After the Pride parade in New York this past week-end, we were walking around the city, we happened upon Times Square Church. The doors were open and people were moving about, so we went inside. We were particularly interested in their signs out front stating, "Everyone is welcome," and "Only THE TRUTH shall set you free." Curious, we went to the information table and asked a nice young lady named Haley, (an intern at the church) whether or not we, as a married lesbian couple, would be welcome. Haley explained to us what she has been trained to say. “Of course you are welcome. I hope that you feel a warm welcome, but we do not believe that homosexuality is right, and we believe that the Bible is very clear in stating that it is wrong.”
The following picture is one that Roby took at Pride in New York.
Why do some people in churches "get it," while others don't? Why do some Lutheran churches "get it" while other Lutheran churches don't? Why doesn't Times Square Church, where the sign says, "Everyone is welcome" not "get it?" Why do we make God so small, when God is so BIG?
We had a very friendly and engaging conversation with Haley. During the course of the conversation, we were able to share a bit of our stories with her, only to find out that her aunt, a person of faith--a Christian, is lesbian. Haley said, "I know she has really struggled with finding a church that accepts her." Before we left, we gave her one of our rainbow wristbands so that she could visit our website.
Once again, mission accomplished. We didn't change Haley's mind about us, or her aunt (whom she obviously loves), but we engaged Haley's heart and mind, and had an authentic connection. We all parted ways feeling empowered. A seed planted.
In conversing with Haley, we realized that we engaged with someone who is part of a minority, a politically powerful group of people to whom our community has given far too much power.
Reading a recent article in the Advocate reminded us how true that is. In the article “The Breakdown of Boycotts,” a guy who lives in Kansas City, is married with a wife and children, and is a devout Christian who attends a nondenominational church every Sunday, pays no heed to boycotts by antigay groups. He says, “The religious right is not a group of people I’d choose to be aligned with.” In fact, he said he isn’t even aware of what companies have been boycotted. “Maybe that is why a series of antigay boycotts championed by Christian groups like Focus on the Family and the American Family Association have flopped,” says John Green, senior fellow in religion and American politics at the nonpartisan, non-advocacy Pew Form on Religion and Public Life. John continues, “While Christian conservatives are a large minority, they are not the majority.”
That last line is the key. Yes, Christian conservatives are a large minority, but they are still a minority, NOT a majority. Our GLBTA (yes, allies too), and queer and questioning community tend to forget that. This particular amnesia causes us to be silent, when silence is not only unnecessary, but is not productive or empowering for creating change in our society.
We dialogued with one another regarding how to continue reaching our own community (including allies). What is it going to take for each of us to be willing to risk as much as we are asking others to risk? Have we not reached the point of perpetual discomfort needed to create change in our own community? Any feedback? We would love to hear from you.
As we approach July 4, Independence Day, we are reminded that freedom is not free. It requires taking risks. We are encouraging to seize the month of July (represented by one day, July4) as an opportunity to move closer toward living authentically in our lives by hosting a Stand UP Speak OUT Event. It is very simple. Click here to find out more about it. Please join us in creating freedom for our community! Dotti & Roby
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