Second Stone #22 - May/June 1992

Second Stone #22 - May/June 1992

22

1992

May/June 1992

AMERICA'S GAY & LESBIAN CHRISTIAN NEWSJOURNAL
A first: Same-sex
union service held
at Baptist Church
"We'r e taking a stand toward a responsible
expression of sexuality," said Rev. Mahan Siler, Jr.
"It 's a stand of support toward p ersons who want
to commit to a long-term monogamous relationship. "
BY ANDRE A L. T. PETERSON
Baptist Convention .
Much t o everyo ne 's su rpris e,
someone "alerte d the media," and the
attention that Pullen and it's decision •
to bless same-gender relationships, in
general, and th e union of Churchill
and Turner, in particular, received
"grew overnight." According to
Turner, "Pullen was making a decision
about same-gender unions in
general. It wasn't about us. I guess we
were the impetus."
'This is a blessing before God," says
Kevin Turner of his and lover Steven
Churchill 's March 15th Holy Union
cer emony. "Asking God's blessi ng is
far mo{e important. The public affirmation
is second." The union, performed
by the Rev. Mahan Siler, Jr.
at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in
Raleigh, N.C., created quite a stir
within the Southern Baptist Conven tion
and turned out to be · quite a
public affirmation - not only of two
men and their commitment to a
lifelo .ng, monogamous relationship,
but of a congregation of Christian
men and women and their pastor
committed to taking their orders from
God and not from the Southern
Turner and Churchill, who have
been together since 1989, affirm that
"it [their union ceremony] has always
been from the heart, not a political
SEE COVER STORY, Page 10
Steven Churchill, left, and Kevin Turner stand at the altar of Pullen Mem•
orial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, following their union ceremony.
· .THOMAS ... ·[Iru· WHY .bOUBTING
· DOUBTED 13 By Nancy Hugman
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Newspaper's special report focuses
on gay/lesbian Christian issues
By Jim Bailey
TheDe troit News and Free Press devoted five full pages to a thorough
examination of issues facing gay and lesbian Christians and the church. The
excellent two part series was published on the weekend of April 11 and 12.
"Revoluti,m in Religion" was picked up by Associated Press and, hopefully,
some or all of it may have appeared in your daily newspaper. Religion writers
David Crumm and Frank Bruni presented a wonderfully balanced report on
the issue that will not go away in the nation's churches.
"Seven hundred years ago, Christians burned homosexuals at the stake," the
article begins. It goes on to describe an upheaval in churches · unmatched since
opposite views of slavery tore apart many American churches more than a
century ago. Writers Crumm and Bruni point out how religious condemnation
feeds the prejudice and discrimination against gay people, even contributing to
violence against Gays and the high suicide rate among gay teens.
The report includes several interviews with important contributors to gay and
lesbian ministry including John Boswell, Rev. Troy Perry and Rev. Jane Spahr.
Contrasting opinion on how the Bible does or does not condemn homosexuality
is presented as is a short piece on Exodus International, the ex-gay change
ministry.
For gay and lesbian Christians seeking justice in the church, for straight
Christians just now beginning to ponder the issue and, yes, for those who have
dug in their heels against Christian affirmation of Gays and Lesbians, this
article contains a wealth of information. Hats off to Crumm and Bruni, who are
long-time Second Stone subscribers.
Surviving tough times in publishing
Yet another gay/lesbian publication has been silenced by tough economic
times. Visibilities, a lesbian magazine .which began publishing in 1987, recently
st~pped the press. Publisher Susan Chasin said. that, "we tried our best to stay
in business, but times are hard. We were affected by a combination of slow and
non-payment by bookstores and advert isers, and an inability to attract new
advertising revenue."
With that I'll let you know that the March/ April issue of Second Stone was the
final issue to be made available for bookstore distribution and henceforth the
newsjournal will be available by subscription only. We started newsstand
distribution, with high hopes, with our November/December, 1988 issue. For a
variety of reasons, bookstore distribution has never been profitable despite our
best efforts. My thanks to bookstores and distributors who stuck with us - and
who paid us and paid on time. I would have to agree with Chasin, however -
slow and non-paying gay and lesbian bookstores are a problem which heavily
influenced our decision to go subscription-only . Second Stone has developed,
and continues to develop, a strong paid subscriber base as opposed to relying
on bookstore or advertising revenue, a strategy which provid'es the best
opportunity for being spared the fate of so many of our brother and sister
publications.
T2liseSctoone.n Mday /June 1992
'-=--' , .
Contents ....... ............. ..........
[I]
[[]
[U
[m]
[ID
[2].
[ll]
From The Editor
'Kudos to the Detroit News and Free Press
Your Turn
Letters from readers
News Lines
Cover Story:
Heroes for change in the
Southern Baptist Convention
by Andrea LT. Peterson
The Wilderness Generation
by Irene Elizabeth Stroud
Goin Roun Takin Names
by Louie Crew
Why Doubting Thomas ... Doubted
by Nancy Hugman
In Print
Freedom of speech as a
gay/lesbian issue
Book reviews by William Day and
Michael Blankenship
l17l Noteworthy l![J News about people, churches and groups
[8]
.[j]J
Resource Guide
Connectedness
Just Out
120 I Classifieds
.............·.Y...o..u.r..T..u...m.... ....
Veterans
coverage
appreciated
Sacramento,C alifornia
Dear Second Stone,
Thanks for your coverage of the
Gay and Lesbian Veterans Tribute
here in Sacramento. Video of the
event has been shown twice on local
television with p0sitive response.
God bless your work.
Sincerely,
Lynn Strawbridge
New MCC in
Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Dear Second Stone,
Please add my name to the mailing
list. I hope your work prospers and
brings the news everywhere that we
of the gay community are the children
of God and heirs of the kingdom.
Recently we have organized a "new
works" here. MCC of Lake Charles
has services every Sunday at 10:30
ISSN No. 1047-3971
SECOND STONE Newspa per is
published every other month by
Bailey Communications, P. 0. Box
8340, New Orleans, LA 70182.
Copyright 1992 by Second Stone, a
registered trademark.
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Orleans, LA 70 l 82. ManuscripLs to
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a stamped, self addressed envelope.
SECOND STONE, an ecumenical
Christian newspaper committed 10
informing the gay and lesbian community.
·
PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Jim Bailey
CONTRJBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE:
Nancy Hugman
Louie Crew
Irene Elizabeth Stroud
Andrea L. T. Peterson
William Day
Michael Blankenship
· a.m. at our church building at 510 E.
Broad Street. Often we are joined in
the fellowship by Gays who attend
other churches.
Best regards,
C. Whitman
Thanks from
New Direction
Los Angeles, California
Dear Second Stone,
We appreciate the support you
have given to our new publication,
New Direction, which is growing. I
just purchased a copy of Second Stone
and found it very interesting and
informative. I wish you much success
in your fourth and future years of
publication.
Sincerely,
Wayne Coombs,
Editor
Recycling ... to
other readers
Dallas, Texas
Dear Second Stone,
As Chapter Secretary for
Integrity /Dallas, I have often taken
my copy of Second Stone to our board
and general membership meetings to
discuss current news items. The other
board members have been so
impressed with Second Stone that we
have sent in a chapter subscription for
our newsletter editor.
Sincerely,
Raymond F. Knapp,
Secretary, Integrity/Dallas
Baptists
wrong ... then
and now
Bossier City, Louisiana
Dear Second Stone,
I.continue to find your publication
helpful and hope you are getting support
in your work. I just happened to
see a publication called The United
Methodist Review which included a
story headlined, "UM delegates
lament emphasis on gay issues." A
graph illustrated that it is the top
issue in every geographical area. I
am sure that in the 50s and 60s they
lamented in the same way when they
were being forced to face the issue of
SEE LETTERS, Page 9
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Second Stone• May/June !992 [[]
News Lines T
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Ousted pastor HIV
positive; wife
has AIDS
PLYMOUTH, MN - The 24,000
members of the Association of Free
Lutheran Congregations have learned
that their former president, Rev.
Richard Snipstead, 63, is HIV positive
and his wife, Leone, 60, has developed
AIDS. Snipstead was removed
as leader of the conservative church
when he revealed that he had been
involved in affairs with men for 20
years. Despite their beliefs about
homo s exuality, church members
greeted Snipstead warmly at a recent
service, offering hugs .
-Associated Press
Not in my
neighborhood
Religious fundamentalists are of
concern to half of America's adults
according to a recent Gallup Poll.
Emerging Trends newsletter (Febc
ruary) cites a 1989 survey as showing
that 30 percent o.f Americans would
not like to have religious fundamentalists
as neighbors. The survey
showed that 21 percent were very
concerned about religious fundamentalism
and 29 percent fairly
concerned about the movement.
-Religfon Watch
German church
affirms
homosexuality
The Evangelical Church in BerlinBrandenburg
is the first German
Lutheran church to publicly affirm
homosexuality as "neither sinful nor a
sickness, but a different expression of
human sexuality." The church leadership
called on their congregations to
accept homosexual Christians as
sisters and brothers .who should not
be made to conceal their sexual
orientation. The leadership of the
Bavarian, North Elbian, Rhineland
and Hessen/Nassau regional churches
are considering adoption of similar
stances:
The policy statement, which was
issued in response to an anti-gay
attack by skinheads in Berlin,
recalled the German churches' silence
while thoμsands of Gays were being
murdered in German concentration
camps during the Nazis' rule .
Declaring violence to be unacceptable
in dealing with social issues, the
stat ement said tolerance of social
OPEN AND AFFIRMING:
A JOURNEY OF FAITH
An Open and Affinning Video Resource
from the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries
"It brings IIJ life 1M prin~d words I have read
abouJ the ONA process.
Real peopu. Real churches. Really va/uabu!" UCC Clergyperson
"An excelknt video. I look forward IIJ using it
in our local church." UCC Laywoman
Open and Affirming: A Journey of Faith
Color, 55 minutes, VHS; Purchase only - Not available for renlal
Documents the experiences of three United Church of Christ
congregations deciding whether or not to declare themselves open
to and affirming of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons. Different
approaches to the ONA dialogue are documented as are candid
comments from church members about personal experiences with
the ONA process. Video package includes printed resources.
To order send $25.00 to: Rev. Bill Johnson
ONA Video Resources· UCBHM/DAMA
700 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-1100
All orders must be pre-paid by check. or money orderpe.yable to ftUCBHM".
For funher information call (216) 736 - 3270.
[1] s ·econd Stone• May/June 1992
minorities such as homosexuals is
needed.
