America 2009: Hand Sanitizer, Safe Babies, and Prop 8

As a kid I was raised Baptist. At seven, I bought the whole story hook, line and sinker. It sounded great. At death I was promised eternal perfectness -- a world awash with streets paved in gold, eternal life surrounded by those I loved, living in a perfect palace, no need to worry, fret -- no disease, no sickness; you know the drill, you get the idea. But even as a child I saw flaws in that paradigm. I asked mom, "If all the streets are paved with gold, won't gold be... worthless? Then again, won't we get sick of that constant gaudy glare? If money is not the barometer by which society paces us, what will be? What will be the friction that keeps us fighting, striving...living? Mom, won't we all just want to be God? Mom if God so loves -- why hell? If he's the boss why did he have to kill his beloved son? Mommy, it seems to me that he could have just forgiven us with the whole gory cross thing? If Adolf Hitler repented and accepted Jesus Christ as his own personal savior, will he be up there too? Just why does God need a building fund? Shouldn't we be spending all the money on the poor? "Get away kid, you're bothering me."

In all fairness to my congregation, they were a fine group, the backbone of American ideals. I don't recall any of the right-wing rhetoric that so readily spews from pulpits and Pat Robertson et al today. Just three years ago, my childhood church pastor from New Jersey, Rev. Wesley Evans, visited my home. I had arranged a VIP tour of Hollywood for him, his wife, and my aunt and uncle with whom they were traveling. He was a great guy. If all the churches were like my childhood church, I suspect none of today's right wing fodder would have ever infected law or the White House. I still respect that chapel and its congregants, but something tragic has happened to the American church. They have become a pawn in a game of wicked ridiculousness. Power has been sucked up from the church by a tornado of political and animalist hate that has its eye on gay America.

Earlier this month in Ramona California, sixth grader Natalie Jones was censored from giving her a presentation on politician Harvey Milk. She had seen Sean Penn's Academy Award winning performance, which inspired her to share his story with her class. Milk, was of course the first openly gay official to ever be elected to public office in America.

The day before Natalie was to give her presentation to her class (she had gotten a score of 98% on the written report), she was called into the principal's office and told she could not share his story with the class.

To quote the original article written by the ACLU:

When Bonnie Jones spoke with the superintendent about the presentation, he said Natalie couldn't give her presentation because of a district board policy on "Family Life/Sex Education." A few days later, the school sent letters to parents of students in the class, explaining that her presentation would be held during a lunch recess on May 8, and that students could only attend if they had parental permission.

"The principal and superintendent grossly misinterpreted school policy. They illegally censored student speech protected by the First Amendment and the California Education Code," said David Blair-Loy, Legal Director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties. "Writing or talking about a gay historical figure who advocated for equal rights for LGBT Californians is in no way the same thing as talking about sex, and school officials should not pretend otherwise."

The Ramona Unified School District policy on "Family Life/Sex Education" reads in part:

"Parents/guardians shall be notified in writing about any instruction in which human reproductive organs and their functions, processes, or sexually transmitted diseases are described, illustrated, or discussed. In addition, before any instruction on family life, human sexuality, AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases is given, the parent/guardian shall be provided with written notice explaining that the instruction will be given..."

"Schools that act as if any mention of the existence of gay people is something too controversial or 'sensitive' to discuss are doing a disservice to their students," said Elizabeth Gill, a staff attorney with the ACLU's national LGBT Project. "This school completely overstepped its bounds in trying to silence Natalie Jones by shunting her presentation off to a lunch recess time and misusing a school policy to justify requiring parental permission to see it."


I am tired of all this anti-same-sex silliness. If a superior being disagrees with anyone's lifestyle based upon sexual orientation, let him/her/it deal with the issue after death. I suspect many religious people feel that their God is watching them, and if they don't fight against homosexuals (Pat Robertson called them "self-absorbed hedonists") they too might be damned to hell.

