The Hate Crime You May Have Missed

February 26, 2008

Among the numerous school shootings in the past several weeks, one stands out for me: the killing of Lawrence King, 15, allegedly by Brandon McInerney, 14, in Oxnard, California. However, it got the least media coverage.The other school shootings appeared to be acts of random violence directed at strangers who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But at Oxnard Junior High School, McInerney walked into the computer lab, went directly to King and shot him in the head before fleeing, according to reports. King died later at the hospital. The memorial service was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church which celebrated Lawrence’s short life.

Evidently, McInerney and his friends had been harassing King after King had disclosed that he was gay. Then McInerney took it one step further. King was different, as they say. He was proudly gay and wore high-heeled boots, make-up and jewelry to school. So he became the target of bullies.

The shooter will be tried as an adult charged with murder as a premeditated hate crime and if convicted, could spend up to 52 years in prison. So where did he learn this kind of hate? My best guess is home, church and peers. Anti-gay sermons, jokes, and language teach people that it is okay to hate lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people, and the action to follow that hate is bullying and violence.

This is not an isolated violent event. In the 2005 National School Climate Survey, nearly a fifth (17.6%) of LGBT students reported being physically assaulted at school in the past school year because of their sexual orientation, and over a tenth (11.8%) because of their gender expression. Nearly two-thirds of LGBT students (64.3%) said they feel unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and two-fifths (40.7%) because of their gender expression.

Those of us in the faith communities should be asking ourselves these questions: what are our youth programs and ministries doing to counter the hate and homophobia that is still taught and learned in much of society today? What are we doing to support the Lawrence Kings in our youth groups? What are we doing to challenge the Brandon McInerneys? Two young lives tragically interrupted because it’s not okay to be different from the rest.

April 25 will be a national day of silence to remember Lawrence King and all who suffer from hate crimes. Consider organizing an event in your mosque, church or synagogue.
http://www.rememberinglawrence.org

Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
Founder and Senior Analyst
FaithTrust Institute

Towards a Church Apology for gay prejudice

MONDAY 3 MARCH 2008

Towards a church apology for gay prejudice DONAL GODFREY Clergy signatories to the 100Revs Statement of Apology to the gay community took part in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday. Many Christians long for their churches to be places of welcome for all people and commit themselves to pursuing this goal. Read more

Civil unions in the closet: Rudd bows to the religious right

Labor’s rather confusing attitude to the ACT same-sex civil unions Bill became a little clearer in an interview with federal Attorney General Robert McClelland published in The Australian on February 7. McClelland is reported to have said that the “ceremonial aspects of the ACT’s civil unions model were unacceptable”.

He went on to suggest that the Federal Government would be prepared to endorse a watered-down form of so-called “civil union” that appeared to be little more than an existing state and territory based registration scheme akin to that in Tasmania.

Such registration schemes have removed a range of forms of discrimination. However, they are used to register not just same-sex unions but also a range of other, non-sexual interdependent relationships, which is why the religious right has often found them easier to accept than full civil unions for same-sex couples. (read more)

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100 Revs Statement of Apology

From the 100revs Blogsite

As ministers of various churches and denominations we recognise that the churches we belong to, and the church in general, have not been places of welcome for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people. Indeed the church has often been profoundly unloving toward the GLBT community. For these things we apologise, whatever the distinctive of our Christian position on human sexuality – to which we remain committed. We are deeply sorry and ask for the forgiveness of the GLBT community. We long that the church would be a place of welcome for all people and commit ourselves to pursuing this goal.

We ARE a group of Christian ministers who voluntarily and individually bring this apology.

We ARE NOT official representatives of our churches or denominations.

We ARE NOT making a statement on the biblical position on gay and lesbian relationships.

We ARE recognising the lack of hospitality, care and welcome that the churches have offered the gay and lesbian community.

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SX News

Ex-Gay Watch

Gene Robinson’s Lecture: Civil Discourse

Thanks to Episcopal Majority

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

The lecture is part of his book, In the Eye of the Storm, to be published in April and Episcopal Majority are taking advance orders.

Bishop Robinson will be at the MCU Conference in July, and no doubt copies of his book will be available there.

Money Available for LGBT Projects

Money is being made available to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) projects in Queensland. The “Healthy Communities Fund” is inviting applications from groups, services, businesses and individuals for projects which help promote the health & wellbeing of LGBT Queenslanders, build & strengthen LGBT communities anywhere in Queensland or to support fundraising activities for LGBT groups. A total of up to $25,000 is available in each application round, with a maximum of $5,000 being awarded to any one application.  Closing date for the 1^st round is 31^st January 2008. Application Guidelines and the Application Form is available from www.qahc.org.au/fund or by ringing 1800 177 434.

 

The “Healthy Communities Fund” is an initiative of the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC). “There are many LGBT groups and projects across Queensland doing great work, but with very little resources” said Paul Martin QAHC General Manager.  “As part of our community building role QAHC has established the “Healthy Communities Fund” to support LGBT groups and projects and to help bring great ideas to fruition”.

