Comments on: Pastors lobby Congress to support LGBT bills http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/ The daily news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:11:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Dan http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55447 Dan Wed, 06 May 2009 18:45:16 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55447 Sarrellec, I think you may have misunderstood what is happening here. This Clergy Call isn't about ministers who have endorsed candidates from pulpits, attempted to cover up the sex-abuse scandal, or tried to oppose our rights. There have always been people of many faiths who support our rights: ministers who organize for LGBT equality, who speak out against injustice and discrimination, and who refuse to conduct marriage ceremonies until same-sex couples have the right to wed. They are finally becoming more visible. As I mentioned on another site, 56% of mainstream protestants and 58% of catholics believe society should accept homosexuality, according to the recent Pew Center poll. For Jews, the percentage is much higher. While evangelicals feel differently, there's a huge age difference, with most younger evangelicals supporting civil unions or marriage equality. People like James Dobson try to give the impression that all believers oppose our rights, but their ilk is part of a shrinking minority. Sarrellec, I think you may have misunderstood what is happening here. This Clergy Call isn’t about ministers who have endorsed candidates from pulpits, attempted to cover up the sex-abuse scandal, or tried to oppose our rights. There have always been people of many faiths who support our rights: ministers who organize for LGBT equality, who speak out against injustice and discrimination, and who refuse to conduct marriage ceremonies until same-sex couples have the right to wed. They are finally becoming more visible.

As I mentioned on another site, 56% of mainstream protestants and 58% of catholics believe society should accept homosexuality, according to the recent Pew Center poll. For Jews, the percentage is much higher. While evangelicals feel differently, there’s a huge age difference, with most younger evangelicals supporting civil unions or marriage equality.

People like James Dobson try to give the impression that all believers oppose our rights, but their ilk is part of a shrinking minority.

]]> By: Sarrellec http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55434 Sarrellec Wed, 06 May 2009 17:59:00 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55434 Don't get your hopes up. The simple truth is that with the recent almost world-wide rejection of the Pope's latest "we hate you because god said to" speech; the child-screwing Priest horror; the outing of preacher after preacher after preacher as either being a closeted gay or breeder married philanderer; the recent political fall-out of churches flouting (flouting?) the law regarding endorsing candidates from the pulpit... Anyway, they've been screwing up a lot lately. And they're being called on it. This is really just a case of CYA. Those speaking up now are just afraid that they will lose their special rights if they are caught up in a blanket reform of secular law regarding the crimes of religious organizations. As soon as it blows over, they'll be back with a vengeance. Just like the passage of state marriage equality laws. They're only as good as the next vote. As we've found out in California. So, most New England states now have equal marriage laws. NH is already on the brink of dissolving any same-sex marriages already performed in that state, just like California. This country will NEVER give up its theocratic base. There is just too much power connected with the religious control of the majority of the population who happen to be morons. Don’t get your hopes up.
The simple truth is that with the recent almost world-wide rejection of the Pope’s latest “we hate you because god said to” speech; the child-screwing Priest horror; the outing of preacher after preacher after preacher as either being a closeted gay or breeder married philanderer; the recent political fall-out of churches flouting (flouting?) the law regarding endorsing candidates from the pulpit…
Anyway, they’ve been screwing up a lot lately.
And they’re being called on it.
This is really just a case of CYA.
Those speaking up now are just afraid that they will lose their special rights if they are caught up in a blanket reform of secular law regarding the crimes of religious organizations.
As soon as it blows over, they’ll be back with a vengeance.
Just like the passage of state marriage equality laws.
They’re only as good as the next vote. As we’ve found out in California.
So, most New England states now have equal marriage laws.
NH is already on the brink of dissolving any same-sex marriages already performed in that state, just like California.
This country will NEVER give up its theocratic base. There is just too much power connected with the religious control of the majority of the population who happen to be morons.

]]> By: KaninZ http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55426 KaninZ Wed, 06 May 2009 17:44:05 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55426 I offer my sincere thanks to the Clergy Call folks and a tip of the hat to HRC. We need more voices of alliance within the faith community who are willing to take a stand against the religious extremists in America! /salute I offer my sincere thanks to the Clergy Call folks and a tip of the hat to HRC.
We need more voices of alliance within the faith community who are willing to take a stand against the religious extremists in America!