I realized years ago that the first big mistake was allowing churches to broadcast on television. Like Wal-Mart, mega churches have taken money from local communities that used to go to neighborhood churches. They've funneled funds into a few hands that use it in vile ways. Imagine if the money funneled into Prop 8 had gone towards feeding the poor, housing the homeless, and helping the man or woman next-door who has lost his job. My partner and I gave more money to PROP 8 than anyone else (over 1.1 million). We have firmly decided no more. Through our foundation and through our individual giving I would rather give it to the animal shelters, gun buy-back programs, mass transit issues, or more hands-on LGBT issues.

America has run on unwarranted fear for far too long. Our parents and grandparents lived in a world without hand sanitizer; they washed their diapers instead of throwing them away, and only bought homes mortgages if they could afford them. Today I read that we are supposed to paint our roofs white to combat global warming. It seems to me the real answer to environmental issues is birth control, but unlike the "zero population growth" movement of the early seventies, you just can't talk about national birth control today.

I'd never want to go back to the America of yesterday. The "good old days" never really existed. But America survived pretty well on Ivory soap, an errant sneeze in the face, and the letting the two guys who lived together next door alone. God Bless America -- but my God is each one of us.

Comments

[bbmill37]

From Philo of Alexandria, counsel to Apostles Joseph and Paul:
The land of the Sodomites, a part of Canaan afterwards called Palestinian Syria, was brimful of innumerable iniquities, particularly such as arise from gluttony and lewdness, and multiplied and enlarged every other possible pleasure with so formidable a menace that it had at last been condemned by the Judge of All…Incapable of bearing such satiety, plunging like cattle, they threw off from their necks the law of nature and applied themselves to…forbidden forms of intercourse. Not only in their mad lust for women did they violate the marriages of their neighbors, but also men mounted males without respect for the sex nature which the active partner shares with the passive; and so when they tried to beget children they were discovered to be incapable of any but a sterile seed. Yet the discovery availed them not, so much stronger was the force of the lust which mastered them. Then, as little by little they accustomed those who were by nature men to submit to play the part of women, they saddled them with the formidable curse of a female disease. For not only did they emasculate their bodies by luxury and voluptuousness but they worked a further degeneration in their souls and, as far as in them lay, were corrupting the whole of mankind.”

[bbmill37]

I must correct an error in my post. Philo was a contemporary of Jesus and Paul from 20 BC to AD50. My apologies.

[kylennblack]

Become a pawn? They were the ones pushing the chess pieces.

[daffey]

What a strange article. I’m not sure where to begin. I guess there are many things that jumped out at me, so many I can’t comment on all of them, so I won’t on any of them. It just shows that a person can have a subjective opinion in our country and be free to voice it. My opinion differs of course. But that’s what makes, and has always made, America so nice. Which is why it’s nice that churches were ‘allowed’ to be on TV. And why shows advocating and promoting homosexuality have been ‘allowed’ to be on TV. It’s the price of freedom of speech that we ‘allow’ everyone else to have a say - so far.

[TheBlackCat]

In "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" Sindey Potier (sp?) is speaking to his father, who is against him marrying a white woman. He tells his father, "People like you think that because things were one way for you, they have to be the same way for everyone. And only when your generation is dead and in the ground will we be free of the weight of you."

It's a harsh way to put it, but its true. Some people change their minds. My grandmother is an old school Catholic who after moving in next door to a lesbian couple is now pro gay marriage. But the fact is that the true believers, the true bigots, will NEVER change. But they will die. And each generation grows increasingly tolerant than the one before it. Just as most of the segregationists have now died off, the hardline anti gay bigots will die off sooner rather than later, and there simply aren't enough of them in the younger generations to keep up the fight.

Though I realize that's little consolation to older gay couples who don't have the luxury of "waiting them out." And for them I am truly sorry. But I hope that they do derive some joy in the knowledge that America because less homophobic with every passing year, and that their fight will not have been in vain, even if they were not able to enjoy the fruits of their labor in their own lifetime.

[jmpurser]

Yep. The "religious right" and the "moral majority" that shook the nation just a few years back are quickly becoming the crazy embarrassing relative you're ashamed to introduce to your friends without a long careful explanation of "just the way he is".