 

QAHC has used accumulated income on a rental property to kick-start the Fund, but ongoing donations and sponsorship will be needed keep it going.  If you or your business is interested in making a tax deductible donation to the “Healthy Communities Fund”, please contact Paul Martin (General Manager) or visit www.qahc.org.au/fund

Seduced by Grace: contemporary spirituality, gay experience and Christian faith

Seduced by Grace: contemporary spirituality, gay experience and Christian faith

by Michael B Kelly

With a Foreword by The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG

RRP $24.95

ISBN: 9780980298321

Hares and Hyenas Bookstore

63 Johnston St, Fitzroy, Vic. Australia

(between Nicholson and Brunswick streets)

the book is available from this bookstore, and also from Readings, Carlton

These are the passionate despatches of a reporter from one of the most hostile – for gay men and women – regimes on earth: the Catholic church. Michael Kelly has come out but stayed in. His indictment of the church is stark but his vision of what it might become has the power to move even hardened atheists. – David Marr

Every chapter in this book is an invitation. Its thoughts and stories carry you over and over again into a deeper place where you can reflect on your own life and, indeed, universal life. At one point, its author observes ‘…religious talk is about religious talk. Life becomes a footnote.’ Life is never a footnote for Michael Kelly. His close experience of the engaging of religion with life is both challenging and inspiring. I couldn’t put this book down, not just because it relates to my own story but because it is authentic, vulnerable, yet life-giving. It does not demand that you agree, but gently and profoundly opens up the questions within a brave and faithful journey. – Rev. Dorothy McRae-McMahon

Michael Kelly writes with great precision and poignancy of a yearning which everyone shares. A yearning for love, both physical and spiritual. A yearning for completion. In this wonderful collection of essays, Kelly seduces the reader with his insights into those fleeting moments in which we encounter the greatest mystery of all. – Dr Fiona Capp

In these collected writings – essays, articles, letters, talks – Michael Kelly invites us into an intimate exploration of the inner wisdom and radical challenge of Christianity. In reflections that take us from the fields of Nicaragua to the ‘War on Terror’, from the joy of erotic pleasure to the challenge of rebuilding the church, Kelly gives voice to a spirituality of desire, grounded in justice and love. Michael Kelly is a freelance writer, activist, counsellor and educator, known internationally for his ministry in spirituality, sexuality and human integration.

 

This new book presents Michael Kelly’s collected writings and lectures, composed over a ten year period. Exploring contemplative spirituality, erotic grace, prophetic activism, gay experience, and the soulful challenges of contemporary living, this collection is a major new contribution from the author of The Erotic Contemplative lecture series.

Publisher: Clouds of Magellan

Title distributed by Bulldog Books

Publisher: Gordon Thompson – 0423 625 760 – rediris@vicnet.net.au

Author: Michael Kelly – 0437 974 386 – mbkell@ozemail.com.au [Kelly in US till early December – make email contact directly for interviews]

 

Reviews

Deep spirituality underlies gay Catholic’s activism Terry Monagle January 31, 2008

Amanda McKenna Catholic Australia

 

Catholic Media Apology

[ Post a Comment | CathNews ]

APOLOGY TO MR TONY ROBERTSON In August 2007 a participant in the Cathnews discussion board filed a post referring to Mr Tony Robertson, which was on 15.10.07 brought to our attention by Mr Tony Robertson as amounting to ‘sexuality vilification’. Cathnews regrets that this offending post was not noticed by the moderator. Cathnews apologises unreservedly to Mr Tony Robertson for any hurt or offence that was caused by the post. PLEASE READ OUR NOTES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF USERS Contact the Administrator

Thanks Warren

“I Wish I Could Have Done Better” In his valedictory speech to the House of Representatives, retiring far north Queensland MP Warren Entsch said:  “There are a few areas that I would like to briefly mention where I wish that I could have done better….(One) of course is social and economic equity for same-sex couples, and I make no apology for that. I wish I could have done more in that area. This is not a morals issue; it is a social justice issue—and it is one that I will continue to push.   As tireless gay advocate Rodney Croome stated (and I couldn’t put it better myself): “It’s difficult to read these words and not feel immensely sad. No-one in Federal Parliament has worked harder than Entsch to achieve equality for same-sex couples. No-one has approached the issue more systematically and with more determination, and no-one has been more effective in liaising with the LGBT community, educating other MPs and working up legislative options with the widest possible appeal. Yet, here he is admitting defeat, and worse, blaming himself for not having ‘done better’.  There is nothing more Entsch could have done to stop this. He tried to neutralise the homophobia of the religious right by supporting a form of recognition acceptable to its more moderate elements. But still prejudice prevailed.… His work also deserves to inspire us to more than sadness…” By Stephen Page (Partner- Harrington Family Lawyers)

Rome opens ‘Gay Street’ after kissing flap

 

Updated: 6:01 p.m. ET Aug. 3, 2007

ROME - Rome marked the opening of its first “Gay Street” with flags, banners and protests amid a row over a homosexual couple who claimed they were detained by police for kissing near the Colosseum.

Campaigners welcomed a 325-yard zone in the center of the city — filled with shops and bars — as an area where gays can “feel at ease,” after days of heated debate in predominantly Roman Catholic Italy over the kissing incident.

The two men were detained briefly last week for what the police said were lewd acts in public — a crime that can carry a sentence of up to two years in jail.

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