Tuesday, August 7, 2012

WITHHOLD MONEY FROM HOMOPHOBIC CHURCHES AND INSTITUTIONS


When Carrol Grady received a phone call telling her that her organization, Someone To Talk To, was being disinvited from having a booth at this week's North American Gathering of Seventh-Day Adventist Teachers because "this convention is not the right venue for your group," she was shocked and distressed. With only one week before the start of the convention this was painful news to absorb, to say nothing of the expense already incurred personally by her and her volunteers.
Someone To Talk To is a ministry to Adventist families and friends of gays and lesbians. Grady is the 76-year-old founder. "I found it difficult to understand how this venue was not right for our group," she says, "when we are a ministry directed toward young people who are often the target of bullying in our schools and one of the themes of this convention is bullying and harassment in schools. What students and teachers often need is simply someone to talk to." Grady wrote a book, "My Son, Beloved Stranger," and ultimately founded this ministry after walking with her own gay son through the challenges of being gay and an Adventist Christian....

The Seventh-day Adventist Church's official position is that, "sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman." This places Someone To Talk To's viewpoint outside the official church doctrine. Other Adventist leaders wonder whether every booth is being submitted to the same scrutiny.

[For the full article, see here.] 

I can virtually guarantee that if every single Christian worthy of the name, and all decent people, refused to give one red cent to any church or secular institution that discriminates against LGBT people, such discrimination and exclusionary/hateful rhetoric and actions would largely disappear.

In churches, just like in virtually all secular institutions, money talks!  Indeed, as the late attorney Melvin Belli once quipped, "Money doesn't talk!  It screams!"

Put these hateful clergy and institutions at risk by not enabling them to continue to spew their venom by withholding all monies from them, whether or not you attend those churches; putting no money in their collection plates, and they will quickly change their tune.  As I wrote a long time ago, if there were more money to be made by supporting LGBT people and equal rights, as opposed to preaching homophobic lies and hate, most strident homophobic "Christian" clergy who make money from their ignorant and hateful rhetoric would be proudly marching in Pride Parades!

The best way to neutralize verbalized homophobia is by withholding funds, and that is one of the best ways to engage in meaningful activism to help move the LGBT civil rights movement forward.  In addition, taking just one homophobic church in each city or jurisdiction, and continually picketing that church every time they are holding their services, carrying signs that state that what goes on in that church violates Gospel teachings, can do a lot to mitigate homophobia in churches.

As I've written before:

Make no mistake, every drop of blood shed by GLBT people either through suicide, bashing, or murder, are on the hands of all those religious leaders, their followers, and their allies who spew forth their ignorance, prejudice, and hate against GLBT people and their relationships! These wolves in sheep's clothing take the Bible, God's love letter to His children, and selectively and perversely use it as a club to condemn others, and deny GLBT people full inclusion in the Church and in society.  
[For the full article, see here.]

By withholding funds from all homophobic churches, churches that don't embrace all of God's LGBT children, you will be saving lives!
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14 comments:

DC HAMPTON JACOBS said...

Hear, hear, Jerry! Nobody could have sent this message more forcefully. And as I told you privately: If President Obama had any backbone at all, he would move to block these pseudo-Christian pigs from feeding at the public trough. It burns me up every time I think of my tax money being funneled into their "faith-based" charities!

Jerry Maneker said...

It pains me to say this, but it will have to be atheists who take the lead in pressuring Congress to remove their unwarranted tax-exemptions. I don't see any professing Christians having the will or insight to take on this much needed task. Best wishes, Jerry.

Anonymous said...

Meh. A decent argument but too much "emotional" writing. I'll keep reading but prefer Americablog and Pam's House Blend. Much less doom and gloom than here and "Ignorance is Plentiful." More upbeat stories about gay rights. And I like being part of the "in crowd" reading the latest news on the top gay blogs.

Jerry Maneker said...

Hi Anonymous: If one is passionately interested in equal rights, he/she is emotional! If he/she is not emotional, he/she may well just be interested in getting their 15 minutes of fame. Best wishes, Jerry.

DC HAMPTON JACOBS said...

Smackdown time for SugahHoneyPlease! Well said, Grandfather! And 'nuff said!

Jerry Maneker said...

Thanks Stuff. Jerry.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for that explanation, Jerry. You make a great point that there should be emotional when arguing for something as critical as equality.

I'll brew a pot of tea and re-read your essays with a new perspective. I'll even try to occasionally read "Ignorance is Plentiful" ... although as usual I have no idea what "Stuffed Animal" refers to in that last comment. Perhaps he was applauding your post, maybe another comment was removed, or maybe the pet names and pleading was innuendo re another "private conversation."

Jerry Maneker said...

You're right on all counts, Anonymous. I hope you enjoy reading the other posts and selections from the Links section. Best wishes, Jerry.

Luís said...

I disagree with the earlier observations made by "Anonymous". The essays here and at "Ignorance Is Plentiful" are provocative. I don't agree with every conclusion, but "variety is the spice of life"! It's nice to see someone going after the elitist gatekeepers of "Gay Inc"!

Question: Is "Don Charles" the writer of the same name who appeared in "Brother to Brother"? If so, then my hat is off to him! That is an iconic anthology of black gay literature! It is taught in many college syllabus! I would love to hear more about how that anthology developed and Don became a contributor.

Intelligence is sexy. And Don is very cute! :)

Luís, "Dominico-Americano" graduate student

Jerry Maneker said...

Hi Luis: Don Charles did appear in "Brother to Brother," and he's done a lot of work in moving the LGBT Civil Rights movement forward. I'll forward your remarks to him, as I know he'll appreciate them. Best wishes, Jerry.

Luís said...

That's wonderful news, Jerry! Thank you so much. I will look forward to hearing from Don Charles. In the meantime, I'll read more of your and his essays on LGBT rights. Be well.

Jerry Maneker said...

I'm glad, Luis. You can reach Don Charles at his blog, ignoranceisplentiful.blogspot.com Best wishes, Jerry.

Luís said...

Jerry: Hello and Happy New Year.

Have you heard from Don Charles? I hoped you would forward my remarks to him. I know that he is still active on the internet because I have regularly seen his comments at Towleroad.

I have read his blog for more than a year but unfortunately he does not allow comments or post an email address. Did I miss something? Is it possible to comment or contact Mr. Charles at his blog? It's very odd that a writer does not wish to hear from readers. As mentioned before, I am in graduate school and enjoyed "Brother to Brother" and his poem "Jailbait."

Jerry Maneker said...

Happy New Year to you, too, Luis. Just comment on his blog, leave your email address, and I'm sure he'll get back to you. Best wishes, Jerry.