[leopoldmozart]

I'm a born-again Christian who accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1976. I find the behavior of fundamentalist Christians contemptible.

Of all the sins listed in scripture-­-covetousn­ess, gossip, lying, neglect of the poor, anger, etc.--why is so much energy being spent on attacking homosexuals? It's because it's the one sin that heterosexual fundamentalists don't commit. Do all these fundamentalists avoid homosexual behavior out of obedience to God? No, of course not. They don't have homosexual sex because they are not interested in homosexual sex. There are hundreds of sins that ARE attractive to these people, and thus they commit THOSE sins, but the one sin they have no interest in, THAT'S the sin that they protest and spend millions of dollars on. What hypocrasy; what narcissism and spiritual pride. This is the modern example of the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.

Also, homosexuality per se is mentioned only once in the New Testament. Every other word translated as homosexual in some bibles is actually the Greek word Pornaia, meaning extreme out of control sexuality. In terms of scriptural injunction AND posing a danger to the family, internet porn and divorce are FAR more destructive and evil than allowing gay people to get married. So where's the protests against divorce and porn? (Crickets chirping) It's because so-called Christians actually DO THOSE sins, actually ENJOY THOSE sins.

Hypocrites. Contemptible hypocrites.

[TheBlackCat]

Well put, I don't agree that homosexuality is a sin, for that matter I don't agree that many things considered sinful by Christians actually are...but I see your point, and it is well made.

I had actually never thought about that aspect before, that of COURSE it's the sin fundies go after homosexulaity because it's the ONE sin they know they themselves won't commit. Thanks for pointing this out.

[leopoldmozart]

When I first accepted the Lord, I believed that homosexuality was a sin. But after being a Christian for a few years, knowing some gay Christians, and learning the science of human sexuality (I have degrees in engineering, applied math, pure math, and am currently in medical school), I just couldn't believe it was any different from heterosexuality.

I knew that I had no control over my own sexuality: when I was 14, I was perfectly happy bowling, watching Star Trek, and building model battleships. I didn't need girls. Yet by 15, girls was all I thought about. All my gay friends had analogous stories.

The biggest thing Christians learn about sin is that it leads to corruption and death. "God is not mocked; that which ye sow ye shall also reap." Yet, darn it, I just couldn't see anything bad about two men or two women being in a loving, monogamous committed relationship. In fact, quite the opposite, it seemed like a lot of healing and love came from it.

For whatever reason, God made these bodies and these brains that we are living in so that about 5% of them fall in love with people of their own sex, and that's that. If we are kind and loving to each other, Godliness is manifested; if we are cruel toward each other, then the other side wins.

That's what I believe.

[essbird]

Actually, my experience tells me the opposite: That those who find refuge in iron-clad fundamentalism are really hiding from themselves, from a chaos within that, having been taught since birth that it was evil, are holding onto anything they can to prevent themselves from sinning. Read about Rev. Ted Haggard, not atypical in his hypocrisy, who says he's been fighting a devil inside him all his life. Read David Brock's "Blinded by the Right", where he discusses being a closet gay in Washington's right-wing circles.

[leopoldmozart]

I agree. In my experience, the people who truly have a connection with God (or simply pursue what Christ and St. Paul suggest) are completely honest with themselves and with God about their own defects, and spend their time and energy loving, healing, and helping others in spite of their own brokenness or selfishness.

The antigay movement in the U.S. is the opposite of this. The stated goal is not to love, heal, or help gay men and women. It's goal is to protect America from their supposed sinfulness, and to protect marriage from the catastrophe that would ensue from gay people committing to each other for life before God.

Of course, this goal is clueless and ridiculous. How is gay marriage worse for America than, say, 47 million people without health care, or invading Iraq and slaughtering a half million of their civilians, or having an economy that is so oriented to enrich the wealthy that 80% of families require both parents to work to pay for housing, health care and education?

No, the real purpose of the antigay movement is to flatter fundamentalists that they aren't the sinful ones, and that they have nothing to dislike or change about themselves at all. It's just a big scapegoat narcissistic love fest.

[sb250guy]

I do believe you have hit upon something. Nicely done!