-More Light Update
Suicide manual
popularity sparks
concern
Experts in medical ethics are
surprised and worried by brisk sales
of Final Exit, a suicide manual for the
terminally ill. Dr. Martin E. Marty,
an Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America pastor and historian of
American religion at the University
of Chicago Divinity Sd100I said that
scholars have been discussing the
morality of suicide for the terminally
ill for several years but a longstanding
taboo against suicide in
Western culture has kept the debate
from reaching the public. The strong
sales of Final Exit so soon after
publication are "a- revealing symbol"
that the time for a debate on suicide
to enter the public arena is long
overdue, he said. ·
-The Lutheran
Monks give up
plans for hospice
RESACA, GA . - Monks from the
Monastery of the Glorious Ascension
have given up their plans to operate
an AIDS hospice on their hillside
residence in northwest Georgia after
failing to win support from residents.
'Their neighbors have not been kind
to them, and I think it's just worn
th em down ," said Florence Brent,
board chairman of the proposed
hospice. With only three monks
remaining at the facility and novices
expected in the fall, Father Damian, a
member of the I):IOnastery said, "We
just don't have the manpower to do it
right now." Since 1989, six people,
five with AIDS, have received care
from four Eastern Orthodox monks at
the complex, 10 miles south of Dalton.
-TWN
Newspaper's
anti-homophobia
ads spark protests
A series of public -service ads dealing
with homophobia has appeared in a
Washington state newspaper, despite
cancelled subscriptions and a threatened
boycott from some advertisers ·
and subscribers. Officials at the
Tacoma Morning News Tribune said
the negative reaction to the ads was
proof that they are needed .
-Lesbian Connection
Lutherans call for
AIDS awareness
Congregation s of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America are
. ............. .
being asked to observe an AIDS
Awareness Sunday each year. A
churchwide policy has been adopted
to encourage congregations "to ·
articulate clearly their welcome to
persons affected by AIDS and their
support for them and their families
· and friends."
Scouts shouldn't
be anti-gay, says
founder's daughter
Virginia Boyce Lind, daughter of the
founder of the Boy Scouts of America,
says she wants the BSA to end its ban
against gay scouts and troop leaders.
Lind, who herself has a gay son, has
been a vigorous lifelong supporter of
the BSA. "My father didn't found the
Boy Scouts for certain groups of boys.
He founded it for all boys," she says.
"I don't think he would have liked
discrimination."
PFLAGPole
No voting
rights for gay
church elder
Curt Peterson, 34, was elected an
.elder by the congregation of
Wayzata's St. Luke Pr esbyterian
Church in suburban Minneapolis, but
the denomination's policies prohibit
out Lesbians and Gays from assuming
leadership posts . Peterson will
serve as an elder-elect without voting
rights. St. Luke is a More Light
churd1 which welcomes Lesbians and
Gays but the Presbyterian Church
will not allow th e ordination of
"unrepentant" Gays and Lesbians.
"It's so important for Gays and
Lesbians to come out in [mainstream
denominations]," said Peterson. "I
believe that Gays and Lesbians need
to take their place in structures
outside the gay community. We are
part of the larger community, and it's
important that our wisdom and
perspective be fully represent ed."
-Equal Time
Louisiana
governor
bans state
discrimination
Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards has
barred state agencies from discriminating
in jobs or services on the basis
of sexual orientation, a first among
Southern states. The executive order
also prohibits such discrimination by
the state in awarding contracts and by
state contractors in any employment
matter. A spokesperson for th e
Human Rights Campaign Fund said
that the decree is among the most
far-reaching issued by any state.
-T11e Times Picayune
No relationship
with Kinship, says
SDA Church
The General Conference of Seventhday
Adventists can estab lish no
relationship with SDA Kinship
International as long as Kinship "finds
a homosex ual relationsh ip to be an
acceptable lifestyle" according to a
letter from Conference President Bob
Folkenberg's office. The letter from
the president's assistant, B. E. Jacobs,
was written in response to a letter
from Kinsh ip president Mike
McLaughlin inviting the Conference
into a working relationsh ip with
Kinship. Jacobs said that the church
will continue a kind and compassionate
ministry to everyone and that
"God hates sin but loves the sinner."
University of
Utah (almost) bans
discrimination
The University of Utah will prohibit
discrimination against gay men and
Lesbians in its policies, but it will not
recognize sexual orientation as a
protected characteristic in its
affirmative action efforts. The school's
governing board of trustees adopted a
proposal to bar discrimination against
students, faculty and staff for reasons
of sexual orientation. However, the
trustees did not agree that sexual
orientation should be added as a
protected characteristic.
Archbishop
denounces safe
sex TV ads
CHILE - Santiago Catholic Archbishop
Carlos Oviedo says the Health
Ministry's new HIV prevention
television announcements "encour ages
sexual libertarianism." Many
political and social leaders accused
Oviedo of placing religion above
public health, according to Brazil's !PS
news agency . Of Santiago's four
television stations, two ran all three of
. the spots, the Catholic-owned station
refused to run any of them, and one
station banned only the spot that
mentioned condoms.
-Outlines
Catholic lay group
admits
Dignity/USA
The Leadership Council of Catholic
Laity has invited Dignity/USA to
become a full, organizational member.
The action climaxes four years of
waiting, applications by three
Dignity presidents and a month of
intense lobbying by Dignity/USA
...............N....e..w-.L...si.n...e..s.. ........T... ..........
President Kevin Calegari.
"It was a moment of truth both for
Dignity and for the LCCL," Calegari
said . "Many in the LCCL had to
confront their homophobia, and we
had to face that people simply don't
know who we are and what we do as
faith communities. We need to get
the good word out, and being part of
the LCCL will be one way of doing
that."
When former Dignity president Jim
Bussen of Chicago attempted to attend
LCCL's first meeting in Belleville, IL
in 1988 he was unceremoniously
hustled out of the room. "He was met
with discourtesy, so we dropped it,"
Calegari said.
-Bay Area Reporter
Holy Unions
double
Twice as many Holy Unions are
apparently being performed this
year by Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Communi ty Church
clergy. Rev. Bob Arthur, UFMCC
Church Services Coordinator, said
that the number of Holy Union
certificates sold from November 1991
to February 1992 is at least double the
number sold in the same period a
year earlier. Possible reasons for the
increase include recent national
publicity about blessing same-sex
relationships and the AIDS epidemic,
which is leading more people to want
to make permanent commitments.
-Keeping in Touch
Accept Gays, say
Reconstructionist
Jews
The leaders of Reconstructionist
Judaism have issued a policy statement
calling for complete, unconditional
equality for Lesbians and
Gays in Jewish life.
The historic 39-page statement,
adopted unanimously by the board of
directors of the Federation of Reconstru
ctionist . Congregations and
Havorot, affirms that holiness resides
in committed gay and lesbian relationships
· and welcomes lesbian and
gay individuals and families as full
and equal members of congregations
"with the same rights and responsibilities
as heterosexual individuals
and families."
-PhiladelphiGa ayN ews
Religious leaders
discuss morality
Leaders from Jewish, Christian and
Moslem faiths met in Los Angeles to
discuss morality and public life. The
Catholic Cardinal of Los Angeles,
Roger Mahony, was the featured
speaker.
The symposium ,yas entitled "How
Safe is Safe Sex?" and was held at the
Islamic Center of Southern California . .
The fledgling coalition is "not so
different from the moral majority"
said Father Paul Dechant, chaplain at
UCLA.
Criticizing condom distribution
programs in the schools Mahony said,.
"[This] assumes that the young cannot
be morally educated . .Sexual responsibility
and self -control are the
primary controls to the spread of
AIDS. AIDS must not be taken as a
condemnation. Only God can see into
the heart. But this is an opportunity
to pra ctice compassion and mercy
since AIDS is not a faceless disease." '
-Seattle Gay News
Priest's faculties
revoked for
co-authoring book
FRESNO, CA. - Craig O'Neill, a
Catholic priest who co-authored the
recently published Coming Out
Within: Stages of Spiritual Awakening
for Lesbiansa nd GayM en, has received
notice from his bishop that he may no
longer celebrate the sacraments or
minister as a priest.
Fresno Bishop John Steinbock said
in a letter dated February 14th to the
priests of the Bakersfield deanery that
the publication of Coming Out Within
"shows clearly that [O'Neill] condones
and promotes homosexual and lesbian
sexual activity ... This position is
not compatible with the teachings of
the Catholic Church."
Coming Out Within explores the
difficulties. and · losses that gay men
and Lesbians experience in dealing
with family, work, church, and
society. O'Neill and his co-author,
Kathleen Ritter, offer an eight-stage
process to help readers move through
grief and loss to reach a point of
spiritual wholeness and fp,.lfillment.
Harvard chaplain
under fire
Rev. Peter John Gomes, minister of
Harvard's Memorial Church, is under
fire from conservahves following his
voluntary admission that he is gay.
Gomes came out last November, after
a conservative student newspaper
printed a 56-page issue condemning
homosexuality. Students and alumni
have requeste d Gomes' resignation,
but so far Harvard officials are supporting
the minister.
-Southern Voice
.. ,
diqnitv,usa
an o,yanizationfo r gay and fu6ian Catfwfus,
tkir familus a,ul friends.
..! L.. Dignity /USA has ministered to gay and lesbian Catholics,
their families and friends for over 20 years .
., -r . We have over 4,000 members in 80 chapters across the country.
If you'd like to support our ministry, pleasej oin Dignit)(/USAt oday by completingt hef orm
below and enclosing your $40.00 check payable to Dignity, Inc. to:
Dignity/USA, 1500 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 11,
Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: 1-800-877-8797
D YES, I would like to support the work of c:1(11if"'9JUSCJ
Enclosedi s my$4 0.00 check tor membership.
Name
Address
City Stale- ZIP ___
Second Stone • May/June 1992 ~i
.L!U
News Lines
~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACT UP protests
at Catholic Church
ACT UP /Dublin, Ireland, held a
protest against the Church's anti-safe
sex stance. About 40 activists
marched through rush-hour traffic,
some dressed as bishops. Arriving at
the Pro-Cathedral, they chanted
"We're !oo sexy for your church, too
sexy for your church, so sexy it
hurts." The reaction from mass-goers
was "surprisingly good," according to
· Dublin's Gay Community News.
-Outlines
Court upholds
city's decision
In a landmark decision by the Fourth
District Court of Appeal in California,
a proposed right-wing initiative
targeting the lesbian and gay community,
as well as persons with HN,
has been declared unconstitutional as
a denial of the right to equal
protection under the law. Upholding
a lower court decision, the Fourth
District affirmed the action of the
Riverside City Council in refusing to
place on the ballot a proposed
measure that would have fostered
discrimination against Lesbians, gay
men, and people battling HIV
disease. The initiative had been
circulated in Riverside churches by
"Riverside Citizens for Responsible
Behavior," a group with ties to the
homophobic Traditional Values
Coalition.
