Archive for LGBT issues
Seems Like…
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©2010 David Cohen • david@cohencidents.com
Have Faith
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Cross-posted from Jon Elliston’s report today in the Mountain XPress:
At a press conference this morning, an interfaith group of more than two dozen local religious leaders issued a “statement of appreciation” backing Asheville City Council’s recent vote in support of establishing same-sex domestic-partner benefits for city employees.
Standing on the steps outside First Congregational United Church of Christ, the church’s senior pastor, the Rev. Joe Hoffman, opened the conference. “This is an important step towards being a more just city for all of our people,” he said in reference to the Council vote. “And we want the City Council to know that we are grateful, and that we stand with them in this action.
“We are not here today to debate anyone’s religious views; rather, we see this as an issue of civil rights,” he continued. “Equal compensation for same-gender couples is a just measure [for] city workers and for Asheville. … We hope more people will become comfortable with this decision as they come to learn about it, and as they reflect on the fairness it promotes.”
Hoffman then read the group’s prepared statement:
“We, the leaders of a number of faith communities in Asheville, express our personal appreciation for the leadership and foresight of the Asheville City Council in proposing and moving toward a positive vote for domestic-partner benefits for city employees who are in same-gender relationships. As faith leaders, we are aware that the passage of this measure is significant to many members of our congregations, regardless of sexual orientation.
“We conclude that despite varying religious views about homosexuality, a civil society should work toward fairness and equitable compensation for everyone in the community, including public workers. Providing domestic-partner benefits for city employees who are in same-gender committed relationships contributes toward this goal and creates a stronger, family-supporting community, of which we are proud to be a part.”
Hoffman was followed by the Rev. Todd Donatelli from the Cathedral of All Souls, who started by noting how various city departments have aided his church and how committed city staff are to enhancing life in Asheville. “As citizens who benefit from the quality of life that these folks work to serve and protect, it is also our obligation to provide them with benefits as citizens and to serve and protect those benefits for all persons.”
Rabbi Rob Cabelli from Beth Israel Synagogue also spoke in support of the Council vote, as did the Ethical Society of Asheville’s Jackie Simms, the Rev. Byron Ballard, High Priestess Mother of Grove Goddess Temple, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville’s Rev. Mark Ward (see below for a list of the statement’s signatories.)
The press conference came on the heels of another conference called Feb. 10, where
severala few local ministers blasted Council for its vote. (click here to see Xpress’ report and video from that conference.)
Here’s the list of the statement of appreciation signatories, as of March 13:
- The Rev. Jim Abbott, Rector, St. Matthias Episcopal Church
- Rev. Byron Ballard, High Priestess Mother Grove Goddess Temple
- Rev. Bill Buchanan, Associate Minister, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
- Rabbi Rob Cabelli, Beth Israel Synagogue
- The Rev. Brian Cole, Cathedral of All Souls Episcopal
- The Very Rev. Todd Donatelli, Cathedral of All Souls Episcopal
- Rev. David Eck, Pastor, Abiding Savior Lutheran Church
- Rev. Dr. Paul Hamilton Fuller, IV, Episcopal, The Church of the Advocate
- Rev. Howard Hanger, Minister of Ritual, JUBILEE! Community
- Rev. Amanda Hendler-Voss, Co Pastor, Land of the Sky United Church of Christ
- Rev. Joe Hoffman, Senior Minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ
- Rev. Joyce Hollyday, Co-Pastor, Circle of Mercy
- The Rev. Deacon Bill Jamieson, The Micah Institute
- Katherine Kowal, Clerk, Asheville Friend’s Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
- Rabbi Batsheva Meiri, Congregation Beth Ha-Tephila
- Rev. Gabrielle Michel, Minister, Unity Church, West Asheville
- Rev. Anne Morgan, New Hope Presbyterian Church
- The Rev. Brent Norris, Rector, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
- Rev. Michael Poulos, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
- Rev. Mark Ramsey, Senior Minister, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
- The Rev. Canon Austin K. Rios, La Capilla de Santa Maria, Episcopal Church
- Rev. Steve Runholt, Minister, Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church
- Rev. Ken Sehested, Circle of Mercy
- Jackie Simms, Ethical Society of Asheville
- Rev. Shannon Spencer, Associate Minister, First Congregational United Church of Christ
- Rev. Margaret LaMotte Torrence, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church
- Rev. Mark Ward, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville
- Rev. Sara Wilcox, Co-Pastor, Land of the Sky United Church of Christ
The Fate Of Gay Conservatism
Posted by: | CommentsDavid Boze, Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute:
“It seems to me, that for the past 70 years or so, conservatives…have opposed the demands for liberation and equal rights by Jews, Blacks, Women, and Gay People. And now, Republicans wonder why they don’t get many votes from those groups. The good news is, that once each struggle for civil rights has been clearly won, conservatives accept it and insist that, in fact, they never opposed it.”
“After a generation of insisting that a mother’s place is in the home, conservatives spent 2008 declaring that the right place for a mother of five, one of them pregnant and one a newborn with special needs, is next-door to the Oval Office. But the Civil Rights struggle of our own time is that of gay and lesbian people and conservatives are still performing their traditional role of opposing it.”
I hope you’ll listen to the truly fascinating discussion over at The Daily Dish. Because as we’ve learned around here recently, you don’t have to be a Republican to be a bigot. Or even a white man.
