Tuesday, March 31, 2009

CT: Alligning the Laws of the State: Civil Unions = Marriage

The State Senate of CT is voting to make gay marriage legal in that state. Currently, there are domestic partnerships/same-sex civil unions, but not gay marriage. They are going to take away the gender language in marital licenses, thus making gay marriage=straight marriage.

State by state.

Click here.

pace!

B

Sunday, March 29, 2009

The Making of Me: John Barrowman

One favorite t.v. show in our household is "Torchwood," a BBC-TV/America show on Sat. night. Tonight there was a t.v. show on "The Making of Me: John Barrowman," where John goes on a search for, a) is he objectively gay, and b) if he is gay, what made him gay: nurture or nature?

It turns out that, a) John is objectively gay, and that b) he was born gay, given three possible determining variables in the womb that determine if a person is gay.

When told by some in the Church that we have "chosen" to live this "life-style," it is becoming clearer and clearer that we have been made as people, by God's design, who happen to be what the modern world calls gay. It is either in our DNA, part of who we were made to be within the womb, totally out of the realm of choice or options.

Ps. 139: "Knit in my mother's womb" says the Psalmist.

Fascinating show.

We are gay by God's own design.

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Friday, March 27, 2009

Progressive Arkansas

Welcoming news from Arkansas: one of their House subcommittee that adoptions can happen among gay and straight couples:

A bill that would have banned domestic-partnership registries in Arkansas failed to move forward this morning in a house committee. The committee on city, county, and local affairs rejected the proposal in a voice vote.

Click here for more.

Progressive folks in Arkansas!

Pace! B

NC Legislative Process on LGBTQ Issues

There was a day of action for the LGBTQ community, where many folks went and met with various state Senators and Representatives in NC. Thanks to Equality NC for this endeavor/project.

Amid Delawareans moving forward, Hawaiians shut out of the progressive movement, NH and VT struggling to do what is right and good (in order to BE right and good), in terms of legislative battles for equality of marriage, non-discrimination in work place and housing, I read Pam's House Blend blog entry from the day of action in NC, with hat tip to towleroad.com for posting it. I was not surprised by the awkwardness of some of our African American brothers and sisters who know discrimination as well as any other minority group in America, and read this entry:

Our last stop was the most challenging one of the day -- a member of the black legislative caucus who supports the marriage amendment, Rep. Earline W. Parmon (D-Forsyth). She is a supporter of the Healthy Youth Act, and I believe she is in favor of the bullying bill. But on marriage -- her story was all too familiar. Our group of black LGBTs was standing right there as the questions were delivered by her constituents in the group (who happened to be white). The conversation was quite uncomfortable, but respectful.

Why is she in favor of the marriage amendment?

1) Because it's a "personal issue" for her. Her constituent pointed out that she is in the office because the voters in her district sent her to the General Assembly to represent them, not her personal feelings about legislation. That led the lawmaker to move on to the next reason...

2) "I'm a minister." She made it clear that she didn't want to have to disclose this bit of business, but since #1 didn't work out very well, this was the next hurdle to put up. I thought I was going to erupt. Thankfully I was at the back of the group near the door. The constituent, to her credit, challenged her on the issue of church-state separation, but Rep. Parmon wouldn't budge. Trying to have a reality-based conversation with someone who feels so strongly that there is no line between the two is like hitting a wall.

One of the black LGBTs with the group, in order to try to connect by humanizing the issue, told the story of friends of hers, a lesbian couple raising a child. One of the mothers is dying of a chronic illness, and in North Carolina there's nothing to legally protect them as a unit -- any will drawn up can be challenged by a homophobic family member, custody could be in jeopardy, and obviously there are myriad issues that are in play because of the lack of any kind of legal recognition.

Rep. Parmon was visibly moved by this story, but you could tell it left her in a quandry. That led to explanation #3.

3) " I'm not against anyone, one to one". She said this several times, as if to suggest that she's only protecting marriage by favoring the amendment, but is sympathetic to the concerns raised by the story of the lesbian couple. It's the classic "I'm really not a bigot" defense. No one wants to have that label placed upon them. Unfortunately that led Rep. Parmon to ramble into territory that was perilously close to civil unions without saying those words specifically. The problem, even if she only supports some limited legal recognition, is that the marriage amendment she supports says:

Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state."
That means no civil unions, no domestic partnerships, nada. It's written so broadly that even private company benefits offered to "same-sex spousal equivalents" could be jeopardized. If Rep. Parmon supports some kind of way for that lesbian couple to protect their family unit if one passes away, she's negating any possible solution by supporting the amendment.