Sexuality study
urges deliberation
The recently released Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America sexuality
study strongly encourages the
consideration of biblical texts related
to sexuality, but it also asks church
members to look at the Christian
meaning of sexuality "in relation to
contemporary social, medical and
psychological insights." The SO-page
study, titled Human Sexuality and
the Christian Faith, is the first step in
the development of an ELCA social
statement on human sexuality.
The study examines "assumptions
about the Bible's rejection of homosexual
behavior ... in light of new
understandings of homosexuality." In
biblical times much homosexual
activity was exploitive and abusive,
the study states and then asks, "Is it
appropriate to draw moral judgments
from these passages and apply them
to gay or lesbian relationships that
r------------------------------~
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~------------------------------~ []] Second Stone• May/June 1992 .
are mutually loving?" The study is
available on request through the
ELCA Distribution Service,
(800)3284648.
-The Lutheran
Anti-NAMBLA
group forms
SAN FRANCISCO - A group dedicated
to driving the North American
Man-Boy Love Association out of the
gay movement has recently formed.
Founders of the group decided i! was
time to defend the gay community
against stereotypes of Gays being
child molesters. The majority of
molesters are heterosexual.
"Somebody has to come out and say
they aren't us," said Everett Denman,
founder of the Gay and Lesbian Advocates
for Children's Rights. "We're
part of families. They're a threat to
our children, too," he said. _.'
NAMBLA believes that the ~e of
consent laws for sex should bl° abolished.
-The Latest Issue
Catholic bishops
reject safe sex
WASHINGTON - The National Conference
of Catholic Bishops has
overwhelmingly rejected safe sex
approaches to combating AIDS .
"Instead of promoting the illusion of
safe sex, we need to warn our
children and society of the dangers of
sexual promiscuity and drug abuse,"
the bishops said.
-Associated Press
Meeting between
Bush campaign
and gay activists
sparks backlash
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Far right
organizations have seized on a meet~
ing between the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force and the Bush/
Quayle '92 campaign to push anti-gay
rhetoric to the forefront of the presidential
race and attack gay and
lesbian campaign visibility.
"Having the highest-ranking
member of your re-election campaign
meet with the homosexual lobby is a
direct contradiction to your attempts
to portray your administration as
pro-family," wrote Rev. Morris
Chapman, president of the Southern
Baptist Convention, and reported in
the Washington Times. "We call upon
you to personally· disavow any
support or sympathy for the homosexual
civil rights agenda."
The Conservative Political Caucus,
Pat Robertson's "700 Club," the
National Association of Evangelicals
and other groups have also vilified
the meeting. Richard Land, Christian
Llfe Commission head, was quoted in
The Tennessean as saying, "People
who campaign for office as pro-family
are engaging in hypocrisy when they
court people whose lifestyle is not...
traditional."
The White House has distanced itself
from the meeting between Robert
Mosbacher, chair of the Bush reelection
campaign, and gay activists,
saying it was a .:'personal decision" by
Mosbacher.
Forgotten · Scouts
picks up National
Gt,ming Out Day
support
National Coming Out Day has
become a organizational member of
"Forgotten . Scouts," the visibility
organization of gay and bisexual men
formed to challenge the biases of Boy
Scouts of America. "We are proud to .
have the endorsement of National
Coming Out Day and are making
plans for NCOD Year Five, October
11, 1992," said Ken McPherson, cofounder
of Forgotten Scouts. Current
and former gay scouts are urged to
contact Forgotten Scouts, 1072 Folsom
St. .#383, San Francisco, CA 94103,
(415)905-6120.
Baptist Church
may ordain
gay man
A North Carolina church is con-.
sidering ordaining the nation's first
openly gay Baptist minister. O\in T.
Binkley Memorial .Baptist Church in
Chapel Hill endorsed the candidacy
of John Blevins, a divinity student at
Duke University, in early February.
Binkley Memorial belongs to the
Southern Baptist Convention, the
world ' s largest Baptist organization.
Blevin~ told the Raleigh News &
Observer, 'This is a sensitive issue,"
and that he feared publicity could
jeopardize his ordination.
-Southern Voice
Glad you're gay?
Tell Ann Landers
Ann Landers is doing a survey to
determine if lesbian and gay people
are glad they are gay. "While this
survey is unscientific, biased to those
who happen to read her advice
column, and open to pollution from
anti-gay hate mail groups, we think it
is an opportunity to come out yet
again with pride," said Lynn
Shepodd, Executive Director of
National Coming Out Day. NCOD
urges readers to send a card or note
saying "Yes I am glad to be gay or
lesbian" to Ann Landers, P.O. Box
11562, Chicago, IL 60611-0562.
I News··Lines ; ...................................
Church backs
troop on
pro-gay stance
Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church in San Jose, Calif., is siding
With Boy Scout Troop 260, which
meets at the church, in its battle with
the national scouting organization
over its ban on admitting gay men as
leaders or members .
The troop's council passed a
resolution saying that it supported the
national Boy Scout constitution calling
for its adult leaders and members to
be "morally straight." But the council,
the resolution says, does not agree
that male or female homosexual
orientation is immoral.
The council of the 650-member
Christ the Good Shepherd, a Reconciling
Congregation, supported the
troop's decision by voting "to affirm
and applaud their act of conscience,"
said the Rev. Jack W. Lundin, the
church's pastor.
-The Lutheran
Gay bar off limits
to military
EL PASO, TX. - The military has
placed the Old Plantation, a gay bar,
off limits to its personnel because of~
concern over sexually transmitted
disease . According to activist Laura
. McIntosh, the real reason the bar is off
limits is military homophobia. "If the
military at Fort Bliss was really
concerned about the prevention . of
sexually transmitted disease, then
they should have placed all of the
straight ba;s in El Paso and Juarez on
restriction ... ," McIntosh said.
airline officials, equipped with a list
of freebie ticket-holders, began asking
non-paying passengers to give up
their seats to make way for paying
passengers from the other plane.
Going to the seat assigned to the
USAir employee, a ticket agent
asked, "Are you Gay?" Somewhat ·
taken aback, the passenger nodded
that he was, at which the USAir agent
said, 'Then you'll have to get off."
Mr . Gay, the USAir employee
overheard what the ticket agent was
saying to the customer and decided to
clear up the confusion. "You've got
the wrong man - I'm Gay," said the
employee. Whereupon an angry
third passenger who had overheard
everyone's remarks piped in, "Hell,
I'm gay, too. Th ey can't kick us all
off!" The mass linguistic confusion
was soon clear ed up, and ·no one had
to give up a seat on the flight because
of sexual orientation . Mr. Gay eventually
made his way to his destination
on a less complicated flight.
-Cruise
NIH needs
research
volunteers
The National Institutes of Health is
seeking volunteers to participate in a
family study of biological determinants
of human sexuality. The aim
of the study is to determine whether
the development of sexual orientation
is influenced by heredity. Persons
who are at least 18 years old and
have two or more adult gay or
lesbian relatives are invited to con.
tact Dr . Dean Hamer at (301)402-2709.
Travel _ expenses and per diem will be
paid by the NIH.
STONEWALL RIOTS BY ANDREA NATALIE
J//tr ·0011'1 lJNOf!/STANO lfY
PAV6HT£,f_ SlfE l?Er _vn:s TO WEA.Ir ,
WOMl'#'S CLtJ/lfES · !/I.IT SH! l}OESN ' T
U.U ff.f/l'S CLO~IIES . '
Volunteers sought
for UMC General
Conference
Methodists who are members of
· Parents and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays are needed as volunteers at the
General Conference of the United
Methodist Church which meets in
Louisville, Ky., from May 5-15. The
_ · Conference _will be considering the
report of _its Committee to Study
Homosexuality, which by a 73 to 18
vote · had recommended - that the
denomination abandon its present
blanket condemnation of homosexual
practice . Volunteers should call Elinor
Lewallen, (303)355-7911. Lewallen
urges all Methqdists to write letters
supporting the Study Cornmitte~.
Congressman
rejects BLK
magazine
Lesbian organization celebrates first decade
LOS ANGELES - Congressman
William H. Orton (D-Utah) had the
United States Postal Service issue a
prohibitory order to BLK magazine
forbiding the company from sending
the monthly magazine to the Congressman's
office. Earlier last year,
BLK began sending copies of the
black lesbian and gay newsmagazine
to all members of the Senate and
House of Representatives.
Who's Gay?
A USAir worker, whose last name is
Gay, using the employees' free flight
program, got on one of his company's
planes recently . When he found the
free seat assigned to him occupied by
a p·aying passenger, Mr. Gay took an
empty seat nearby. But then another
USAair flight waiting at the airport
ran into mechanical problems and
The Conference for Catholic Lesbians,
an international lesbian organization,
is concluding its first decade of
commitment to connecting Lesbians of
Catholic heritage and promoting their
visibility. CCL is celebrating its 10th
anniversary this summer at its sixth
general conference, which will be
held in Waltham, Massachusetts
during the weekend of July 17-20th.
In 1981, Maryland-based New
Ways Ministry, whose work is
primarily for and about gay and
lesbian people in religious life, held a
conference for Catholic Lesbians. A
few participants of that conference
wanted to bring such an event to
other women of Catholic heritage in
the greater lesbian community and
the first conference for Catholic
Lesbians was formed in 1982. It
sparked the interest and served the
needs of tlw women who participated
in that . conference, and the birth of
the organization of the same name
occurred the following spring .
The organization's name has been a
controversial one throughout its ten
years of existence. It has caused misunderstanding
as to the organization 's
-orientation and purpose among
potential friends and those who
would oppose it. Uniting the words
catholic and lesbian is like waving a
red flag at Lesbians who have bitter
feelings about a church that exploited
and excluded them on the basis of
their gender, itnd declared them
intrinsically morally evil on the basis
of their sexual orientation. Many
church-going Catholics are offended
by the word catholic being used .as an
adjective to describe Lesbians. The
name, though, is what s·ets them
apart from other lesbian and religious
groups, and it expresses a unique
point of view, a st _arting point if not a
point of departure, which is very
different from other Catholic and gay
groups.
It is a statement in and of itself that ·
women, who come out of the Catholic
tradition, whether still active in that
church or far removed from it, feel
the need to ban together to discuss
their issues, to be church for one
another, and fo make themselves
visible to the Church, society and the
lesbian community, places that might
be hostile to their existence.
The theme of the 1992 conference is
"Shaking Our Roots - Designing Our
Future : Catholic Lesbian Spirituality
in the '90s." The group will be
exploring spirituality and the different
paths the members have taken in
their spiritual journeys, and they are
hoping to share the weekend with
like-minded friends who have not
heard of the organization previously.
