The Writing on the Wall

Trey Smith

Amidst all the political races and ballot initiative votes yesterday, something very positive happened in the State of Illinois. The legislature passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The governor has said he will sign it and, when he does, Illinois will become the 15th state to legalize it. That means that same-sex marriage will be legal in nearly one-third of all states.

Who would have imagined this only a generation or two ago? This development helps to explain why conservatives are running around the country as if their hair is on fire! They see the writing on the wall. At the rate we're going, same-sex marriage will be a non-issue in another generation or two. Soon, maybe we can start tackling REAL problems -- not made-up religious ones -- like global warming or ever-widening income disparity. Ya know, the kinds of problems that impact almost everyone...regardless of your nationality, skin color, gender or sexual orientation.

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Beans and Carrots

Trey Smith

The same ancient text that condemns unto death same-sex unions also condemns unto death those who work on the Sabbath, those who plant different crops side by side, and those who wear clothes made from different threads, with nary a word of condemnation for the institution of slavery or the brutal subjugation of women...and as long as there are people whose personal hypocrisy moves them to cherry-pick lines from that ancient, outdated text to justify their hatred (while wearing cotton-polyester blend shirts at the office on Saturday after fiddling with the beans and carrots and potatoes and cucumbers in their garden), we will never truly be free of it.
~ from He Can Marry, She Can't Vote: Another Day in Deranged America by William Rivers Pitt ~

If one believes the Holy Bible to be the unvarnished word of the everlasting Almighty, how can any upstanding Christian man or woman descend on Walmart on a Saturday or Sunday (depending on which is viewed as the holy Sabbath) to buy, buy, buy?

For a period of my early adulthood, I lived in Arkansas -- smack dab in the Bible Belt. When the Blue Laws were lifted -- they impeded the god of moneymaking -- the good Christians among us wrung their hands. But though they wrung their hands and shook their heads, it stopped few of them from flocking to all the commercial centers as soon as church let out! They would go prancing down the aisles throwing crap in their shopping carts just like all those hedonistic atheists!

It amazes me that this one prohibition -- homosexuality -- which is given scant mention in the holy text receives SO MUCH attention from fundamentalist Christians. Jesus never uttered one word on the topic. There are only 3 or 4 different verses where the subject is broached at all. Yet, by the way these fundamentalists focus on it, one would think the main purpose of the Bible is warning against the "evils" of same-sex intimacy.

What illustrates the preposterous nature of this supposed major indictment is that other prohibitions -- some of which are listed alongside the few brief lines on homosexuality -- are almost completely ignored. Rivers Pitt notes a few of them. There is another one (from Leviticus or Deuteronomy, I think) which states that a woman on her period must be shut away for a certain length of time. Why don't fundamentalist pastors rail about these and how modern society is disregarding the holy word?

But the one thing that should make ANY rational human being understand the arbitrariness of this supposed "holy" text is that, while homosexuality is condemned, slavery somehow gets a free pass. A man kissing another man is wicked, but one human being owning another human being is a-ok in God's view?

If that is His view, I don't share it and I am certainly not going going to worship a being with such a capricious moral standard!

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Derivations on a Theme -- A "Queer" Embodiment of Tao

Trey Smith

In Scott's post this morning, he brought up the fact that he heard the word "queer" used in a proactive, not reactive, sense. After pondering this usage, he has decided to be an "aspiring queer."

One of the main points shared with us by Laozi and Zhuangzi is this idea that making distinctions separates us from our innate nature. We deem some distinctions to be good and moral, while others are deemed to be bad and immoral. As I often mull this ideation over in me noggin, it has spurred me to wonder if bisexuals embody Tao -- at least, in the realm of sexuality -- more readily than their heterosexual or homosexual brethren.

I write this as a self-identified heterosexual male. Though I believe the basic framework of an individual's sexual orientation is bio-chemical, in nature, I do think that environmental factors come into play as well. While someone like myself may be biologically predisposed to be attracted to the opposite gender, there are many things each of us may be predisposed to that we change or become changed throughout our lives. For example, a person might not favor a certain food, aroma or style of music when young, but then develops an affinity for the same thing when older.

Because I remain "turned on" by females and their anatomy, it concurrently means I am "turned off" by males and their anatomy. I have made a distinction between the two genders that is not that much different from those who are "turned on" by someone of their own gender and "turned off" by someone of the opposite gender. On the contrary, a bisexual individual doesn't appear to have this turned on/turned off switch which, in my mind, means they are able to love more freely and fully. They don't see these distinctions that the rest of us have created.

So, while the main of society views the bisexual as deviant, I am left to wonder if those of us who are heterosexual and homosexual are the actual deviants. It is we, not they, who have erected barriers and made distinctions where none may exist.

On (Not) Being "Queer"

Scott Bradley

While writing the previous post, "By Nature Warped", it struck me how applicable avoiding the straightening board and embracing one's 'warpedness' is to the LGBTQ community. Their liberation has a lot to teach us all; listening to the testimonies of those who have 'come out', one thing seems to always stand out -- a personal liberation from inner conflict.

