Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mib@geech.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Michael I Bushnell) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Lesbian/Gay PRIDE day, suggestions... Message-ID: Date: 23 Jun 91 01:48:27 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Free Software Foundation, Cambridge, MA Lines: 83 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Well, I can say what I did when Boston held its annual pride day on June 8 this year. I went down, and saw a lot of people. That really sums it up. What I saw was parents, kids, fat people, skinny people, tall people, short people, men, women, blacks, whites, hispanics, asians, Christians, Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists, neo-pagans, and everything else you could imagine. It's hard to imagine a more diverse band of 96,000 folks. Well, almost hard. It's safe to say that they all had one thing in common: they were all supportive of the civil rights of lesbian and gay persons. I saw several people from my congregation, both gay and straight, but because we were poorly organized we didn't march together in the parade. I marched with some Episcopalians. Probably the high point was walking by the Arlington Street Church, with its rainbow flag proudly flown and its bells pealing loudly. It really made my day. In fact, the one thing the Christians of Boston did this year is support the parade. There were Catholics, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Evangelicals (yes, that's right), and probably quite a few groups I didn't get a chance to see. A group of monks (or were they friars?) waved support from their building (and flew the rainbow flag). They will doubtless be frowned upon by the local Catholic Bishop for doing so. To answer the specific questions of Bruce Benning, and how such thoughts would be viewed by me and my peers: -Would you follow the parade with your own "traditional relationship" rally? That would be seen as hateful. Frankly, I think that is about on a par as people holding "white pride" rallies. If you don't understand why "white pride" rallies are racist, and "black pride" rallies are not, in our society, then this will be lost on you. But for those of you who do understand the difference, there is a similar difference between gay pride rallies and "traditional relationship" rallies. -Would you talk to the participants about what is wrong with the selection they made for their sexual "orientation" according to G-ds word? Again, for me, that would be pointless. I'd point out that I don't think God's Word addresses the subject significantly, and certainly not in the way you suggest. I'd point to the priests, ministers, nuns, etc., marching with me, and suggest you talk to them. Also, you would find very few who felt they made any kind of selection at all. -Perhaps you would take the day off to go to the country with the family? Fine. But are you doing it because you don't want the family to see gay people happy and content? That would really be hiding the world from your children. If they are to grow up able to cope with the world, they need experience with it, even the parts you don't like. And, who knows? If they are gay, they will see a lot of positive role models from the parade. Someone at my church told me they were glad to see a young gay man in the church -- she said that if her son (about 10) is gay (she doesn't know) she's glad that I would be there as a role model. -Have a city wide 24 hour prayer vigil on June 22? Always a good idea to pray. What about congregations which openly affirm gay people? Are they to be included in your prayer vigil? I hope the prayers would be for "acceptance, tolerance, and understanding" and not "God, please teach those people how wrong they are"... -Maybe have a group of brothers and sisters join the party and tell everyone how much "we" support their cause. If you really meant it, that would be wonderful. You would be more than welcome to show up, march if you prefer, cheer, and have a good time. I'm unsure, by your wording, if you are sincere, however. If not, it would be better if you didn't come. Gay pride rallies are not productions for straight people to "laugh at the queers". -mib