It's been an interesting week for gay rights in Europe, and not such a good one for the religious right. On Tuesday of last week, the Finnish Broadcasting Company hosted a live gay rights panel, with people from both sides gathered for a strikingly civil discussion.
What was unexpected was the aftermath. As a result of the anti-gay comments made by some of the religious panelists, 30,000 people have resigned from the state church, according to official statistics.
What makes this show of solidarity for gay rights and a demand for a progressive evolution within the church all the more remarkable is the fact that gays and lesbians in Finland already enjoy almost all civil rights protections, the only things still missing being full civil marriage and adoption rights.
But something else struck me watching this debate. And that's the fact that opposition to LGBT rights, whether in Finland or the US, seems to be singularly rooted in religiously motivated prejudice. And further, that gay rights foes seem to always cling to the same old three arguments. So, to help progress along worldwide, let me take on the religious right's greatest hits in less than one minute. Ready?
1) Being gay is a choice and against nature. Actually, homosexuality has been documented in some 1,500 species, and the most recent scientific research suggests that homosexuality likely occurs in all animals. What are we to make of all these 'unnatural' primates, birds, sheep, and even worms? Are they being just as nature intended, or are they going to hell, too?
2) Gays want to redefine the unchanged Biblical definition of marriage from one man and one woman. First of all, gays want be a part of the civil institution of marriage, which is a secular legal issue. Second, nothing would change for straights, in their churches, marriages, or otherwise. But what of this claim of 'unchanged,' rarely challenged? The Old Testament is rampant with polygamy among its patriarchs. Abraham was a polygamist, as was King David, and King Solomon was the biggest of all, with 700 wives and 300 concubines. He did apparently defy God with this -- not because of the numbers, but because he married foreigners (1 Kings 11:1-3). The Bible aside, didn't women used to be considered the mere property of their husbands? Weren't many, if not most, marriages pre-arranged at one time? The definition of marriage, like most things, has evolved over time.
3) Gay marriage will lead to the end of procreation and the human species. For starters, the world population of soon 7 billion might cause us to think otherwise. But what's actually funny here is that according to this rationale, every straight person must really be gay, merely kept in the closet by the definition of marriage, just looking for that loophole to ditch their spouse for some same sex action. Is anyone except professional anti-gays really worried about this?
4) I don't care what you say, the Bible condemns homosexuality. I know I said three arguments, but the religious right always throws in this one when everything else has fallen apart. Now, whether the alleged Biblical prohibitions are against homosexuality per se, or merely against forced sodomy (a common practice by conquering soldiers of the time) can be debated. But the Bible clearly condemns many other things that we no longer consider even mildly sinful in the same category of "abomination." Like eating shellfish (Leviticus 11:10), or women wearing pants (Deuteronomy 22:11). I also don't see the religious right following the Bible's stern edicts to stone to death their rebellious children (Deuteronomy 21:18-21), to kill people for gathering sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15: 32-36), or the proper ways of selling their daughters to slavery (Exodus 21:7-10). So what's going on, religious right? When did these things cease to be God's infallible, unchangeable word?
Above, in a nutshell, is the actual root of the civil rights debate we're still having in America. In the year 2010. What's saddest of all is that this isn't just an issue of rights. It's an issue of lives.
Both hate crimes against gays and suicides of bullied gay youths are alarmingly on the rise. In the wake of the recent surge of teen suicides, the anti-gay group Exodus International-- to its credit-- dropped its involvement in the annual anti-gay campaign "Day of Truth," where Christian students are encouraged to bully their fellow gay students with the Biblical wisdom detailed above. Focus on the Family has pledged to carry on with the campaign. Other groups, like the self-proclaimed "National Organization for Marriage," continue their own crusades to warn people about the Apocalyptic consequences of simply treating people with equality and respect.
To these anti-gay groups, congregations, their members, and their leaders, I propose this question:
What will you do on the day you will finally accept the vast body of scientific evidence that homosexuality is, in fact, completely natural, and indeed, if you so believe, created by God like everything else?
I'd start thinking about that. Today.
Morty Lefkoe: How Prejudice Is Formed...And Can Be Eliminated
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"Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 May 17;102(20):7356-61. Epub 2005 May 9.
Brain response to putative pheromones in homosexual men.
Savic I, Berglund H, Lindström P.
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. ivanka.savic-berglund@neuro.ki.se
Abstract
The testosterone derivative 4,16-androstadien-3-one (AND) and the estrogen-like steroid estra-1,3,5(10),16-tetraen-3-ol (EST) are candidate compounds for human pheromones. AND is detected primarily in male sweat, whereas EST has been found in female urine. In a previous positron emission tomography study, we found that smelling AND and EST activated regions covering sexually dimorphic nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus, and that this activation was differentiated with respect to sex and compound. In the present study, the pattern of activation induced by AND and EST was compared among homosexual men, heterosexual men, and heterosexual women. In contrast to heterosexual men, and in congruence with heterosexual women, homosexual men displayed hypothalamic activation in response to AND. Maximal activation was observed in the medial preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus, which, according to animal studies, is highly involved in sexual behavior.... These findings show that our brain reacts differently to the two putative pheromones compared with common odors, and suggest a link between sexual orientation and hypothalamic neuronal processes."
