What Governor Palin Needs to Know About 'Love'
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has made history as the first mother to be on the Republican presidential ticket, and she has the potential to bring a new perspective on issues that impact America's children to Washington and the White House. Indeed, since her introduction to the nation last week, Governor Palin has talked passionately about her family and her commitment to her five children. Unfortunately, however, little is known about her specific policy positions on issues impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids, their parents, schools and families. An event taking place on September 13 in Anchorage, however, could provide an important opportunity for the Governor -- and other moms and dads who also serve as elected leaders -- to weigh in on one of those issues . . . and take a strong stand for all families.
On Saturday, Anchorage will play host to the latest meeting of the "ex-gay" organization known as Love Won Out. The group, which proclaims that lesbian and gay youth can be "cured" of their sexual orientation, will be meeting at Abbott Loop Community Church. Ahead of the conference, however, Palin's own church, Wasilla Bible, has promoted the meeting, saying in a letter to congregants that, "You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality."
The truth, however, is that Love Won Out is about anything but the unconditional love for, and acceptance of, LGBT kids. In reality, it is a dangerous, harmful "reparative therapy" program that has been condemned by the American Psychological Association and that has a tormenting impact on many of the young people who attend.
Governor Palin needs to know the truth about Love, and America's parents and families need to know what Governor Palin thinks about harmful, anti-gay conferences that preach an anti-gospel doctrine of changing our kids, rather than embracing them.
Earlier this year, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) brought mothers, fathers and families from around the country to Orlando, Florida, for the most recent Love Won Out Conference. Their experiences, captured in a moving video documentary, showcase just how dangerous these conferences can be.
One after another, young people arrived at the conference with tears in their eyes and parents stoically marching them into the event against their will. The sight of supportive parents, carrying signs with slogans such as "We love our gay son just the way he is," were answered with smiles, outreached hands and silent but obvious "thank yous" from the kids being told they were somehow "less than" because of who they love. Inside the conference, organizers told these young people - who had the courage to simply be who they are -- that who they were just wasn't good enough. Outside, loving parents stood tall to remind them that yes they were.
On Saturday in Anchorage, the same story, with different kids, will play out again.
It is unfair, at this point, to assume that Governor Palin endorses so-called "ex-gay" therapy like that espoused by Love Won Out. Most Americans, after all, can probably empathize with being part of a group, movement or congregation that they don't agree with 100% of the time. But Saturday's event in Anchorage provides an important opportunity for the first GOP mom on the party's presidential ticket to make clear that she, as a mother and a public servant, will not condone, either explicitly or implicitly, such attempts at dividing our families and hurting our kids. She should seize that opportunity -- as should lawmakers of both parties -- and stand up as boldly and outspokenly for all of our kids as much as she has for her own.
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Haha. You know Palin won't touch that one with a ten foot pole. However Senator Craig might want to show up and do his toilet tap dance routine to represent the Republicans.
One of my oldest and dearest friends is homosexual, and has been pretty much for as long as he can remember (he's now in his 50's). When he was a teenager, his father, a doctor, sent him to a shrink to "de-gay" him.
Given the deep hatred so many people in this country have for homosexual
What these so-called loving parents are doing is nothing less than abusing their children, and they should be shown up for what they are.
Sarah's son, Trig, born with Downs Syndrome, is, in her words, a gift from God.
Where Trig born homosexual, would he be an abomination?
Great question.
Palin will not get much of the LGBT vote. She might get some but not much.
I think that she would say what most evangelicals would say. You need to love your children unconditio
The problem is that Romans Ch 1 is pretty clear.
Still, all are deserving of love and honor, even if we don't agree with their lifestyle.
Interesting that as a representative of the Christian Right, Ms. Palin came out of the starting gate at the RNC with nothing but disdain, smears and negativity towards her opponents. When Obama heard of her nomination, he said nothing to disparage her, just that "he did not know her very well" and that "she's an up and coming public servant." Presuming that the knowledge Ms. Palin has of Obama is vice versa, i.e., not very much, she belittled him at every turn. As I sat in Church today, hearing a good sermon based on scripture about how "love" for each other is the only commandment that means anything, I was forced to contemplate how little the Christian Right seems to love anybody, to embrace any kind of diversity, or any color or creed that is not their own. I still fail to see how the Christian Right can align itself with the Republicans, or vice versa. War, killing animals for sport, scurrilous attacks, and pit-bull like tencencies, do not a true Christian make.
