De - ni - al.

that's why

The author tantalizingly posed the question: why does he still believe Christianity and gay rights can coexist at the beginning of the piece and then appears to have forgotten to seek a response for that most vital question of all!

I go to a large public university in the south, and although we have a gay and lesbian group and a "diversity task force," I think the majority of students are very intolerant (the euphemism for this in the south is "conservative"). There is a fraturnity here, AGR, and to me it epitomizes the old south. They fly the Confederate flag above our school flag. Anyways, a lot of times when I drive by their house I find myself consumed with hatred towards their small minds and big trucks. Somtimes I think about driving by and screaming in a deep southern accent "let's go beat some niggers!"

What I cant figure out is if my hatred for these intolerant jerks is just as horrible as their hatred for black people, gay people, etc. I tell myself that the only reason I hate them is because they hate other people.

I was amazed and appalled to see an an for Liberty University, Jerry Falwells's Liberty University, on the same page a an article about the possibility of fundamentalist Christianity, Jerry Falwells' Christianity, and gay rights coexisting! OMG! OMG! Maybe Salon has been running that ad for a long time and I just failed to notice it.

All I can say is "OH MY GOD!!"

I, too, wondered what happened to Jennings' reasoning on coexistence between Christian funamentalism and non-heterosexual orientations.

Perhaps that crucial part of the interview got edited out for some reason, or Jennings has come to the conclusion that many of us have: that funamentalist, evangelical, and pentacostal Christianity will never accept sexual orientations other than heterosexual. They barely acknowledge heterosex in any context other than procreation. By their teachings they have made it clear that sex is dirty; something to feel guilty about; something that can only be tolerated as an occasional necessary evil.

Given the mindset that about 24% of the American people have that the bible trumps the constitution, and that everyone should live the Christianist life, I don't see an easy road, or perhaps any road, for coexistence. To be gay and a fundie is not so different from being gay and a Roman Catholic: it's psychological suicide. And gays need to realize there is no place for them in many, many traditional Christian churches in this country, never mind the right wing variety.

And next to an interview regarding gay students and Christianist homophobia! Hello, where are the editors? This is insane. Someone's got some 'splainin' to do.

The Roman Catholic church, Fundamentalist churches...their stand on homosexuality is pretty clear. Why would gay people even WANT to be part of those bitter, bigoted, hatefull institutions? Why would gay people be so anxious to fork over their cash which is all these religions are really interested in. Maybe greater emphasis should be put on all enclusive new denomonations rather than fueling the bigotry of these existing churches. Create loosely knit religious communities where everyone can feel welcome and comfortable...that aren't based on money and power. Faith should be a very personal thing not institutionalized in Nazi-esque fashion. These large organized faiths are nothing more than money-making ventures that succeed by terrorizing members into strict rule and demonizing anyone who falls outside of their agenda.

Devotion to an organized religion does not equal morality. Indeed the venom spewed by these institutions is completely immoral. If faith and Christian beleifs are important ot someone who is gay they should celebrate it in a forum that is moral and posative, not wallow in a sewer of greed and hate.

What is with headlines lately that don’t reflect what the article is about? Guess we’ll never know why Jennings thinks Christianity and gay rights can coexist. But that’s not my point…

I very much believe that people should take stands and not remain in the closet even if that includes some sacrifice and risk. Jennings seems to believe that there is no risk or sacrifice that's too much. He seems cavalier even about the physical safety of minors that come out in school or their peers who support them:

“…the young [straight] man who was co-chairman of [GLSEN's] National Advisory Council was knocked unconscious in his high school because he started a Gay-Straight Alliance and was speaking up on these issues. That's part of why I have so much admiration for the young straight people in the Gay-Straight Alliances or the straight people on the GLSEN staff. They don't have to do this. They're choosing to put themselves at risk because they think it's wrong that I'm at risk. I think there's a special place in heaven for all of them.”

How ironic he mentions their place in heaven. It won’t seem so ironic though if a kid actually is killed nor will it provide much comfort to his/her family to hear that sort of thing as some semblance of condolence. (Not personalizing that to seem like it benefits him directly with no mention of anyone else might soften that.)

And Jennings seems to hold in contempt teachers who don’t come out of the closet. Depending on where someone lives, they could be sacrificing their career by coming out. Why is it not acceptable for someone to be active in the gay rights movement in other ways besides those that can crush their livelihood? Not everyone can afford to pick up and move to a city or area where they’re less likely to not run into problems being out.

Jennings comes across as callous in this interview. It happens to career activists too often. I think it’s because their lives are immersed in their cause and they forget that it’s not safe or practical for everyone to advocate for whatever cause to the same degree and in the same manner as they have. I’m highly idealistic and would love to see everyone sacrifice all they have for some causes but I’d never imply that those who don’t but still dedicate themselves in some amount, no matter how small, are worthy of contempt.

This article reminds me why I don’t do anything to directly help gay rights organiztions any longer. When I’ve been involved it became clear that the people I was working for were as narrow-minded in their idealism as their detractors are in their bigotry. There just wasn’t room or appreciation for anything less than dedicating your life and risking your personal safety for “the cause.” Fundamentalism is fundamentalism is fundamentalism. Anyone who thinks it's admirable for another to give up their life, literally or else, so they can benefit is scary.