They will be looking at both their
history and their future as the new
millennium looms ahead. (See
Caiendar.)
·second Stone• May/June 1992 [ZJ
Anti-gay measures heat up in three states
A far-right Christian organization has
bombarded Oregon's gay and lesbian
community with a number of state-wide
and local anti-gay initiatives to
be placed on the ballots this year.
Meanwhile, in Alabama, the state
Senate is poised to vote on a bill
which would mandate that schools
teach that homosexuality is unacceptable
and a criminal offense. At the
same time in Colorado, activists are
waging a battle against a statewide
anti-gay intitative. The National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force Policy
Institute is helping local activists
organize against these attacks.
The Oregon Citizens Alliance
(OCA), a far-right group that initiated
a successful anti-gay measure in 1988,
introduced two statewide and three
local initiatives.
The statewide measures will be on
the ballot in November if the
necessary signatures are gathered by
the July deadline. The local initiatives
will be on the ballot during the
May primary.
One statewide initiative amends the
state constitution to prohibit local,
regional, and state governments in
Oregon from "promoting, encouraging,
or facilitating" homosexuality.
"Churches are NOT hospitable places
for lesbians and gay men- RIGHT?"
WRONG !
is a quarterly magazine for and about
churches that welcome lesbians and gay men .
Each issue of Open Hands explores a particular concern of lesbians
and gay men in the church and includes feature articles by clergy
and laypersons, resource listings, worship/deootional ideas, and
news from the lesbian/ gay Christian movement.
Published since 1985 by the Reconciling Congregation Program, a
national network of United Methodist churches that welcome
lesbians and gay men.
_ Enclosed Is $16 for my annual
subscription (four Issues) of Open
Hw1<ls ($20 outside the U.S.A.).
_ Please bill me $16 for my annual
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It also requires that those governments
and the public school systems
"assist in setting a standard for
Oregon's youth which recognizes that
these behaviors are abnormal, wrong,
unnatural and perverse and that they
are to be discouraged and avoided."
The cities of Springfield, Corvallis
and Portland were targeted by the
OCA for similar local initiatives. The
OCA gathered the necessary signatures
in Corvallis and Springfield,
while gay activists defeated their
signature-gathering efforts in Portland
through a successful "Bigot
B.uster" campaign. "Bigot Busters"
shadow OCA petition gatherers and
explain to potential signers the drastic
implications of the measures.
These initiatives would mean that
gay men and Lesbians could lose
their jobs or homes simply because of
their sexual orientation, with no legal
recourse. Governments could not
issue permits for gay pride marches,
public facilities could not be rented to
gay organizations, public libraries
would be required to remove books
that treat homosexuality neutrally or
positively, and public schools would
be required to teach students that
homosexuality is "abnormal, wrong,
unnatural, and perverse."
The second statewide initiative
amends the state hate crimes law
which currently protects ~ictims who
are attacked because of their sexual
orientation. The initiative would
delete "sexual orientation" and substitute
"abnormal and unnatura l
sexual behavior ."
'These initiatives are a horrendous
threat to the lives and livelihood of
gay and lesbian Oregonians," said
Robin Kane, Public Information Man-
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ager of the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force Policy Institute. "And the
threat doesn't end at the Oregon
border. The right-wing is making
this a test case, and if they win, they
will take this show on the road
throughout the nation."
Gay activists around the country
are being encouraged to send funds
to battle such initiatives. The
Campaign for a Hate Free Oregon is
a professional statewide coalition of
groups orga11.izing to defeat the
initiatives through the media, education
and voter registration. It can be
reached at P.O. Box 3343, Portland,
OR 97208; (503)232-4501. No on Hate
is a statewide grassroots organization
that will use "Bigot Busting" and
other tactics to involve many people
in the campaign against the
initiatives. It can be reached at P. 0.
Box 2725, Portland, OR 97208;
(503)222-9885. Bigot Busters, which
are mobilizing statewide, can be
reached at P.O. Box 36, Sherwood,
OR 97140; (503)625-5795.
The Human Rights Coalition is a
cooperative effort by gay, religious,
civil rights and other organizations to
defeat the local initiative in Corvallis.
It can be reached at P.O. Box 828,
Corvallis, OR 97339; (503)752-8157 .
Springfield Together Opposing
Prejudice (STOP-PAC) is a gay organization
battling the local initiative in
Springfield. It can be reached at
Gateway Mail Facility, P.O. Box
70464, Eugene, OR 97401;
(503)744-1371.
Meanwhile in Alabama, the state
Senate Health Committee unanimously
approved of a bill mandating
specific limits on sex education in
public schools. If passed, the bill
would require that schools remove
abortion and safer sex discussions in
sex education classes, teach total
abstinence as the only form of
prevention for AIDS, and teach that
homosexuality is unacceptable and a
criminal offense. The full Senate is
expected to vote on the bill, SB tin,
in the upcoming few weeks.
Colorado is in the midst of a heated
campaign by a right-wing organization
to add an anti-gay amendment to
the state constitution. The Colorado
for Family Values initiative, which
will be on the November ballot if the
necessary signatures are gathered,
will exclude sexual orientation from
protected class status in any civil
rights laws in the state. Controversy
has already erupted there in
February when Colorado University
football coach Bill McCartney held a
press conference, wearing a CU
sweater and speaking behind a CU
podium, and denounced homosexuality
and supported the efforts of
CFV. The Equal Protection Campaign
is leading the battle to defeat
the initiative. They can be reached at
P.O. Box 300476, Denver, CO 80203;
(303)839-5540.
England's gay/lesbian Christians
react to Bishop's statement
Gay and lesbian Christians are calling
a statement on human sexuality
by the Bishops of the Church of
England a positive breakthrough but
warn that the report, Issues in Human
Sexuality, contains harmful inconsistencies
and contradictions about
clergy behavior . The document is a
statement of the bishops' opinion and
is not binding on the Church of
England . The British press reported
that the document reflects the position
of Archbishop Carey.
'The Lesbian arid Gay Christian
Movement welcomes publication of
this report from the Bishops of the
Church of England and looks forward
to a full debate on it at all levels of
church life, including deanery, diocesan
and General Synod levels" says
Rev. Richard Kirker, general secre-.
tary of the movement. "It is a fair,
balanced report which will help to
create a more tolerant and realistic
climate of opinion. Only on the
matter of lesbian and gay clergy
conduct do we feel that the report is
LETTERS, From Page 3
racial prejudice and segregation in
their colleges and churches. But the
Methodists had a better record on the
issue of civil rights for blacks than
most other churches and have now
tried to get some understanding of
gay issues.
Not so with Southern Baptists, who
are still in sin and have never
repented for their very purpose for
existing, which was using the Bible
(prior lo the Civil War) to prove that
slavery was God's will, and then later
that racial separation was God's will.
They were wrong then and their
views on homosexuality are wrong
now.
Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
William Edward Glover
Homosexual Information Center
seriously deficient, and this will need
major changes if it is to be acceptable
to the whole Church, including its
indispensable lesbian and gay
clergy," Kirker said.
The movement particularly
applauds the report's recognition of
and apology for the Church 's "prejudice,
ignorance and oppression" in
dealing with homosexuality and the
recognition that celibacy is a special
gift from God which cannot be
prescribed. Also praised is the
report's unambiguous assert ion that
congregations should welcome and
support gay and lesbian Christians,
whether "active" sexually or not, and
it's respect for the integrity of those
Lesbians and gay men who believe
their sexual relationships to be right
in the sight of God.
The biblical section of the report is
weak, according to Rev. Kirker, and
reflects the author's reluctance to come
to terms with many new insights
from a wide range of published
works from many countries. While
Not fixated
on sex
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Dear Second Stone,
Most gay-oriented publications
focus on the sexual component of our
personalities, indeed fixate on it. Sex
is good and has it worthy place in our
humanity and personhood but I
understand it as the fruit a relationship
flowers out into rather than
the root of the plant. Second Stone to
its great credit helps to nourish and
affirm awareness of the other
dimensions of character and the
perspective our being gay and
lesbian persons gives us of the world.
May your good work continue with
the support and gratitude it merits.
Yours most sincerely,
J. Prybot
J J recently, I've been feeling J J
extremely lonely and alone.
Almost weekly letters arrive at Second Stone from prisoners who
are isolated and in need of caring contact. You can help if you
have time to answer a letter .•. or if you are able to provide a gift
subscription. Thanks for doing whatever you can.
0 Please send a gift subscription in my name to a prisoner and forward
his/her correspondence to me. I enclose $15.00 for six issues.
QPlease send a gin subscription in my name to a prisoner. I canno~
however, correspond with him/her at this time. $15.00 enclosed . OI will answer correspondence from one prisoner. Please forward to
me one letter originating from a prisoner .
YOUR NAME. ............................................................................................................... , ............. ..
ADDRF.SS ................................................... "······················· .. ·················· ...............................
CITY,STA1E&ZIP ......................................................................................................... .
Mail to: Second Stone, Box 8340, New Orleans, LA 70182
the report acknowledges the existence
of other interpretations of the story of
Sodom and that it cannot be applied
uncritically to loving same-sex relationships
the Bishops refuse to accept
the views of many modem, widely
respected bibical scholars and
continue to assert that the story is
about homosexuality . The Lesbian
and Gay Christian Movement feels
that th e repo .rt's treatment of
bisexuality is insensitive, simplistic
and hurtful toward many people
whose orientation is neither heterosexual
nor homosexual.
It was the report's view on lesbian
and gay clergy that drew the most
ire. 'The double-standard they commend,
and want to uphold, is a policy
which will lower the morale and
self-respect of lesbian and gay clergy,
further adding to their stress and
sense of being undervalued," the
movement wrote in a prepared
statement. The unspecified, unclear
threat of discipline against clergy in a
same-sex relationship has further
destroyed the trust" necessary in all
dealings between clergy and bishops,
according to the movement.
UNITED METHODISTS:
we're here for you - Affirmation: United Methodists for
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns welcomes you.
P.O. Box 1021 Evanston, IL 60204
(415)221-1612
OUR WORLD
The International Gay Travel Magazine
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in Hawaii, a . manor house in the English
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more -all catering to our life&tyle!
Plus, every month, regular departments
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Daytona Beach, Florida 32117 USA
TEL: (904) 441-5367
· Second Stone• May/June 1992[ {]
T Cover Story T ...................... .............. '• ................................... .
Baptist church performs same-sex Holy Union service
FROMPAGEl
thing" - the desire of Steven to .
"pledge lifelong commitment in a
caring, nurturing relationship" to
Kevin, and Kevin's desire to solidify "
a commitment we had long before we
began the process [ of seeking a
blessing in the churd1]."