[llisa]

"why is so much energy being spent on attacking homosexuals? It's because it's the one sin that heterosexual fundamentalists don't commit."

I love it. I thought I had heard everything, but I think you've hit on something here.

Of course, there are a few who do commit it. But, I would hope that most homosexuals born into fundamentalist families would just get out of those churches.

[Morcat]

The far religious right forfeited any witness they might have had decades ago. Now it is a business, pure and simple, and their revenue depends on fear, and the natural tendency of their base to require someone to look down upon. They cannot bear any thought or discussion not in accord with their absolutist ideals.

Full equality for GLBT citizens will happen. It is the moral equivalent of all other civil rights battles that have been waged in this country, and we will all be better off for it. The far right bigots will never relent, just as they have not relented about integration or women's rights, but that doesn't matter. Equal rights for everyone is the next step on this country's journey toward "a more perfect union."

[AndybHoboken]

If everyone in America took the lobbying money whether from religion or business and actually turned it back into the communities that need it the most America would be a truly remarkable place to live once again. I'm glad that many of the bloggers on here are standing up and saying its not right for a few hateful people to co-opt religion from the rest of America. Keep the message going. There are many in this country who are waiting to be freed from the fear and divisive hatred of the last 8 years. Its time to tell the bigots to sit down and shut up.

[MenaC]

I found this article refreshing, and applaud your commitment to helping those in need.

[GardenerNorCal]

It's a wierd world we live in today. None of these christian groups are up in arms about the advertising of a STD vaccine on tv. It will make their daughters one less! They've even lobbied to make it part of the mandatory vaccine program. But a class can't hear a report on a gay historical figure without parental consent?

1500 species practice homosexuality. I think it's time we get past the notion that it is either unnatural or uncommon. Isn't this the 21 st century?

[daffey]

I'm not sure where you got your facts on that one. Some 'religious groups' (a rough and broad term), raised concerns that the vaccine would be used as a STD prevention drug, rather than a drug to help avoid cancer. They were smacked down pretty fast. When it became clear that the marketing of the drug would be aimed at helping prevent later health problems not associated with sexual behavior, they more or less backed off. As for any who were promoting it, especially as an STD prevention drug, I would have to see examples of who you mean. There are those on the religious left who might, but I'm still not aware of any.

[daffey]

By the way, appealing to the animal world to justify any human behavior is only good as long as we see people advocate eating our young, our feces, and each other. Since that’s what many animals do. Otherwise, it’s merely a subjective and conveniently selective argument based on preconceived perspectives and agendas. In other words, of no value to anyone making the argument who doesn’t already agree with the cause.

[jmpurser]

You'd have a point except you don't. People frequently attack gays with the claim that homosexuality is unknown in nature and therefore "unnatural". Just pointing out this is yet another lie from the bigot side of the argument is perfectly valid.

[Bobrobert]

:-)

First they kill the babies.

Then they promote same sex partnerships.

Now killing the old / sick has begun.

Torture is accepted by 1/2 of the public.

Yep... a christian nation no more.

You have what you want... be proud.

[Dynamohum]

Please crawl back under your rock now. We are tired of the constant condemnation and recrimination for things which we bear NO responsibility for whatsoever in the first place. If you want to be mad, take a look in the MIRROR.

[jmpurser]

Actually a recent poll found that people who go to church weekly are MORE likely to be okay with torture and the ONLY PEOPLE IN AMERICA who are okay with babies being slaughtered for money is the religious right.

If we're a Christian nation no more then we're better for it by far.

[TheBlackCat]

Its the Christian religious right (note: not all Christians) who most support torture, as well as the death penalty, the war, and who most opposed universal healthcare, including healthcare for children.

[J-Bell]

Tom, how true on so many levels. I think about how much good the amount of money spent on prop. 8 could have done instead of funding division and hatred. I did donate $ to No on 8 but I also work in the Human Services and and see day to day the lack of funds for improvement of the human conditon, especially for services for children. I don't understand why trying to stop a group of people from having equal rights gets a priority and a huge outpouring of funds. This isn't the message I learned as a child at a small town church.