I passed forward an information sheet with the language of the bill on it so that she knew that we knew that none of the above reasons were adequate defenses for adding discrimination into our state constitution. The fact sheet was left on Rep. Parmon's desk.

Afterwards we all commented how hurtful it was to be rendered "less-than" to our faces by this respected lawmaker, who, if she stepped into a time machine that took her only a few generations back in time, couldn't marry a person of the same race (because blacks were property, not full citizens), let alone someone of another race -- and the bible was used to justify that. She looked at the people in her office in the eye and said that she "respects you as a person", but would, without any guilt, vote to ensure you aren't equal in the eyes of the law. It was painful, just painful.

We've much work to do in educating people generally, and those in religious communities specifically.

Click here for more.

Thanks Pam!

I am currently trying to get a pre-existing group of clergy folks who are LGBTQ supportive together in NC to start addressing the educational component of how modern LGBTQ folks are, at least for the Jewish and Christian community, part of the body of believers...and equally so.

Pace!

B

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Trailer "Through My Eyes."

Hat tip to andrewsullivan.com.

This is a trailer for "Through My Eyes," the story of young men and women who are LGBTQ, and their experience of evangelical Christian churches and their youth groups.

I was once one of these young people, struggling with who I am, struggling with God and the Church about who I am, and struggling with life.

Still struggling, though the struggles have changed a bit.

Be moved.

Pace! B

My Friend Lisa

A few years ago I went to a gathering of the World Council of Churches in Kenya, along with three other folks from the USA. One of the other people at that gathering--focusing on the place and presence of people with disabilities in theological education--was Lisa Larges. Lisa is a woman who happens to be blind. She also happens to be a lesbian, and a Presbyterian candidate for ministry.

Lisa has been fighting for 20 years to be ordained as a Presbyterian Minister of the Word and Sacrament. Last Jan., it looked like there was movement within her Presbytery for letting her go on with her candidacy for ordination. This was blocked by a few folks in the Church, who objected to her candidacy, and the case went forth to the the judicial review process within the Synod.

Yesterday, the judicial process blocked Lisa from being ordained awhile longer, in part objecting to Lisa's conscientious objection to a part of the Constitution of the denomination meant to block the ordination of "out" LGBTQ people. Regardless of the closeted LGBTQ people in all factions of the Church--conservative and liberal alike--those who are "out" and in the candidacy process punished for being open and honest by having their ordination process halted because they are "out" about their significant relationships.

The case goes back to the Presbytery.

Click here for more reports:
Layman: click
Advocate: click
Presbyterian Outlook: click

Sigh...

Now people are watching to see how the rest of the votes on Amendment B go on within the Presbyteries, to see if there is an effect upon the votes pro or con.

God is doing something new in this world.

To quote Dylan, "Times they are a' changin'"

Pace, B

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Vermont's Governor: A New Hurdle

Gov. Douglas (R) of VT is now threatening to veto the bill that permits marriage for LGBTQ people in VT. Even though he could've said something earlier, before it went before the Senate and House for a vote (still waiting for the House but looking like a super majority passage), he waited until now.

Why?

He is saying that the state should focus on the economy.

But by vetoing the bill, the legislature will focus on this threat of a veto by continuing the debate, overriding (hopefully) the veto.

Towleroad gets the tip on this.

Click here.

What others are saying about the Gov. action? He was being pressured by the Republican party.

Pace!

B

More Presbyteries Welcoming of LGBT Ordination

Noticed this on the More Light Presbyterian website: more Presbyteries are voting pro-LGBTQ ordination than last time.

The question is: will it be enough to amend our Constitution/Book of Order?

Click here for more.

If there aren't enough votes, then there will be another overture to the next General Assembly, and the process will start again with counting votes at G.A., then to the Presbyteries.

Things are moving toward being a more integrated body...

Pace!

B

Monday, March 23, 2009

Vermont Senate: Same Sex Marriage Resolution Passes

Vermont's state Senate voted "aye" for same sex marriage!

The next hurdle? The VT House has to vote on the bill.

Then after both legislative houses (hopefully) pass it, the Gov. (hopefully) signs it.

Hopeful!

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

NC: Half and Half Regarding Constitutional Amendment...Sort Of

According to a poll done by Elon University, NC is more split about an amendment barring same sex "unions" or "marriages":

50 percent of respondents said that they oppose adding a ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution, while 43 percent supported it.