But then I also began to worry that you might think that I am gay. I apologize that that should matter to me; my own liberation to true SNAG-hood ("Straight New-Age Guy") is still incomplete.

Not long ago I was listening to the local community radio (serving "The Ridge", supported by "anything 'green' hydroponics", by way of ensuring its liberal credentials) when the announcer made reference to LGBT's and Queers; I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. I expected apologies for an enormous mis-speak, but none was forthcoming. Since then I have heard others proudly declare themselves "queer". What is queer? I'm dying to know. Whatever it is, more power to you.

Until I am informed otherwise, I am going to assume that "queer" refers to those who have fully embraced who they are and don't give a damn what others think of them. If this is the case, then I would like to declare myself an aspiring queer.

Since space remains, I'd like to share a personal anecdote. Years ago, while in seminary, I was reading the bulletin board and saw an announcement for a meeting promoting the ordination of gay ministers. An acquaintance standing beside me declared himself for it. "Practicing gays!" I exclaimed. "No," he replied, "ones that are really good at it." Amen.

You can check out Scott's other miscellaneous writings here.

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10, 18 and 21

Trey Smith

For social conservatives, these must be maddening times. While they desperately want to hold on to the "old ways," US society, as a whole, gradually is growing more progressive. This goes a long way toward explaining why conservatives are becoming more shrill -- they realize they are losing ground and, within another generation or two, they will be a distinct minority.

Last week Rhode Island became the 10th state to legalize same-sex marriage. While this figure only represents one-fifth of the states, the number leaning this direction continues to grow. There is a good chance that Delaware will follow suit in the next few weeks. Before we know it, the number will swell to one-third and then one-half. In time, it won't be that big of an issue at all...except in the minority of states still ruled by social conservatives.

Also last week, Maryland became the 18th state to repeal the death penalty. That now means that more than one-third of the states have decided that capital punishment is not the way to go, even for the most serious crimes. Instead of the state murdering people, the worst sentence will now be life in prison without the possibility of parole. We will soon join the rest of the modern world in outlawing the death penalty.

Maryland also became the 21st state to legalize medical marijuana. When you combine this number with the two states that simply have legalized pot outright -- Colorado and Washington -- we are almost up to fifty percent. It is too bad that the federal government remains behind the times, but the day is coming when they will be forced to change their tune.

There remain many vexing problems facing our society, but in terms of social issue, we seem to be headed in a progressive direction. Yeah!

Waiting...

Trey Smith

Upon arising yesterday, my wife and I gathered in the living room to wait. It was tedious. Nothing ominous seemed afoot. We waited for a good long while, yet nothing appeared different.

I suggested that we should go look for it. Maybe it was hiding somewhere else. We looked in the laundry room and it wasn't there. We went to the kitchen to check the cabinets and drawers. Not there either. We checked the bedrooms, closets, basement and bathrooms. I even looked in the toilet. Nada.

We went outside. We checked the yard and still found nothing. Everything seemed to be in its proper place. So, we headed back to the living room. And we waited.

We waited all day for the quintessential moment that never came. When we retired for the night, nothing had been torn asunder. Our marriage was still intact and as strong as it had ever been.

You see, yesterday in the State of Washington, hundreds of marriages were performed for gay and lesbian couples. Yesterday marked the first day that homosexuals could make use of the recently passed ballot initiative allowing same-sex marriages in our state. Opponents of this measure had said that allowing gays to marry would irreparably harm the institution of heterosexual marriage.

But I'm here to tell you that nothing like that happened! My marriage with Della is the same as it was ten years ago, yesterday or today. We waited and waited for some miraculous change to occur and this change never arrived.

So, hats off to those committed couples who were finally allowed to solemnize their love for each other in a legal ceremony. Marriage can be a beautiful thing and I wish each and every one of you all the best.

Could It Be?

Trey Smith

I few days ago I shared with you the information that I voted in favor of legalizing marijuana and same-sex marriage in my state of Washington. I also told you that I was supremely confident that neither initiative had ANY chance of passage. To be quite candid, I thought it was more likely that pigs would fly!

Well, just to show how well I understand the pulse of Washington voters, a recent poll from Seattle's NBC affiliate, King 5, shows that both measures stand a better than even chance of being passed!

The ballot initiative to legalize marijuana, as of 5 days ago, showed 56% in favor, 37% in opposition with 7% not sure. Unless the pollsters are way off or something really strange happens in the last few days of the campaign, this measure should pass easily. The same-sex marriage initiative is a bit closer, but 52% say they will vote in favor.

If either of these ballot measures passes, I will be overjoyed, to say the least. I also will be completely flabbergasted. I truly thought we were at least a decade or two away from such victories.

Of course, I am a realist too. If one or both of these measures pass, I'm very confident neither will go into effect anytime soon. As it almost always happens, the opposition will file lawsuits and/or injunctions against to try to thwart the will of the voters. What this means is that the passage of one or both measures will represent a symbolic victory in the short-term and who knows what in the long-term.

But I've been wrong before!

Tilting At Some Windmills

Trey Smith

As I have pointed out repeatedly, I am not casting votes for ANY candidates in this election. (You can't cajole me to change my mind because my mail-in ballot already is filled out and sealed.) If it were not for several initiatives, I would have thrown my ballot in the recycle bin!