This type of information is relevant to the question of why people self identify as they do.
I don't think so. Where is the research on this?
The bi-sexual whatever (bird, sheep, worm, person, etc.) is the norm, exclusive heterosexuality and exclusive homosexuality are the extremes of sexuality, in opposite directions. And that too is normal in nature.
I would say that the question, as stated, is complex and open. I would start by saying that there's no "vast body of scientific evidence" supporting the "naturalness" of homosexuality, that homosexuality is solely a human activity that requires consciousness and volition, and that if there's such a thing as "human nature," we might as well ask what's origins, characteristics, and natural (and supernatural) ends and then ask how homosexuality "fits" human nature. As for the 30,000 Finns who left their church, well, they went the way of the mythical lemmings. The rest of us don't need to follow.
First, homosexual behavior is INCREDIBLY well documented in nature.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animals_displaying_homosexual_behavior
We (humanity) cannot just stick our heads in the sand and pretend that homosexuality is some fake disturbing behavior just because its not like everyone else. Homosexuality is merely about love between two people. Just because they share the same sex organs makes no difference. Your bigoted post shows how much you need to believe that you have a right to discriminate. How is two consenting adults making a legal proclamation of their love hurting society in ANY way? They are not forcing it on anyone, they merely want to exercise the same legal rights that the rest of society has enjoyed for centuries. How dare you feel like you have the right to keep that from them.
As for your "mythical lemmings" comment. Wow. You really need to justify to yourself that you have the correct perspective that much. You are a sad, pathetic individual and the amount of pity I have for you is almost indescribable...
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 May 17;102(20):7356-61. Epub 2005 May 9.
Brain response to putative pheromones in homosexual men.
Savic I, Berglund H, Lindström P.
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. ivanka.savic-berglund@nÂeuro.ki.se
And then see what else there is out there. Just so as to know what actually is reality as viewed with our current capabilities.
America's had it soft for so many centuries that we've forgotten some essential lessons; the Europeans have not had the luxury of a soft history; they've been punished for their follies by whatever agency you want to call it and have learned the hard lessons that we have yet to discover.
Those are some of the differences, at least. America has yet to be rubbled over religion or ideology, and perhaps is poorer for it; or at least, some of us are too credulous to learn from the mistakes and others and insist on having America learn it the hard way.
On the other hand, you guys are just now looking at the evidence? Let me get this straight, when the church acts homophobic, you look at the evidence of how homosexuality isn't sinful and reject the church. But before then, you don't look at the evidence and consider whether your religion made sense? And before this debate you didn't notice how homophobic certain churches are? Really?!
Also note to the author that the rebuttal to Argument 1 is incorrect. Natural doesn't mean appearing in nature, it often refers to natural law. You didn't rebut the natural law arguments and in a sense just took on a straw man.
And I think that this is exactly why people are now reacting to strongly. The gay rights issue demonstrated to many what the church is really about. And they are appalled when they suddenly realize that they belong to this organization which endorses hate and bigotry. They understand that it's something that clings to the dark ages and no place in modern society.
So yes, before this most people really didn't notice how homophobic and bigoted their chuch was.
There are many commandments in the bible that have changed over time. The change from the Old Testament law to the law instituted by Christ in the New Testament is a great example. But there are a few original commandments that are non-negotiable and will never change. They happen to be more related to the laws of nature and the way God wants us to live our life's. Let's call them the building blocks of a righteous and happy life and the reason that we are all here on this planet. The first commandment give to Adam in the very beginning was be fruitful and multiply. There is no way to to this "naturally" between same gender couples. Eve was created as a companion and help meet for Adam, this is the basis for a successful marriage and relationship (male and female). If you want to use the bible in this argument you have to take those two events into consideration. Otherwise you have to leave the bible and religions that believe in the bible out of the argument. And this is the big problem for gay rights. There are millions and millions of people that have a very strong belief in Christ and that there is a God. And those people cannot ignore those teachings.
If you do not question faith, question understanding, and question truth, how can you ever grow and change in thought. If you do not, God becomes something you can put in a box and can be contained. God loves all of us, just as we are. Do not create an idol and worship that as your god, since that idol will be as flawed as anything created by man.
Conservativespy, I hate to break it to you but millions of Christians used to support slavery and the subordination of women and segregation and all sorts of shameful, vile things. Their anti-gay views will relatively soon be added to the trash heap of Christian views that change. There will come a time when Christians will look back with shame on the way they spoke of and treated gay people.
I tell you this as a man who grew up in Mississippi through segregation and integration. I can tell you that those Christians were EVERY BIT as sure of themselves and passionate in their "Christian" beliefs supporting segregation and the subjugation of blacks as their forefathers and foremothers were about supporting slavery, biblically. If you had made the same argument to them then as you are making to defend Christian homophobia now they would have argued with you and laughed at you. I know, I TRIED.
Bible based, "Christian" homophobia will never die, just as "Christian" racism has never completely died. But it will lose favor and become unacceptable to the masses leaving "bible based" homophobia to the bigoted fringe.
Bank on it!