Although Holy Union, whether
heterosexual or homosexual, is not a
sacrament in the Southern Baptist
church, Turner believes that, for him,
their ceremony was, like baptism, an
outward sign of an inner reality - the
commitment was there long before
the ceremony. "Commitment," he
says, "goes far beyond the initial
stages of a relationship . You realize
that there's a lot more than sex. Being
together is important. You like being
with this person. If," he continues,
"sex is the end all and be all,
[commitment to] monogamy doesn't
make sense. The sex will not always
be what it is at first."
Monogamy is essential to the
• pledge Turner and Churchill have
made to each other. "Monogamy is
important to me on several levels,"
says Turner. "I don't really want to be
with someone who wants to be with .
someone else. That's practical. On a
scriptural lev el... it's more than
scripture ... you have to be." Turner
finds it hard to point to precisely
where, but in general, be believes
that "all of our relationships should be
based 011 love and trust." There are,
he acknowledges , ethical standards
set in scripture that are for all couples
in relationship.
The families of both men
participated in their union, but not
without initial difficulties. The
Churchills, native to Raleigh, were
not thrilled to find the private life of
Steven in local newspapers - nor were
the people they worked with and
went to church with. But, everyone
seems to have adjusted pretty well.
The Churchills held a rehearsal
dinner for the participants and were
in attendance at the ceremony.
Although most of his family is in
Upstate New York, Turner's family
was also well represented at their
union. One sister even sang during
the ceremony . "Our families," says
Turner, "have been very involved,
. very supportive."
Family support, community
support, and the commitment to "love
and grow together" - the perfect
ingredients for a successful relat_ionship
. Years from now, "I want to see,
us together," says Churchill. " ... our
love to grow stronger. Neither of us
has been in a relationship as long as
this one," adds Turner. Their
thoughts blend together: "Our relationship
is strange. We've weathered
many things together ... had to rely
on each other."
"I basically spent my entire life in
the drnrch, says Turner . "Faith is an
inte&ral part of my life. With all of
this,' he says, "my faith gets stonger."
To those seeking to affirm their gay
or lesbian relationship within
mainline churches Turner says, "First,
pray about it. Decide if it's what you
really want ." "It's a !of to risk,"
emphasizes Churchill.
; ,
"Part of me," Turner continues,
"wants to say if you're in a church
that does [bless same-gender unions],
fine. If not, find one that does, instead
of trying to change the whole church.
But' a part of me says, 'it was worth it.'
I've lamented the publicity, but it's
brought lots of new people [to
Pullen]. And, "although a number of
families have left the church over
this, I wouldn't take back a moment
of it.''
SBC couldn't tell Pullen what to do
By The News & Observer
RALEIGH, NC - After two months of
debate; the congregation of Pullen
Memorial Baptist Church voted
nearly 2-1 to permit the same-gender
union ceremony of Kevin Turner and
Steven Churchill.
The church's decision defied a
resolution passed by the Southern
Baptist Convention condemning Pullen
for condoning "the gross perverSi(?
n and unquestioned sin" of homo- ·
sexuality. Pullen could be ousted
from the convention for its decision.
"We are just trying to be faithful to
what God would have us be," said
the Rev. M. Mal1an Siler Jr., pastor of
Pullen.
In a ballot addresssing four issues,
the cqngregation showed overwhelming
support - 94 percent - for welcoming
Gays and Lesbians to full membership,
but somewhat less support -
64 percent - for offering a service to
bless the union . The vote also favored
opening the church to anyone,
and establishing a document that
would include a ceremony for a
same-sex union along with its
historical, biblical and theological
background.
The secret vote was taken by mail,
and 531 of the 750 ballots . sent out
were returned .
"I appreciate your openness during
this process and the respect you have
shown one another," said Jim Powell,
chairman of deacons, as he read the
results of the vote. "We were asked
to stretch, and we have.''
Church members, including some
who _disagreed with the outcome, said [ID]' Second Stoiie • May/June 1992
that the church had reached its
decision through an open process that
strengthened the congregation.
'1 personally am not in favor," said
Steve Edwards, 54, a member of
Pullen for 23 years. ''But I respect this
congregation's stance. It was not an
easily made decision; it was a long,
laborious process. But clearly it was a
decisive vote. I didn't want to see a
51 to 49 split.''
Others said the choice was a natural
expression of their faith.
attended Pullen for two years. She
favored the blessing.
The church first faced the question
of whether to bless a gay union in
September, when Turner, 27, went to
Siler and asked him to ·perform a
ceremony blessi ng his relationship
with Churchill, 23. Siler took it to the
deacons, who opened the issue to the
entire congregation.
"It has been a very intense .time,"
Siler said. ''The issue is very emotional
and has . required deep soul-
"The Southern Baptist Convention should not
be allowed to tell local churches what to do,"
said Michael Viar, youth minister at Pullen.
"For them to now be able to dictate to the
local church - the ayatollahs will be coming
out of the woodwork."
"We as a Christian community can
embrace all people," said Dr. Dan
Chartier, 43, a member for three
years who favored the same-gender
blessing ceremony. "If we really
believe what we say we believe, then
there are no differences between us as
Christians."
Although more than a third of those
voting opposed the ceremony, rnurch
members said they do not expect the
decision to create a permanent rift in
the congregation.
'1 was afraid of that when we were
first discussing it, but what I saw the
last few months totally dispelled
that," said Regina Parham, 30, a
member •for two months who has
searching. This rnurch has honored
diversity for years and years. We
have a tradition of being willing to
address difficult issues."
The ceremony was not a wedding
with the legal rights and responsibilities
that marriage confers. But it
was a public promise of mutual love
and monogamy.
Siler said Pullen's position has less
to do with homosexuality than with
monogamy as a moral issue.
"We're taking a stand toward a
responsible expression of sexuality,"
Siler said. "It's a stand of support
toward persons who want to commit
to a long-term monogamous relationship.''
_The Southern Baptist Convention's
executive committe has denounced
both Pullen and Olin T. Binkley
Memorial Baptist Churrn in Chapel
Hill, North Carolina, which is
considering whether to give a gay
divinity student license to prearn.
But Pullen members expressed little
concern over the convention's actions.
Traditionally, Baptist churches are
autonomous and democratic. Individual
congregations make their own
decisions, rather than following policy
set down by central leadership.
'The Southern Baptist Convention
shou ld not be allowed to tell local
churches what to do," said Michael
Viar, youth minister at Pullen. "For
them to now be able to dictate to the
local church - the ayatollahs will be
coming out of the woodwork."
Opposition has also come from
closer to home.
On the day that the vote was
announced, while the congregation
prayed and sang hymns inside the
rnurch, the cars parked outside were
papered wit h fliers condemning
homosexuality and offering lengthy
interpretations of the Bible's stand on
sex, marriage, lust and hell. Church
leaders removed . the fliers before the
service ended.
Siler said he has received many
negative calls and letters.
"It indicates to me the fear of
homosexuality that's in our society
and in us all," he said. ''But it makes
me understand what a homosexual
deals with all the time. It's a taste of1
the kind of condemnation they face.''
-Donna Seese
. THE
WILDERNESS
GENERATION
BY IRE . NE ELIZABETH STROUD
B lack and Latino drag tell their coming-out stories, for
queens fought back against example, it often turns out that they
police harassment at the· knew about thei r sexual identity
Stonewall Inn in Greenwich years before they ever told a single
Village: That was 1969. I was born in other person. Some had no idea there
1970. was anyone else like them in the
Harvey Milk was elected to the San world . · They describe levels of
Francisco Board of Supervisors - and denial, shame, and isolation that I've
was assassinated - in 1978. I was never known. And they also deseight.
I was 11 when the New York cribe dramatic moments when
Times first reported that 41 gay men Stonewall suddenly became real for
had seen diagnosed with Kaposi's them, when they first realized they
sarcoma. All my sexual experimen- deserved community instead of _
tation and my whole corning-out isolation, and resistance instead of
process have taken place in the resignation or assimilation .
shadow at AIDS. My coming-out story, by contrast, is
I was 19, and just going through the easy, funny, joyful. And it has no
heartbreak that followed my first love discernible "Stonewall moments."
affair with a woman, when Carter
Heyward published Touching Our I applied to a women's college, and
Strength. realized it didn't bother me to hear
people calling it a "dyke school." In
This year, I took a college course in October my first year there, I wrote in
gay and lesbian literature, marched my journal that I thought I might be a
in my first-ever pride parade, and got lesbian. In January, I asked my
into seminary at least partly on the friend Robin, who had come out in
strength of an essay about my high school, how she knew - and
experience as a lesbian. spent long afternoons and evenings
In seminary, I quickly realized I with her, listening to her stories.
was the youngest student, and the , · Within the year, I fell in love with a
youngest by a long shot in the woman. I knew almost immediately
Lesbian, Gay and _ Bisexual Caucus. that this was what made sense for me,
At least one lesbian at the seminary that this was right and good.
has a child who is older than I am. I came out to my parents the
I just turned 22. following August. Things were tense
and painful for some time. . But
Gay men, Lesbians, and bisexual within a week, despite the difficulties,
men and women .who are 20, ten, or when we were eating take-out
sometimes even five years older than Chinese food for dinner and the
I, have a history and a consciousness message in my fortune cookie said
that I hardly recognize . When they "You and your wife will have a
wonderful life together," we were all
able to laugh.
If the movement towards gay
liberation is like the Hebrew's journey
towards the prqmised land, then
Stonewall is the Exodus. Not, as in
the African-American tradition,
because it represents an escape from
slavery, but because it represents a
nation beginning to form, an
oppressed people claiming identity
and comm un ity in an act of
resistance.
The Exodus is followed by a long
period wandering in the wilderness.
And in the wilderness, a new generation
is born.
I'm one of the first children of this
second generation . born in the wilderness
. When I was born, my people
were already o_n the move; by the
time I came out, .a thriving community
of struggle and liberation was
there to receive me.
I have no memory of the total
isolation of the closet, for although I
sometimes .choose, in specific situations,
not to reveal my identity, my
experiences of corning out to myself
and of coming out to others were
nearly simultaneous. I never carried
my sexual identity as a complete
secret. I experienced confusion, but
not shame.
Age makes a huge difference in
lesbian experience. Despite a sincere
interest in reaching across generations,
and a tremendous sense of debt
to those whose work has made my
path so much easier, I sometimes
have trouble communicating with
Lesbians who grew up and came out
earlier in the gay liberation and
lesbian feminist movements. It can
that was, ultimately, simple and clear·
- "Oh, so I'm a Lesbian!" "Now I get
it!" And when we talked about the
church, our questions were similar.