/salute

]]> By: David Wilson http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55409 David Wilson Wed, 06 May 2009 16:39:28 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55409 I am so proud of Pastor Robin and all the other 300+ clergy of MCC, UCC and allies in justice, who answered the HRC Clergy Call 2009 to go to the US Capitol and lobby the Senate on behalf of those whos voices have been silenced by HATE CRIMES against LGBTQ people. I salute your courage and commitment to do justice and walk humbly with GOD. I am so proud of Pastor Robin and all the other 300+ clergy of MCC, UCC and allies in justice, who answered the HRC Clergy Call 2009 to go to the US Capitol and lobby the Senate on behalf of those whos voices have been silenced by HATE CRIMES against LGBTQ people. I salute your courage and commitment to do justice and walk humbly with GOD.

]]> By: Ginelle http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55355 Ginelle Wed, 06 May 2009 12:41:18 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55355 It is wonderful to read articles such as this - a positive in what appears to be a sea of hate and discrimination towards the Gay community by the Religious community. There are religious organizations out there, including in Canada, the United Church of Canada, I am not certain what it is called in the United States, who have been gay positive for years and have recognized and welcomed their gay parishoners. As well, the Metropolitan Community Churches are a well known gay inclusive organization. So it is exciting to see all of these representatives from different religious organizations stand up with their gay brothers and sisters in the march towards obtaining full legal and equal rights in Washington. It is wonderful to read articles such as this – a positive in what appears to be a sea of hate and discrimination towards the Gay community by the Religious community. There are religious organizations out there, including in Canada, the United Church of Canada, I am not certain what it is called in the United States, who have been gay positive for years and have recognized and welcomed their gay parishoners. As well, the Metropolitan Community Churches are a well known gay inclusive organization. So it is exciting to see all of these representatives from different religious organizations stand up with their gay brothers and sisters in the march towards obtaining full legal and equal rights in Washington.

]]> By: Dan http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55320 Dan Wed, 06 May 2009 02:34:24 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55320 My last comment hasn't posted, so I'll try it again without the links. It looks like the 2009 Clergy Call isn't on Youtube yet, but if you do a search for Clergy Call, you'll see the 2007 event. One of the participants was a married, heterosexual, Pentecostal preacher speaking out for LGBT rights! I think he was even from Oklahoma. There's also a "highlights" video that shows brief snippets. My last comment hasn’t posted, so I’ll try it again without the links. It looks like the 2009 Clergy Call isn’t on Youtube yet, but if you do a search for Clergy Call, you’ll see the 2007 event. One of the participants was a married, heterosexual, Pentecostal preacher speaking out for LGBT rights! I think he was even from Oklahoma. There’s also a “highlights” video that shows brief snippets.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55314 Wayne Wed, 06 May 2009 01:49:14 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55314 This is good. The truth is that our community does have considerable support from the faith community, including Christians. I would like to see the general media give more coverage to the LGBT positive, supporting and affirming people of faith and less attention to the rather noisy and very bigoted religious right which does not speak for most Christians. This is good. The truth is that our community does have considerable support from the faith community, including Christians. I would like to see the general media give more coverage to the LGBT positive, supporting and affirming people of faith and less attention to the rather noisy and very bigoted religious right which does not speak for most Christians.

]]> By: Dan http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55311 Dan Wed, 06 May 2009 01:31:59 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55311 It looks like it isn't on Youtube yet, but here is the 2007 Clergy Call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78rmEBxteoM One of the ministers is a straight fundamentalist pentecostal speaking up for LGBT rights!! This video shows quick highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtHb3uO4Jk0&feature=related It looks like it isn’t on Youtube yet, but here is the 2007 Clergy Call:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78rmEBxteoM

One of the ministers is a straight fundamentalist pentecostal speaking up for LGBT rights!!

This video shows quick highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtHb3uO4Jk0&feature=related

]]> By: Vince http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55289 Vince Tue, 05 May 2009 23:46:09 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55289 Any videos of this protest? YouTube? It sounds too good. Any videos of this protest? YouTube? It sounds too good.

]]> By: Vince http://www.365gay.com/news/pastors-lobby-congress-to-support-lgbt-bills/comment-page-1/#comment-55288 Vince Tue, 05 May 2009 23:45:07 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7141#comment-55288 Any video of this protest? Youtube? Any video of this protest? Youtube?

]]>