They did not support same-sex marriage, however.

On a separate question, 44 percent said they opposed any legal recognition for same-sex couples, 28 percent supported civil unions or partnerships that stop short of full marriage rights and 21 percent support full marriage rights.

Click here for more.

This is big news! I would've thought that there would've been more against LGBTQ marriage or civil union than possibly for it.

This is huge.

How progressive are we in NC?

Pace!

B


Being Out

I was moved by the story I first saw on towleroad, and followed up with the nyt.com link: Chance Nalley is going to be wedded or "committed" to his partner. There has been a little bit of an uproar because he invited his class, but overall, the reaction is fairly muted.

Click here for more.

The power of the story is that it really is getting to be a non-story: being in a wedding or commitment ceremony among LGBTQ people=not much in the way of news.

Pace!

B

Sunday, March 22, 2009

A Top Ten List That I Need to Remember!

From octopus-on-ice journal, this list to remember what is going on around us in American society:

1. Being Gay Is Not Natural
And real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning, tattoos, piercings and silicon breasts...

2. Gay Marriage Will Encourage People To Be Gay
In the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

3. Legalizing Gay Marriage Will Open The Door To All Kinds Of Crazy Behavior
People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has
legal standing and can sign a marriage contract. LampsPlants and Little Kids are next.

4. Straight Marriage Has Been Around A Long Time And Hasn't Changed At All
Hence why women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

5. Straight Marriage Will Be Less Meaningful If Gay Marriage Were Allowed
And we can't let the sanctity of Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage be destroyed.

6. Straight Marriages Are Valid Because They Produce Children
So therefore, gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our population isn't out of control, our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

7. Obviously Gay Parents Will Raise Gay Children
Since, of course, straight parents only raise straight children.

8. Gay Marriage Is Not Supported By Religion
In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

9. Children Can Never Succeed Without A Male And A Female Role Model
Which is exactly why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10. Gay Marriage Will Change The Foundation Of Society; We Could Never Adapt To New Social Norms
Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

Repost This If You Think LOVE Makes A Marriage!

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Friday, March 20, 2009

Webster's Dictionary Redefines Marriage to Include LGBT Folks!

This is huge: Webster's Dictionary redefined marriage to include same sex marriage (hat tip to andrewsullivan.com):

Click here.

Here's the redefinition, or the new revised standard version:

The new definition defines marriage as "the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law," but adds the term also applies to "the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage," WorldNetDaily reported Thursday.

The reason this is big? The dictionary is our resource for what a word describes, means, or "is." It is our primary narrative.

Wow!

pace!

B

Drumroll, Vermont!

Waiting this morning to see if the sub-committee in VT approves of gay--or equality of--marriage in VT.

What was interesting was the report of all the phone messages that certain Representatives were receiving.

Click here for more.

Yesterday I made phone calls to my state Senate and Representative in support of not endorsing the DOMA (Defense of Marriage Amendment) going through the state of NC.

Phone calls matter. Emails matter. Letters matter. Money matters.

Votes matter.

Pace!

B

p.s., late word is that it the bill is moving out of the subcommittee and to the full Senate of VT next week!

B

Thursday, March 19, 2009

"Don't Say Gay!" Really?

TN State Rep. Stacey Campfield is at it again: denying people of TN to say anything "gay" in the public schools of TN. "Don't Say Gay" is the name of the bill. I saw it blogged on queerty.com, and towleroad.com.

So let's suggest the following: offer the opposite in a bill to show how silly all this is. For example, with Prop. 8 passage, the idea of a bill amending the CA Constitution of divorce sounds about right. "Don't Say Gay": how about a bill of "Don't Say Straight"?

Click here for more.

Silly.

Pace!

B

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

As Goes Vermont...or is that New Hampshire?

NYT.com had a clip on the legislative battle going on in the state of VT in re: to equal marriage rights. While you can have a civil union, the state legislature is debating whether or not marriage equality is now the call of the day. The Governor could veto the measure, and there is a question as to if the votes are there to over-ride a veto.

Click here.

Meanwhile, NH is also debating the issue.

Boy oh boy! This is not boring stuff!

Meanwhile, the Pope has made it known in Africa that condoms are not a solution per se to HIV/AIDS.

Really!?

I say this, as a brother in Christ: you are wrong, Pope Benedict. Very, very, wrong.

Pace!

B

Q-Notes Calls!

Oh!