Of course, I speak from a position of
considerable privilege. Stonewall,
after all, hasn't happened everywhere
yet, or to everyone. I grew up in a
big coastal city and went to college
with a large, visible community of
Lesbians and bisexual women. I had
access to resources many people still
have trouble finding. I was lucky to
have incredibly courageous, loving
parents. Even for someone as young
as I am, my experience ,·is still fairly
rare.
But the clarity and relative
painlessness of my corning-out experience
have more to de{ with the good
work of those who have gone before
me than with accidents of birth.
Because of Stonewall and the years of
fruitful struggle that followed upon it,
I've been able to come out much
earlier and with much less pain than
anyone could have imagined 20 years
ago .
I'm also part of a second wave of
nationally organized, openly gay,
lesbian and bisexual seminary students
. The planning for the seminarians'
conference I attended began
three years ago, and the men and
women who participated in that
process now work as pastors,
chaplains, staff members at church
and social service agencies, and
. theologians. Some of them came to
the conference to talk about their
ministries - in the church, and out of
the closet. Here, too, the way is
being prepared.
I don't want to romanticize the
If the movement towards gay liberation
is like the Hebrew's journey towards
the promised land, then Stonewall is
the Exodus.
be difficult to share an agenda or a
common stategy . I expect more, and I
have less patience. This is especially ·
true in the church; I have felt this
difference most profoundly in my
interactions with older Lesbians in the
Reconciling Congregation !"call home.
I have felt lonely at church and in
seminary, and I have wondered if it
was just me - if my experience was
unique to the college I attended, if
my politics were simply more ra,μical
than most, or if my expectations for
affirrnation and community were just
too high. But recently, at an annual
national conference of lesbian, gay,
and bisexual seminarians, I was able
to spend some time with a small
group of Lesbians my age, and I was
amazed at hew much we shared.
Every coming-out story seemed to
include a realization of sexual identity
wilderness, or confuse it with the
promised land. The wilderness is
dangerous and unpredictable . In this
same climate that allowed me to come
out so easily, there has also been a
violent backlash against sexual
minorities, fueled by resentment at
our new visibility, and by fear of
AIDS. Gaybashing is on the rise.
Pennsylvania, my home state, leads
the nation in hate crimes against
Gays and Lesbians. And even in the
apparently safe, supportive environment
of the women's college I
attended, my friends were terrorized
with vicious anonymous harassment -
repeatedly, pornography and
scrawled rape threats were slipped
under the doors and into the
mailboxes of Lesbians I knew.
SEE WILDERNES"s;°Pag~ 20
Second Stone• May/June 1992 []I]
goiPoun
takinnames
A BY LOUIE CREW
re Lesbians and Gays more or less likely to be religious than
straits? Aie Lesbians and Gays who are religious more or less
likely to be ordained than strait s? Aie Lesbians and Gays as likely to live
in committed unions as straits? Rather than guess, I decided syst ematically
to review the 1852 persons in my personal addre ss file.
Unequal access
Sixty-one percent of the Lesgays I know are religious compared with only
46 percent of the straits I know. Yet straits seem to have a much higher
chance of being priests than do Lesbians and Gays: 31 percent of the straits
in my data base are priests, while only 20 percent of the Lesgays are. (See
Graph 1)
70
60
50
-40
30
20
10
0
Priests Religious
• Lesgays ~ Straits
Graph 1 : Who Is Called? Who Chosen?
Mind you, as a lesgay organizer in the church, I need to contact religious
people more than most people do, lesgay or strait. For example, I have the
entire Episcopal House of Bishops in my data base, together with more than
half of the clergy of_ the diocese, aI1 the other members of the Council of the
Diocese of Newark, and all others with me on the vestry of Grace church. I
also need to contact more lesgay Christians. per se than most Christians do .
For example, my data base includes the leaders of Integrity, the Parsonage,
and the Oasis . I would not dare use my date base to estimate how many
Lesgays th ere are elsewhere, or how many Christians, strait or lesgay.
But why do I find smaller percentages of Lesgays in the priesthood in my
sample? That surely can't be chalked up to my not wanting to contact
lesgay priests? I suspect that the discrepancy results from the Church 's
efforts to exclude us. The church wants to keep us out, and it has had some
, success in doing so . Oppression is not just an idea: it really works.
"What God hath joined together'~
Given the fierce hostility towards Lesgays when we seek wh oleness of
relationships and the relatively less pressure on us if we comply with our
criminal status and do it only in the dark, I suspected to find fewer Lesgays
than straits in committed relationships. Not so.
Of the people I know, slightly mor e Lesgays than strait s are in
relationships (See Graph 2):
60
50
-40
30
20
10
0
United Single
• Lesgays ~ Straits
Graph 2: Why these should not be joined?
Since I am in the 18th year of a relation ship myself, my sampl e may well
b e s kewed toward s oth ers .also involved in relationship s. At 55, I don't
spend much time at singles' venues, But there is no reason that my sample
of coupl es should b e skewed any more for s traits than for Lesbians and
G ays. Lik e oth ers, I probably am less likely to know a bout Lesga ys '
committ ed partners than about strait s' committed partn ers, since straits
receive no rewards for hiding.
Lesbians and Gays in my data base do not confirm th e stereotype which
many hold of Lesbians and Gays - as unstable and uncommitt ed.
Admittedly my statis tics cannot speak to the quality of these relationships,
strait or lesgay, married or single. I counted as "united" several hetero
clergy known to sleep around as well as many person s who have just
started their fifth or sixth or ... hetero marriage of lesgay union; likewise, I
counted as "single" many who manifest deep spiritual concern for all
persons. Many singles were students. Some were widows or widowers; a
few are professed celibates... For strait and .lesgay alike, I counted only
what people publicly profess. I ignored evidence to the contrary.
These tallies are idiosyncratic but not anecdotal. I did not stack the deck.
I did not put people in my address book so that I could count them in these
ways. I decided to study them only after they were already there. These
are people I contact as friends or in my work as a lay minister, professor,
writer, and activist. I coded each person as "religious" or "lesgay" when I
first entered the record, not to register intrinsic judgment, but as· a practical
way to make lists according to these identities.
I had not previously classified persons as single or in a committed
relationship, since I do not c_ontact people accordingly . In classifying
single/united status for this study, I excluded a person if I did not know for
certain. Out of the 1852 persons in my data base, I knew the single/ united
status of 1046 (56 percent).
My data base includes 636 Lesgays (34 p ercent). That' s far more lesgay
people than most people who judge us are likely to know and 24 percent
more than the Kinsey estimate for the general population. Even then,
undoubtedly I classified some lesgay people as strait: when I did not know
someone 's sexual orientation, I classified the person as strait.
My findings suggest that many popular conceptions are in fact
misconceptions. Obviously we would need a much larger database fully to
document how.
Louie Crew founded Integrity, the justice ministry of lesbian and gay
Episcopalians and has written for Christianity and Crisis many times. He is on
sabbatical from Rutgers, writing a book on empowerment pedagogy.
BY NANCY HUGMAN
f his story is a "confabulation,"
which one should be
careful not to confuse with a
"lie ." A "confabulation"
merely expands on truth, filling in
the details surrounding a known fact
with plausible, yet unverifiable,
possibilities. This confabulation fills
in the details of the apostle Thomas'
life prior to the time of his infamous
faux pas "Unless I see ... I will not
believe" that Jesus has resurrected
from the dead .
I believe that "Doubting Thomas"
has gotten a bad rap down through
the ages. Until we have walked a
mile in another person's sandals, we
. can hardly judge them for their deeds
or misdeeds. Read on, and decide for
yQurself.
When Thomas was six, he traded
his spiffy new super-dooper hang-ten
skateboard that he had just gotten for
Hanukkah to this kid he had met in
the neighborhood. The kid took the
skateboard and left to get the GI Joe
and Action Jeep that he had promis ed
Tommy, but the kid never came
back. When Mom and Dad found
out,.Mom gave him the spanking of
his life and Dad said, "Let this be a
lesson to you, son: 'There's a sucker
born every minute ."'
As a teenager, Tom was totally,
totally enthralled with Deborah. He
worked all summer at Marriott's
Great Jerusalem to buy her a sweetheart
ring. But when he picked her
up for the prom, she brought along
her "best friend" Sarah. She would
always rather be with her ''best friend"
Sarah.
Thomas' father was right there to
encourage him. ''Tom, you really
know how to pick them, don't you?
You're too trusting! Girls will take
you for everything you have if you
let them. Just be glad you weren 't
stupid enough to marry her. I guess
your mother and I taught you
something right."
By now, Tom was ready to become
a hermit and live on wild locust and
honey, . but he decided to be a businessman
to make his father proud of
him. And Dad was proud. He even
shook Thomas' hand and said, "I sure
hope you make it this time, son. If
you don't.. . it will break yo11r
mother's heart."
Thomas read Dress of Success from
cover to cover six times, but he just
could not find the right tailor. He
never really believed he could
succeed in business and sure enough
he failed, thanks to his slick business
partner. Tom's dad was full of hindsight
advice, "How many times have
I told you? A man's word is
worthless. Get it in writing. You
sure got take_n this time!" he said,
shaking his head in disbelief. "By the
way, your mother's gone to visit your
Aunt Phoebe . She just couldn't face
the neighbors after what you pulled.
She had bragged on you so ... "
Then Thomas met Jesus, even
though he never got it in writing.
Thomas even left his family for Jesus'
sake . Well, to be totally honest, his
family disowned him when they
found out Thomas was into this
radical religious cult, and the entire
family made an extended visit to
Aun t Phoebe.
But Thomas was so sure this time
that following Jesus was the right
thing to do. His gut told him so. He
put all his hope and love and trust in
Jesus. Thomas loved that man with
every ounce of his being. When he
was walking with Jesus, nothing
could shake him. He hardly ever
heard his father's voice in his head
anymore, telling him what a disgrace
and embarrassment he was to the
family , (That's what his dad had said
when he tore his garment that day
Tom was ordered to leave his family's
home.)
When he did hear his father's voice,
his love for Jesus gave him the
• strength to say to himself, ''Dad, you
taught me a lot of good things, and I
will hold strong to those things. You
were also very wrong about who I
am. I am a precious child of God. I
am strong. I am competent. It is
good to trust . It is good to hope in
what I have not yet seen, yet have
experience in my heart, in the depths
of my human spirit."
Thomas followed Jesus to Jerusalem
and that is when everything fell
apart. Jesus talked about dying. He
had promised them that they would
all live forever! The whole mess got
really political. Some of the Pharisees
. wanted Jesus put to death because he
was showing them up for the
hypocrites that they were. He also
taught that the real place of worship
is within us, not in the sacrifices of the
: temple . That meant the Pharisees
stood to lose a lot of power and
money .