That's easy. The Christian right and I dare say a majority of their followers are nasty, evil, narrow minded little cretins. They fit right in with the neocons and racists of the Repugnant party.
Let's face it, the Christian right founded the KKK. The nastiness and bigotry is in their genes.
Nicky you no nothing about the Christian faith or politics. Both parties at their conventions took shots at the other side, I know I watched them both. True Christians should love everyone, but Christians should never take what God says is sin and say that it isn't. What you dems don't understand is any time you rally aganst Gods word your going to have a fight on your hands.Peri
oh, god said it? prove it. those words were written by men, not god. jesus himself defined a different style of family. instead of marrying he chose to associate intimately with a group of twelve men.
there is a story about the love between Jonathan and David in the bible (I Samuel 16-20, 1:19-27). In this passage it says “Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” There is also a story in the book of Ruth that speaks of a relationship between Ruth and Naomi and a woman’s love for a woman passing the love of men.
I think it's a hard issue for Christians to deal with. Palin, with her reaction to her daughter's pregnancy, has sent a strong message to parents that they need to love and support their children and help them through their crises.
However, she likely can't reach out to the gay community in the same way. I think you can support a pregnant without appearing to endorse more unwed pregnancies from that child or your other children.
With homosexuality, however, you can't really do the same thing without giving tacit approval to the homosexual lifestyle.
To many Christians, it's the difference between supporting someone who has sinned and needs forgiveness and someone who has sinned and intends to keep on sinning.
I think just as a Christian would try to support a family member who was, say, an alcoholic, and would pray to help relieve them of the affliction, the same Christian might view homosexuality as a sinful lifestyle that can be overcome. However, love and support would still be the proper response.
I don't think Palin can make a strong showing of support for the LGBT community without possibly alienating the Christian Right, which is probably already upset with her after finding out that she supports contraception.
I would be very pleased if the could express a Christian view of loving and supporting your children, combined with a libertarian view of not forcing people into lifestyles that you approve, and somehow still maintain credibility with Christian conservatives.
With this woman you are not absolutely sure you are seeing the real woman. Eyes are hard...but she couldn't do much else with the daughter now, could she. She also had to exploit the whole thing. I truly do not call that love. But Ambition. And yes, there are christians who do accept gays and lesbians for all that they are, who and what in their fullness. And those Christians sit in pews too. However, they are on the opposite end of the spectrum than the fundamentalist right.
She should, but she won't.
i believe that sarah palin's discussion on this will be "DEAFENING".
I don't think this conversation will be allowed to happen and if per chance something got through...
Without making a big speech about it ,as it is obvious what is at stake. If Senator Obama does not roll up his sleeves and gives the GOP as good as he has been getting by overtly going on the counter offensive, then to put it simply he does not deserve to be the next president. It would have been obvious that he and his campaign had learnt nothing from the past. The GOP do not know how to play fair . They want to win this election by hook or by crook and are willing to stoop to the lowest common denominator in order to do it. I am not for one moment suggesting that the Democrats do the same but they surely need to up the ante otherwise this virtual 'shoe in' will evaporate before the world's eyes and the USA will be doomed to another 4 years of the same failed policies of the Bush administration.
Could someone please tell the gracious senator from Illinois that now is not the time to be courteous and gracious with the enemy ( "she is an up and coming public servant" yeah right!!,)unless he wants to end up the runner up ( loser) in this race. He may want to save that courteousness for his consession speech . BUT RIGHT NOW HE NEEDS TO FIGHT AS IF HIS LIFE AND THE LIVES OF 300 MILLION PEOPLE DEPEND ON THE OUTCOME. THE WORLD IS BANKING ON HIM TO WIN !!!
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