There are two measures on the ballot here in Washington state that I voted in favor of, though I don't believe either of them will pass. One has to do with legalizing marijuana and the other legalizes same-sex marriage. While the first one would provide a great economic boost to the state coffers, I simply don't think the majority will go along with it. In fact, I will be pleasantly surprised if marijuana is legalized in this state during my lifetime.

I don't think the same-sex marriage initiative will pass this year either, but I do see the day coming -- possibly during my lifetime -- when it will no longer be a controversial issue for the majority of citizens. Recent polls have indicated that young people from all walks of life are much more open to same-sex marriage than previous generations. As the old conservative farts die off, legislatures and voters will begin to approve such laws in quick order.

Issues concerning homosexuality used to represent a distinct dividing line between Democrats and Republicans, but no more. The backers of our same-sex marriage ballot initiative have been running ads in which a few Republican leaders have come out publicly IN FAVOR of it.

Even conservative judges are beginning to notice the writing on the wall.

Equality moved a step closer for gays and lesbians on Thursday when a conservative judge ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.

Judge Dennis Jacobs is the chief judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

George Bush I appointed him, and Jacobs is known as one of the most conservative judges on the court.

The case involved the lesbian couple, Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, who had been together for forty-four years and who married in Toronto in 2007. When Spyer died two years later, Windsor had to shell out $300,000 in estate taxes that she would not have owed if her spouse had been a man.

Judge Jacobs ruled that this discrimination was unconstitutional because it violated the equal protection clause.

Jacobs also ruled that laws that discriminate against gays and lesbians require “heightened scrutiny” to pass muster.

In this case, the law against same-sex marriage did not clear that hurdle because the ban was “not related to an important government interest.”

With developments like this afoot, same-sex marriage will become the law of the land sooner as opposed to later. Now that's something to celebrate.

Afternoon Matinee: Lewis Black on Gay Bandidos

Outrage and Apathy I

Trey Smith

All my posts today -- with the exception of the ongoing TTC Line by Line series -- will be focused on a superb column, Five Lessons from Chick-fil-A, by David Sirota. In this post, I simply will share his introductory remarks. Each subsequent post will focus on one of his five bullet points.

There are so many reasons to both uncontrollably laugh at and be intensely disgusted by last week’s brouhaha over Chick-fil-A. With droves of American eaters rewarding the company with record sales for its CEO’s public rant against gay marriage, you can let out that same chuckle you release when you watch Coen Brothers characters — you guffaw at the paranoia, the sheer stupidity and the irrational animus of a bewildered herd. You can also feel that intestinal-tract pang of nausea you experience during food poisoning — the feeling that no matter what you look at to try to calm your gut, the image is going to make you simultaneously defecate and puke all over yourself.

This laugh/retch impulse has become an understandable reaction in an country obsessed with the Culture War. But, then, as much as the back-and-forth over Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s declaration seems like just a run-of-the-mill skirmish in that war, it’s not. It is a genuinely iconic grotesquerie, and not just because it involves a company that has faced repeated accusations of illegal discrimination. In five distinct ways, the episode sums up so much of what’s wrong with American society today.

(Not So) Divine Revelations

Trey Smith

There is an excellent article posted at AlterNet about Ryan Shattuck, a young man who grew up Mormon...and gay. He's still the latter, but not the former!

Near the end of the article, Shattuck states that he believes that a time will come, perhaps in his lifetime, when the Mormon Church will no longer consider homosexuality to be a sin. While I personally don't think it will happen that quickly, I do tend to agree that such a day will come. I think that there's a very good chance that, in another two or three generations, few conservative Christian churches even will see homosexuality as an issue.

One of the reasons that I think that more and more Christian churches openly will accept homosexuality and the "homosexual lifestyle" is bound up in earthly economics. As the general public becomes more accepting (as it continues to happen right now), churches need to consider the bottom line. A church after all is a business and businesses must generate a profit to keep the doors open.

When we get to the point that 75% or more of the general public readily accepts the notion of gay marriage, being on the other side of the equation could easily mean less members and fewer dollars for those churches that today campaign against anything homosexual. And so, for a majority of churches that fall into this category, a day will come when the leaders tell the followers of a divine revelation from the almighty that what use to be a major no-no now, somehow, is no longer taboo.

We've been down this same road in the US several times before. Back in the early to mid 1800s, it was accepted by the majority of Christian churches that slavery was ordained by God. Many churches, particularly those in the South, fought tooth-and-nail to uphold the divine right of godly white people to own (and abuse) those inferior black creatures.

Very few churches today would make that same claim. Somewhere along the line God himself must have had a change of heart and informed earthly leaders to change their tunes. The same thing happened when it came to women voting or working outside the home as well as interracial marriage.

I think it should be obvious that these sorts of positional changes were not due to divine revelations. Church leaders came to realize that being far out-of-step with popular public sentiment was a bad business strategy -- one that could sink a church or denomination's bottom line to the utter depths. So, to keep the money flowing in, they adapt to changing times by actively contradicting what they had previously spent generations saying was divinely incontrovertible.