[RonGallion]

Should the church use the Bible as suggestions or Commands? The Bible states commands. Anyone that's a gay activist will say church people are homophobes, bigots, and other slurs. When in fact they are bound by the Bible they believe. So they believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. They are basing that on a belief system that works for them. There will never be peace between Christians, Mormons, Jews, concerning this. As long as we freedom of religion in this country the gay agenda faces a steep uphill battle.

[Cynthia Savage]

Actually, a Christian should follow the teachings of Christ, who said that we should love our God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. He taught about feeding the hungry, tending to the sick and clothing the naked. He rebuked the Pharisees for their empathy-less adherence to the law-Levitus of the Bible. These same rightwing people are hung up with the law and have lost the capacity for empathy and, if the attacks on her Honor Sonia Sotomayer are any indication, now feel as if empathy disqualifies you from public office. They more resemble Pharisees than apostles of Christ. You are dealing with people long accustomed to be frightened. They aren't going to change-just die off

[RonGallion]

He also said "Don't be corrupted by the world. Many people of faith believe homosexuality is being corrupted by the world.

[walks]

they finally got over the bible's prohibitions on racial mixing and its appreciation of slavery. besides, the first commandment is -- i am the lord thy god, i shall not have false gods before me. they worship the bible more than anything else.

[RonGallion]

Your not very educated concerning the Bible or religion. The believe the Bible is the Word Of God, They do worship the word not the book.

[Dynamohum]

In this country, we have many religions and people who have NO religion. It is called freedom of choice. No one religion has the right to force their doctrines and teachings on ANYBODY. Our founding documents reiterate this over and over again. Separation of church and state is CRITICAL to the smooth operation of these principles. It is simple. If you don't get it, you don't get it. Just don't force your carp down my throat. Most Christians in my view are nothing but FAUX Christians. They fake outrage at whatever group or thing that they are told to. They hate with a fury I had never seen until recent years. Jesus would be appalled. They pervert the bible to the point that it has NO meaning. Everyone has a right to be here, so GET OVER IT.

[Morcat]

I am both a church person and a straight ally of my gay friends. I am happy at any time to discuss what the scriptures say and do not say regarding homosexuality. What I am also happy to discuss, is the remarkable ability of Biblical literalists to insist on absolute commands in regard to some issues, all the while ignoring others. The Hebrew Scriptures' grand prohibition is idolatry -- a sin practiced openly in evangelical churches in terms of leader worship, amassing of riches and materialism. In the New Testament, Jesus gives clear rules regarding divorce and adultery -- all conveniently discarded by those who are on their 2nd or 3rd marriages, or engaging in extramarital sex. Their neglect of the poor is also apparent.

The tide has turned in this battle. There will be full equal rights for GLBT citizens in this country.
Equal rights for GLBT citizens doesn't infringe on anyone else's rights. It only relates to freedom of religion in the sense that disallowing gays the right to marry may well infringe on their religious rights, not yours.

I will stand with my Lord who said "Whosoever will may come," and St. Peter who had God's own instruction to "Call no one common or unclean."

[aftershock]

Wait... a real Christian? Sorry I meet so few of you that I'm pleasantly surprised when I come across one. I asked my hardcore Baptist father the other day when the only time Jesus is shown as angry in the Bible. Not shockingly, he didn't know. I told him, and he said, well I don't think there's anything wrong with selling CD's and shirts and things to make money for the church. I quickly replied, yes, but Jesus apparently had a big problem with it. Jesus would find the church's ever increasing relationship with capitalism appalling. Actually, he'd find capitalism itself pretty appalling as well lol.

[essbird]

Then be bound by your Bible. Don't use it to bind others. That's anti-American.

[LMPE]

Never mind that so many of these homophobic wing-nuts turn out to be gay.

[Bobrobert]

roflmao

They are not homophobic... they want to run for office.

Politicians are in the business of getting elected... being pro-homo will NOT get you elected in many districts.

[AngelaQuattrano]

They realize that if they give up the fight, they will be sucked in, unable to hold back their repressed, wanton lust for anything that moves.