Maybe Thomas and the other
disciples could have handled the
controversy, but then the Romans got
involved, and I'm sorry, but you just
do not mess with the Romans.
So Jesus was crucified, and he never
even fought back. He never even
spoke up for himself. If he did not
When he did hear his .
father 's voice, his
love for Jesus gave
him the strength to
say to himself, "Dad,
you taugh t me a lot
of good things, and I
will hold strong to
those thin gs. You
were also very
wrong about who I
am. I am a precious
child of God. I am
strong. I am competent.
It is good to
trust. It is good to
hope in what I have
not yet seen, yet
have experience in
my heart, in the
depths of my human
spirit."
care about himself, he could have at
least done it for Thomas and the
others .
They did not have much money
between them to bury Jesus. "We're
all a bunch · of losers," Thomas
thought.
But this one rich fellow, Joseph of
Arimathea "loaned" Jesus his tomb.
He must have been stupid enough to
believe that Jesus was going to come
back to life again. "A fool and his
money are soon parted," Tom's dad
always said.
Thomas spent the next several days
just wandering about, thinking a lot,
deriding himself for having been
taken again, wondering how his
family was and knowing he could
never go back to them, even if he
wanted to, which he didn't, because
he could already hear what his father
would say and his mom would just
cry every time she looked at him.
As the days passed Thomas' father's
words thundered lpuder and louder
in Tom's mind. But Tom no longer
recognized them as his father's words.
They were just facts. Fact: I am a
gullible fool. Fact:. I will never
amount to anything. Fact: A man's
words are worthless. Fact: I am
worthless.
So when the other disciples finally
found Thomas and told him that Jesus
was not only alive, but that He had
_walked through locked doors,
Thomas was not at all amused.
(John 20:25b-28 NIV) Thomas
declared, "Unless I see the nail marks
in his hands and put my finger where
the nails were, and put my hand into
his side, I will not believe it."
A week later the disciples were in
the house again, and Thomas was
with them . Though the doors were
locked, Jesus came and stood among
them and said, · "Peace be with you!"
Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put
your finger here; see my hands. Reach
out your hand and put it into my
side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas _said to Jesus, "My Lord
and my God!"
Thomas had cowered at first. He
figured Jesus had a right to be really
angry with him. He had do desire to
incur the wrath of someone who could
walk through walls. But then he
heard those blessed unexpected
words, ''Peace be with you."
Peace. That is what Thomas had
been searching for all his life. Peace:
That is what Thomas had found in
Jesus.
Each of us has a story of triumphs
and failures, courage and fears. May
we find that place in our hearts where
forgiveness dissolves judgement and
love overcomes fear. May the voice
of Christ within heal the other voices
that clutter our minds. "I am the
Good Shepherd; I know my own and
my own know me... and they will
heed my voice." (Jn 10:14, 16b RSV)
Nancy Hugman is Lay Minister of
Teaching at Diablo Metropolitan Community
Church in Concord, California.
She has developed numerous retreats,
workshops and programs specific to gay
and lesbian Christians.
Second Stcine-May/June -rmuru
We've
added up
the reasons you
should be advertising
· in . Second Stone.
If your business offers
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community, we know. some Ohio 371
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people who are interested. t,..tichigan 322
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• Reach paid subscribers in Arizona 278
Missouri 232 every state for less than the Louisiana 231
Wisconsin 220 cost of advertising In one North Carolina 189
local free distribution gay/ Maryland 183
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lesbian newspaper. Oregon 174
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•Gratis layout and Connecticut 134
To=ee 125
Alabama 122 proof service Kentucky 102
Iowa 99
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• Frequency discounts South Carolina 81
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Call or FAX Virginia 61
West Virginia 60
for a rate card. Maine 52
Nebraska 49
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(504)899-4014 Vermont 44
Delaware 38
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FAX (504)891-7555 Utah 38
Nevada 29
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Montana 17
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North Dakota 9
SecoSntdo nWeyoming 9 Puerto Rico 9
USVI + 6
South Dakota 3
You'llb e pleasedw ith the results. =11, 115
readers
We reserve the right to refuse any ad for any reason.
' [H]'SeconSdto ne• May/June 1992
Group campaigns against
'gay bUI of rights'
By The Baltimore Alternative
A right wing group calling itself the
Public Advocate of the U.S. has
·launched a direct mail effort targeting
gay rights laws nationwide.
Headlined, "Stop the 'Gay Bill of
Rights,"' the fundraising appeal rattles
off a list of the supposed atrocities
of gay men and Lesbians and the
consequences of laws protecting them
from discrimination.
The letter, signed by Eugene
Delgaudio, the group's director, takes
direct aim at the federal gay and
lesbian civil rights bill, calling it the
~
, . ~{~~~1~~ ..
On 100 beautiful acres with
pool, hot tub, skiing and more.
Innkeepers Judith Hall and
Grace Newman invite you to
write or call for a brochure.
P. 0. Box 118 SL
Bethle.hem, NH 03574
• (60J) 869-3978
E. mpathy is a jourlW that deserves our
suppon for the original and creative work it
does in thC interest of truth and justice.
;1,- Rev. Malcolm Boyd, author of 23 books
including Are YoH RHnning with Me, JcsHs?,
Take Off the Masks, and Gay Prust
E mpathy provides a much-needc4 and
welcomed communication !ink for persons
involv ed in education about homophobia. At its
best it will keep us informed and in touch,
supponed and challenged , excited and proud.
if- Brian McNaughc, lcccurer aqd author of On
Being Gay: ThoHghcos n Family, Faith, and LOf,•e
"Gay Bill of Rights." Suggesting that
tax · dollars are being used by gay
organizations to lobby for the measure,
Delgau dio states that the
proposal is "dangerously close to ..
passage in the liberal dominated ,
Congress.
"If this twisted bill ever becomes
Federal law," Delgaudio writes, "our
children will never be safe from
militant homosexuals and lesbians."
"Because," he.,adds, "as homosexuals
die off due to AIDs [sic], the
remaining AIDs [sic] carriers, prey on
children to replenish the 'Homosexual
community ."'_ ;,
Adding the "liberal media" to his
list of targets, Delgaudio insisted that
under pressure from homosexuals,
the media are covering up the
by-products of local gay rights laws,
which he said include the murders by
Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey
Dahmer.
''You and I must send a message to
the liberals in Congress and the
Homosexual Pornography Lobby that
decent Americans don't want
homosexuals granted special privileges,"
Delgaudio alleged, "if we
don 't stop them now, the America we
leave our children will surely be an
immoral and decadent nation ."
-Cliff O'Neill
Empathy
t..An
Interdisciplinary
Journal
for P~rsons
Working to
End Oppression
on the Basis of
Sexual Identity
PUBI.ISHED TWICE A YEAR, EMPATHY INCLUDES
SCHOLARLY ESSAYS, PROSE AND POETRY, PRACTITIONER
ARTICLES, ANECDOTAL ESSAYS, AND RESEARCH REPORTS
AS WELL AS ANNOTATED BIBUOGRAPHIES FOR
RESOURCE MATERIALS, RECENT RESEARCH "ANO BOOKS .
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Gay heroes
Freedom of speech .as a gay/lesbian issue
By William Day
Contributing Writer
The gay community has its heroes,
most of them unhailed, and perhaps
not known. I am thinking particularly
of individuals or groups who
have gone to court - and thus identified
themselves and held themselves
up to varying degrees of scorn
and hatred - in order to protect gay
rights.
For example, Aaron Fricke, a high
school student in Cumberland, R.I.,
planned to take another male as his
date to a high school dance. Fricke
had been the victim of assault and
battery by another student, and
school authorities told him he could
not bring his male friend to the dance
because it would probably lead to
further violence. But a judge insisted
he nevertheless had a constitutional
right under the First Amendment to
express his feelings about his sexual
identity, and as for the possibility of
violence, the judge said, 'The First
Amendment does not tolerate mob
rule by unruly school children." So
the school principal and his assistant
then saw that young Fricke and his
friend attended the dance without
any disorder.
The Fricke case is one of more than
150 cases in which gay litigants have
sought to use the freedoms of speech,
association, etc., found in the First
Amendment to the federal constitution
(and some state constitutional
provisions) to seek protection of the
rights of gay people, and . thanks to
Paul Siegel and Gallaudet University,
Washington, D.C., in his paper in
Gay Peaple, Sex and the Media, we have
an excellent summary and analysis of
the developing rights of the gay
community.
In an earlier Rhode Island case with
the same judge, a gay group had
been denied the right to take part in
the official observance of the 200th
anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence. In rejecting their
application a state commission cited
the sodomy statute and said that the
commission did not want to be allied
with a group that advocated illegal
activity (a charge the gay group
Of Sacred Worth -not
By Michael Blankenship
Contributing Writer B e forwarned. The sympathetic-
sounding title of the
new book Of Sacred Worth is
a deception. Even the
wording on the cover is misleading;
the first sentence states, "Homosexual
persons no less than heterosexual
persons are individuals of sacred
worth." I feel sorry for the careless
person who doesn't read on, for down
the page_ is written, "We do not
condone the practice of homosexuality
and consider the practice incompatible
with Christian teaching ."
And that's just the cover!
The author, Paul A. Mickey, starts
the book with a positive outlook. He
sounds very sex-positive when he
writes about God being glorified in ·
sex and how people should enjoy sex
to the fullest. He even states that the
fear of sex is an unholy fear of God.
It all sounded good to a point, and
then he starts his examination of the
scriptures . Using 'the Clarence
Thomas school of thought, he
immediately delves into "natural
law," citing· Romans I as proof "that
heterosexuals and homosexuals have
in common their natural creation .as
h.eterosexuals ." He then goes on to
quote a little-known psychiatrist to
prove his point, although we know of
many in the mental health profession
who would refute his claim.
In an attempt - to appear
evenhanded, Mickey does present a
number of views in his book, but his
texts and his conclusions are always
slanted toward the traditional view.
He calls liberal theologians "revisionists,"
using every opportunity to
take pot shots al people many consider
prophets.
In I Corinthians 6:9 and I Timothy
1:10, Mickey has apparently solved
all the linguistic questions that have
baffled Biblical scholars for two
millenia to conclude that "commonsense
dictates that the wickedness
addressed [in these verses] is adult
homosexual anal intercourse." He
concludes by stating that "Paul's
theological concerns are as valid in
the twentieth century as in the first,"
because "homosexual practices represent
rebellion against God the Creator
and the creation ." Just a wee bit
judgmental, don't you think?
Mickey goes on to take great pride
in reciting all the anti-homosexual
statements in the bylaws of just about
every denomination in the nation.