One more thing: Q-Notes--the LGBTQ magazine of the Carolinas--and I are working on a new monthly column on gay parenting.

Stay tuned!

Pace!

B

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world!

Loved the movie.

Now this: in Maine, the CLERGY are inviting the legislators out for breakfast to push for marriage equality.

That's right: the CLERGY are pushing it.

I got the link from towleroad, which took me to the Seattle Times (don't ask), and the article only cited a Unitarian Universalist pastor, but no other denominations.

Any PCUSA, UMC, UCC, ELCA, etc. clergy involved as well?

Click here for more.

Pace!
B

Knights Out!

I caught this story on towleroad.com re: Knights Out (KnightsOut.org), a group of LGBT people who are former cadets from West Point who are now graduates of this military institution. They "officially" came out yesterday, showing up in the Navy Times, with a link to their website: www.knightsout.org.

Click here for more.

So this got me to thinking: an LGBT website of clergy who are out in the PCUSA, or in all our various denominations. While we have our various groups that support LGBT folks in the denomination, we don't have a group of out LGBT pastors, Christian educators, counselors, administrators, etc.

Times are changing.

Pace!

B

Sunday, March 15, 2009

WE TV "Surprise Wedding"? Are you kidding me?

On WE T.V., there is a show that blew me away: "Surprise Wedding." Women, dressed in wedding gowns, propose to their boyfriends. The boyfriends then are put in a room and can call people to find out if they should or shouldn't get married. At the conclusion of the show, the girlfriend is in a wedding dress, flowers in hand, and the boyfriend, in tux, either asks for the girl's hand in marriage or not.

IF they say "I will," then there is a minister who appears out of nowhere and they are married right there, on the spot.

Really?

And we who are LGBTQ who want to get married, who take marriage seriously that we are doing all kinds of things to get married, cannot get married?

On this show there is no counseling, no other family members present, none of the discussions that go into marriages. It is simply "Slam bam thank you mam!?"

Amazing!

Again: why can't we get married? Weddings/marriages on this show are a sham.

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Friday, March 13, 2009

Gay Marriage: Healthy For Children

A study in VT has confirmed what many of us already know through anecdotal evidence (a.k.a., living it): gay marriage is good for the health of kids! And it is probably pretty darn good for the couples as well.

Sigh..

Here's the story below:

On Monday, Vermont mental health organizations and human service groups banded together to release a statement in favor of gay marriages, saying that, far from being detrimental, allowing an LGBT couple to marry could be the very best thing for children in their care, turning the argument against gay marriage on its head by effectively suggesting that it is gay marriage opponents who are creating unstable families by keeping gay parents apart.

Opponents to gay marriage often cry "Think of the children", but Jackie Weinstein of the University of Vermont's Human Development and Family Studies program said that, "We [the coalition group] felt it was important for us to set the record straight about the scholarly literature in our field, and we have lots of different families and the best thing to do for all children is to support parents the best way we can," which was why she and other representatives would be recommending same-sex marriage be allowed when a gay marriage bill, HB 178, is debated in the Vermont senate next week.

The group's consensus, which also includes the Vermont sector of the National Association of Social Workers, also drew a distinction between civil partnerships for LGBT couples and marriage, saying that the latter would validate a same-sex couple in the eyes of society in a way that a civil partnership could not.

Click here for more.

What most of us who have any background in social scientific research know is that what many of these studies do is confirm what we already knew in our gut. The studies do give a kind of legitimacy to what many of us already deduced.

Pace!

B

As Goes Maine

Reading on queerty.com, that took me to Portland Press Herald, Maine had 60 legislators that wanted to co-sponsor a bill making Maine another state where gay marriage can take place!

What gives?

Coming from Portland, OR, there is a sense of "live and let live." There is a gung-ho pioneer spirit.

Is this the same with Maine? If you're gay or straight, marry if you want?

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Health Care Benefits and the Federal Government: It Matters

Before I was denied tenure at Duke University because I'm gay, for a brief time, my partner was able to share some of my benefits that he did not get at UNC, namely dental insurance. I remember the voice of the Duke administrator of benefits who knew me as a married man, now halting as he asked if and who my partner was. Nonetheless, he qualified for the benefit.

It was one of the nicest perks I miss from Duke, along with financial remuneration for my children's college costs...sigh!

News from nyt.com this morning regarding sharing benefits with same sex partners and the Federal government. Judges are saying that the Federal government has to allow partners the opportunity share benefits, but the Office of Personnel Management is saying "no" because of DOMA.