Some Sex
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©2009 David Cohen • david@cohencidents.com
Esther Awesomeheimer
Posted by: | CommentsRep. John Lewis:
“We hurt our fellow citizens and our community when we deny gay people civil marriage and its protections and responsibilities. Rather than divide and discriminate, let us come together and create one nation. We are all one people. We all live in the American house. We are all the American family. Let us recognize that the gay people living in our house share the same hopes, troubles, and dreams. It’s time we treated them as equals, as family.”
John Lewis was a young leader of the Civil Rights Movement. He was 23 years old when he spoke at the 1963 March on Washington.
Dr. James Lawson:
“Gays and lesbians have a more difficult time than we did. We had our families and our churches on our side. All too often, they have neither.”
Rev. Dr. James Lawson is a distinguished United Methodist pastor who worked side-by-side with Dr. King training the young people who staged the lunch counter sit-ins and the Freedom Rides.
Andrew Young:
“I’d be disappointed if we did not approve this resolution. I think it would be consistent with our historic spirit of fairness and justice. But it also would be consistent with the spirit of grace and mercy as the path to peace and that you judge not that you not be judged.”
Andrew Young speaking about a United Church of Christ resolution affirming same-gender marriage equality. Young, a close friend of Dr. King during the civil rights movement, is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and mayor of Atlanta.
Julian Bond:
“That’s why when I am asked, ‘Are gay rights civil rights?’ my answer is always, ‘Of course they are…Rights for gays and lesbians are not ’special rights’ in any way. It isn’t “special” to be free from discrimination — that’s an ordinary, universal entitlement of citizenship.”
“They deserve the law’s protection and they deserve civil rights too. Sexual disposition parallels race — I was born black and I had no choice. I couldn’t and wouldn’t change if I could. Like race, our sexuality isn’t a preference — it is immutable, unchangeable, and the Constitution protects us against prejudices based on immutable differences.”
Corretta Scott King:
“I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice… But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King, Jr., said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’ … I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.”
“Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group.”
“We have to launch a campaign against homophobia in the black community.”
Pastor Keith Ogden:
“They’re trying to justify that it’s a civil right, and in our estimation it’s not a civil right.”
Mayor Terry Bellamy:
“I’m not going to support the motion. I’m not going to support it now and I’m not going to support it when the information comes back.”
Asheville’s Finest
Posted by: | CommentsJustin Parker, Asheville City employee:
“The revealed law is the Bible. That is our culture. That is our background as a nation and as a state…the Supreme Court of the United States has even called the United States a Christian nation. You cannot say that this argument today is totally aside from religion. My religion and Christianity as the Supreme Court has said…we are a Christian nation. My religion says that the purpose of government is to promote good and to quelch evil, and it also says that a homosexual lifestyle is sin. Therefore…you are naturally going to exclude some religions in this proposal…by taking this proposal you take the risk offending religions that are more in concomitance with the history of this nation.”
Rev. Hamilton Fuller, Church of the Advocate:
“…If we were to do a theological poll among…this community, my experience suggests that it would be as varied as there are people. This is a Liberty and Justice and Civil Rights issue.”
Mayor Terry Bellamy:
“I’m not going to support the motion. I’m not going to support it now and I’m not going to support it when the information comes back.”
Between a Rock
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©2009 David Cohen • david@cohencidents.com
Brother Bigot
Posted by: | CommentsFrom Yale University Divinity School’s Black Church Homophobia: What to Do About It?
“The Black Church community’s obstinate stance in regard to issues surrounding gay and lesbian rights is most striking when one considers both the historical black struggle for social equality and the Black Church’s prominent role within that struggle. It appears inconsistent, if not hypocritical, for the Black Church to be in the forefront of racial justice concerns, yet resistant, if not repressive, when it comes to the rights of non-heterosexual persons.”
From Rev. Dr. Kenneth Samuel, senior pastor of Victory for the World in Stone Mountain, Ga., and vice chair of the African American Ministers Leadership Council:
“Certain text in the Bible, as we know, had been used to support slavery in America for over 200 years,” he said. “Certain texts have been used to justify patriarchy and sexism,…militaristic warfare, beating of children…. We have toxic text in the Bible that needs to be interpreted in the light of the truth, and…from the light and lenses of the all-inclusive love of Jesus.”
“I am also proud to announce my support for an important piece of legislation introduced in both Houses of Congress last month — the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009. This legislation will extend to the same-sex partners of Federal employees the same benefits already enjoyed by the opposite-sex spouses of Federal employees…Extending equal benefits to the same-sex partners of Federal employees is the right thing to do. It is also sound economic policy. Many top employers in the private sector already offer benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees; those companies recognize that offering partner benefits helps them compete for and retain the brightest and most talented employees. The Federal Government is at a disadvantage on that score right now, and change is long overdue. As Americans, we are all affected when our promises of equality go unfulfilled. “
Mayor Terry Bellamy:
“I’m not going to support the motion. I’m not going to support it now and I’m not going to support it when the information comes back.”
Tradition
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SSDPB
Posted by: | CommentsAsheville Now is doing some stuff around the same-sex domestic partners benefits proposal that I’m bringing before City Council on February 9th. Here’s a brief video they shot of me offering the short form:
You can also have a look at the powerpoint presentation I’ll offer to Council by clicking here. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg report on SSDPB is here. A presentation to the Charleston, S.C. Chamber of Commerce extolling the virtues of promoting an inclusive community is here.
