org/. The Trevor Project is a nonprofit endeavor established to promote acceptance of LGBTQ youth, and to aid in suicide prevention among LGBTQ young people.

Sincerely,

Sherry Tripepi, Executive Director

EqualityToledo