Here's the thing--and a good thing: Mr. Obama wants to over-turn DOMA! That's what has said in numerous speeches.

So if he overturns DOMA--along with Congressional approval--then Federal employees get benefits.

And if Federal employees get benefits for same sex partners, state governments will have to look seriously at such opportunities.

And then communities of faith are given examples.

Domino?

Well, at least an example.

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Mr. Steele and Gay Marriage/Domestic Partnership

The Republican National Committee leader, Michael Steele, is pretty supportive of those of us who are LGBTQ. In a snippet on salon.com, Michael Steele comes out for states making decisions on gay marriage (Click here). And on towleroad.com, there is a snippet where Michael Steele knows that you cannot turn homosexuality on or off:

"Well, my position is, hey, look, I have been, um, supportive of a lot of my friends who are gay in some of the core things that they believe are important to them. You know, the ability to be able to share in the information of your partner, to have the ability to—particularly in times of crisis—to manage their affairs and to help them through that as others—you know, as family members or others—would be able to do. I just draw the line at the gay marriage. And that’s not antigay, no. Heck no! It’s just that, you know, from my faith tradition and upbringing, I believe that marriage—that institution, the sanctity of it—is reserved for a man and a woman. That’s just my view. And I’m not gonna jump up and down and beat people upside the head about it, and tell gays that they’re wrong for wanting to aspire to that, and all of that craziness. That’s why I believe that the states should have an opportunity to address that issue..."

He says it's a state issue:

"Absolutely. Just as a general principle, I don’t like mucking around with the Constitution. I’m sorry, I just don’t. I think, you know, in a pluralistic, dynamic society as the one that we have, every five years you can have a constitutional convention about something, you know? I don’t think we should be, you know, dancing around and trying to amend it every time I’ve got a social issue or a political issue or a business issue that I want to get addressed. Having said that, I think that the states are the best laboratory, the best place for those decisions to be made, because they will then reflect the majority of the community in which the issue is raised. And that’s exactly what a republic is all about."

Mr. Steele? Really?

O.K.!

Pace!

B

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

WA State, Iowa, MN...Making Us Couples Legal

The legalization of our coupled-relationships continue to spread: WA state is joining others states with legal domestic partnership, and Iowa is taking up gender-neutral language to marriage, while MN is also going full speed ahead, despite a certain openly gay representative who does not understand that justice delayed IS justice denied.

Click here for WA;

Click here for Iowa;

Click here for MN.

Why is this good news? Because those of us who are in long term relationships are treated as second class citizens with none of the protections that couples get, yet we pay the same taxes that support straight married couples. Taxation and representation and benefits? Why not?

Not only that, but marriage or domestic partnership does not mean that we "fit" or use the exact same paradigm of gender-specific roles. We bring in a shot of energetic imagination as we re-configure what it means to be a couple family, with or without children.

Good morning, America!

Pace!

B

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

THAT Photo

There is much abuzz about a photo that was captured last week in the rally happening outside the Supreme Court of CA re: the constitutionality of the amendment prohibiting gay marriage in CA. The "buzz" was on Dan Savage's site, along with Andrew Sullivan, towleroad, etc.

The sign was simple and straightforward...and hateful:

"Dan White: Hero for killing a queer."

Click here for the image.

This is a reminder of the country where we live, where nooses hang from trees in high school courtyards, women are kept out of certain jobs because of their gender, and hate-crimes against LGBTQ people happen.

Pace!

B

Monday, March 9, 2009

Fear Mongering

Caught this on andrewsullivan.com that I missed in reading the material on the rally against gay marriage in North Carolina:

t an anti-gay marriage rally Tuesday in Raleigh, North Carolina, David Gibbs III, the Christian fundamentalist lawyer who fought to keep brain-damaged Terry Schiavo on life support in 2005, publicly expressed his deep-seated fear of machine love. From the News & Observer:
(Gibbs) told rally participants gay marriage would "open the door to unusual marriage in North Carolina.

"Why not polygamy, or three or four spouses?" Gibbs asked. "Maybe people will want to marry their pets or robots."

Pace!

B

Bob and Jack Reconsider Marriage!

Bob and Jack, of "Bob and Jack's 52 Year Adventure" spoke out and are re-considering marriage. Even though at first glance they chose not to get married, they are aware of the issue of benefits that are given by state to married couples denied to gay couples who are not married:

The only reason to marry at their age, the couple say, is to receive marriage benefits. Given another chance to say “I do,” they say they probably would, but history makes them hesitant.

“I suppose it’s because for so many, many, many years and centuries, men have not married men, and women have not married women,” Claunch said. “We’ve been brought up not having anything like that, not wanting anything like that ... and it is not easy to cross over that line.”

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Missing in the 2010 Census

According to the Long Beach, CA Press-Telegram, we LGBTQ couples will be missing in the next census. Because of Clinton's signing of DOMA (and he was for gay rights, yes?!), we are not considered, um, relevant or even a matter of empirical proof. After all, if we have no marriage certificate, or civil union certificate, we don't exist.

So what do we do with the couples in CA or MA who are married? Or those in civil unions from CT, NJ, or VT? Don't they exist? Can't they be counted?

What gives?

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Friday, March 6, 2009

Spirit's moving...

I don't know what to make of all this news around the nation except that the Spirit of God is moving mightily regardless of what some people may think and believe:

* Californians await the decision of the Supremes, but the issues of LGBT marriage are front and center, and publicity of any kind is good publicity;

* North Carolinians continue to wrestle with equal rights and marriage for all;

* VT may be a state that welcomes with open arms ALL who wish to marry;

* MN is now in the legislative process of approving LGBT marriage rights/civil unions;

* Hawaii continues to discuss the issue legislatively.

Something is stirring people's hearts and minds toward equality for all.

Pace!

B

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

North Carolina and the Unbiblical Families in the Bible

All right: so we're off and running, with certain Republican legislators trying to help write into law, into the state of NC constitution, the sanctioning of homophobia in declaring (erroneously) that marriage is only between a man and a woman, just like it says in the Bible. There was even a reading of Genesis 2--of course in English without an appreciation for any kind of interesting exegesis in re: to the real meaning behind the word and name "Adam," etc.--along with much political posturing. 1000 Southern Baptists and Free Will Baptists and other groups were there. Undoubtedly there will be a rally of those of us who are opposed to amending the Constitution in the coming days, weeks, and months.

It must be spring in NC.

The push is to amend our state constitution so that we look like all the other states around us.

Click here for more.

Here is where it gets ticklish: the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) reveal the stories of so many ways of being "family" (to begin, this is a word not found in the Greek New Testament by the way) that defy our 1950s understanding of "nuclear family" (itself a modern term in this post-modern age).

Rodney Clapp--formerly of IVP now of Brazos Press--does an excellent job at debunking the nuclear family=traditional family=biblical family in his book FAMILIES AT THE CROSSROAD (IVP), as I do in ON BEING A GAY PARENT.

Strictly, biblically, and in terms of Church history: marriage in the Bible has been always more than about one man and one woman.

To begin with, if you want to talk about family in the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures, then we have to begin with the practice of polygamy, which is also practiced by American families today in the Mormon tradition. Biblical families=polygamy. And if there are any questions about it, let's simply look at Sarai and Abram to begin with, along with Hagar and Ishmael.

Quite the biblical family there!

Or what about Jesus' parents, who were not wed when Jesus was conceived?

Does this fit a traditional biblical family?

So in advancing a biblical understanding of the family, do we include the entirety of the biblical family, including out-of-wedlock pregnancies and polygamy?

Just wondering...

Pace!

B

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Getting an Obama Review!

This is big news! Pres. Obama and his administration are looking over the military policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Former Pres. Bush wouldn't even go this far.

Click here for more.

Now to get some communities of faith to start looking over their covert Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Pace!

B

New Jersey: Gov. Corzine Supports Equal Rights with Gay Marriage

I am a son of New Jersey (along with OR, NC, and a few other places). I grew up from ages 4-12 years old in the Garden State, along with time at Princeton Seminary during my 20s. I know the beauty of the state beyond Elizabeth and Newark's line of large refining fires, or Camden's down-town plight.

The beauty of the Garden State increased with news that Gov. Corzine supports gay marriage, and would sign it into law if given an opportunity.

Click here for more.

Pace!

B

Monday, March 2, 2009

Love for All

Enjoy this classy Youtube.

Thanks to John Leonard for the tip!





Pace!

B

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Stopped in Our Tracks! NM not moving forward!

In NM, the legislative process has pushed the hope of many LGBTQ people.  A state-wide domestic partner bill has died in the process of being debated.  10 Democrats joined the rest of the Republicans on a sub-committee to kill the bill.

The reason for killing the bill?

Religious forces.

Read here for more.

Pace!

B