Certainly from this we are to deduce
denied). The judge said he was in 1986 upholding the Georgia
surprised that the commission did not sodomy statute, reminding us that not
want to be linked with an illegal all of these cases, by any means, were
activity in view of history. "Does the gay victories. Thus while Fricke won
Bicentennial Commission need the right to take another male to a
reminding that, from the perspective school dance, a teacher in a Maine
of British loyalists, the Bicentennial school district who planned a
celebrates one of history's greatest 'Tolerance Day" foHo\l;'ing the killing
illegal acts?" he asked in his decision of a young gay male, was forced by
upholding First Amendment gay the school board to canceHhe event
rights. because of threats of violence, and the
First Amendment rights pertain court upheld the board's action.
primari ly to governmental action or Gay People, Sex, and the Media,
actions by publicly regulated entities, edited by Michelle A Wolf and Alfred
such as public utilities. Legislative P. Kielwasser, includes a preface and
action may still be necessary to secure introduction, a bibliography and 11
rights in areas such as private papers by specialists in . the comemployment
Siegel's article, "Lesbian.,,, munications research field. The use
and Gay Rights as a Free Speech of technical language in most of the
Issue: A Review of Relevant Case- papers (but not Siegel's) may make
law," groups the cases under five the reported findings inaccessible to
principal headings: "pure" speech many generalists. The publisher is
cases, including access to a forum; Harrington Park Press, New York
freedom of association including both and London, in 1991. It is priced at
political and nonpolitical kinds of $17.95 in/aper, and consists of 284
association; symbolic conduct (Fricke pages an three illustrations. It was
is an example); employment dis- also published as a special issue of the
crimination; and solicitation and Journal of Homosexuality, 1991. The
sodomy . The last recalls the 5-4 Siegel paper alone should make it
decision by the U.S. Supreme .court worth the price.
that if all the churches say homosexuality
is a sin, then it must be so.
He takes great strides to urge the
churches to "separate the social
sciences issues from the theological
issues." What a cop out! This tells me
that his "Bible-based" theories cannot
stand up to scientific investigation .
He continues by listing the early
church theologians, reaffirming his
position because they had argued
"that heterosexuality is the ordained
behavior in creation and in covenant"
and that "the intention of creation
would imply that homosexual
behavior is not a behavior to be
emulated ."
He finishes the book with more of
r ,
.
~ Evangelicals
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the same judgmental material we've
had thrust at us for centuries ... the old
"hate the sin, but love the sinner"
routine, which we all know is a farce
that gives fundamentalists the license
to hate, since there is no way to
separate a person from his or her
innate characteristics. He constantly
uses his catch-phrase, "of sacred
worth," to describe Gays, and condescendingly
adds that this is because
God has the grace to forgive them.
Don't waste your money.
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SecretM atter
Toby Johnson's novels /ell gay-positive,
life-affirmings toriesw ith happy endings
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Second Stone• May/June 1992 [ii]
..................
The Jo/lawing. announcements have been
submitted by sponsoring or affiliated
groups.
Conference of
More Light
Churches
MAY 1-3, "Reflecting the Light:
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" is
the theme of the 1992 Conference of
More Light Churches to be held at
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church,
Chicago. More Light Churches are
Presbyterian congregations that
welcome lesbian and gay persons to
full participation and membership
without having to hide or deny their
sexual orientation . Since 1985, the
More Light Church movement has
held an annual conference in the
spring to share news of its ministries
and to strategize for the future. For
more information call Mark Palermo,
(312)338-0452 or write to More Light
Churches Conference, Lincoln Park
· Presbyterian Church, 600 W.
Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, IL
60614-2690.
Affirmation
National Spring
Gathering
MAY 8-9, United Methodists for Gay
& Lesbian Concerns meets in
Louisville, Ky., during the UMC
General Conference . Feminist
singer.' , ~:.,'.'.writer /humorist Judy
Fjell is featured guest. For more
information contact Affirmation, P.O.
Box 1022, Evanston, IL 60204.
• I $11_aman's- Circle
'92 Workshops
MAY 15-17, Gay Fathers & Sons, Gay
Sons & Fathers; MAY 29-31, Coming
Together Gay Men & Lesbian s; JUNE
. 12-14, Self-empowerment: Sex & Gay
Identity (Shaman's Circle for the New
York Open Center - register through
the Center at (212)219-2527); JUNE ·
26-28, Community & Relationships :
overcoming isolation and loneliness
through wholeness and integrity. For
more information call (512)495-9737 or
(800)828-1279 or write to Shaman's
Circle, P .O. Box 50249, Austin, TX
78763.
Homophobia
in Religion
and Society
MAY 20, The Catholic Center,
Atlanta, Ga.; MAY 23, St. Peter
Claver Church, Macon, Ga.; and
MAY 26, St. Jude Church,
Ch attanooga, Tenn. Jeannin e
Grarnick, SSND; and Robert Nugent,
SOS, co-founders of New Ways
· 1[jjJ Second Stone• May /June 1992
Calendar . .................................................. .
Ministry, present their excellent
seminar on issues of homophobia in
church and society. For information
contact the Center for Homophobia
Education, P.O. Box 1985, New York,
NY 10159; (212)884-8228.
Advance Christian
Teaching Seminar
MAY 29-31, "Christian Liberty,
Standing Fast in Christ" is the theme
of this weekend of praise, worship,
learning and fellowship at the beautiful
Muncy Terraces Retreat and Conference
Center, Muncy, Penn . For
information contact Rev. Jim Hensley,
(215)499-0765.
Pastoral Care
and AIDS
MAY 29-31, Retreat; MAY 31-JUNE
4, Institute; and JUNE 4, Forum. An
interfaith retreat and institute for
pastoral caregivers for persons living
with AIDS and a special one -day
forum for human resource professionals.
Major presenters include Rev.
Dr. Walter J. Smith, S.J., June
Callwood, Rev. Daniel Berrigan, S.J.,
Rabbi Yoe! H. Kahn, Rev . Kathryn
Cartledge and Rev. Clifford A. S.
Elliott. For information contact the
Center for Ministries, Merrimack
College, 315 Turnpike St., North
Andover, MA 01845, (508)837-5337.
1992 CMI Retreats
JUNE 8-12, San Damiano Retreat
Hous~, Danville, Ca., and JUNE
22-26, Franciscan Retreat House, Prior
Lake, Mn. The retreats for Catholic
religous and clergy will be facilitated
by Sr . Mary Ann Vincent, who has
been with Communication Ministry,
Inc., since its beginnings . Br. Edward
Smith will co-facilitate the Danville
retreat. Fr. Paul Morrissey, founder of
CMI, will co-facilitate the Prior Lake
retreat. Registration is $240. For
information contact Fr. Tom Ryan,
400 Alcatraz Ave., Oakland, CA
94609.
Gay, Lesbian &
Christian:
Called to Love
JUNE 11-14, 16th annual event for
Lesbians and gay men of all colors,
their families and friends, and those
who minister in support, an explor ation
of issues of sexuality and
hom os exuality in the cont ext of ·
Christian faith and practic e. Led by
Virg ini a Ramey Mollenko tt and John
McN eil!. Th e setting is Kirkridg e
retreat center in Eas tern Pennsylvania.
For info rmation call
(215)588-1793.
UFMCC
Mid-Atlantic
District
Conference
JUNE 12-13, The Radisson Plaza Lord
Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, is the
setting for this gathering, themed
"What a Fellowship; What a Joy
Divine." Contact the UFMCC
Mid-Atlantic District, P.O. Box 7864,
Gaithersburg, MD 20898.
UCCUGC
National Gathering
JUNE 23-28, The United Church
Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns
meets in St. Paul, Minn., on the
Macalester College campus and in the
nearby Macalester-P lymouth United
Church for its annual conference.
"Called to Relationship" is the theme.
Resource people include Dr. James B.
Nelson, nationally known speaker
and writer on issues of sexuality and
Christian ethics. Participation in the
Minneapolis/St. Pa ul Gay Pride
festivities is planned. For information
contact Marc Blakesley, (612)827-1633.
Lesbians and
Gays in mainstream
media
JUNE 25-27, The first-ever national
conference of gay and lesbian
journalists in mainstream media will
examine the role of the print and
electronic press in coverage of lesbian
and gay issues. Co-sponsored by the
600-member National Lesbian and
Gay Journalists Association and the
Media Alliance . Andrew Sullivan,
editor of The New Republic and Linda
Villarosa, senior editor of Essence are
keynote speakers. The Golden
Gateway Holiday Inn, San Francisco,
1s the setting. For information call
(415)474-5991.
Sixth Annual
Golden Threads
Celebration
JUNE 26-28, Lesbian women from all
over the United States, many from
Canada, and some from other coun tries,
will converge in Provincetown
at the Provincetown Inn to celebrate
what they are and their age, whatever
it is . Attendance is limited to 250
women. Entertainment will be provid
ed by Robin Tyler.
In exist ence since 1985, Golden
Threads is a worldwide social network
of lesbian women ov e r 50, and
women who are inter ested in older
women. No lesbian woman is
excluded. For inform ation contact
Chris tine Burton, Golden Threads,
P.O. Box 3177, Burlington, VT
05401-0031.
Ecumenical
Retreat Weekend
JUNE 26-29, The Brothers of the
Mercy of God sponsor a retreat
weekend for those considering a call
to the religious life .. The setting is a
Monastery in Rhode Island overlooking
the ocean. The invitation is to
discover Christ's call in prayer, in
song and in reaffirmation of life. For
information contact the Brothers of the
Mercy of God, 341 E. Center St., #212,
Manchester, CT 06040.
13th Annual Gay
& Lesbian Parents
Conference
JULY 2-5, the Gay and Lesbian
Parents Conference meets in
Indianapolis for Celebration '92 at the
· downtown Hyatt Regency. "Come
Home to Indy" is the theme : For
information write to GLPCI
Celebr _ation '92, Box 831, Indianapolis,
IN 46206.
connECtion '92
JULY 3-6, "Standing Confident in
. God's Light" is the theme of this
year's gathering of Evangelicals
Concerned. Chapman College,
Orange, Calif., is the setting. Keynote
speakers are Dr . Douglas J. Miller
and Kathryn Lindskoog . For information
contact Evangelicals Concerned,
P .O . Box 4750, Denver, CO
80204, (303)830-2823.
Spiritfest '92
JULY 3-4, New Creation Christian
Fellowship, St. Louis, Mo., hosts
Grace Ministries' annual Celebration
of the Holy Spirit. The S.l.U.
Conference Center is the setting .
Spiritfest has been expanded from
two to three full days. For information
contact New Creation
Christian Fellowship, 2138 Orgeon,
St. Louis, MO 63103, 1-800-945-1992.
SDA Kinship
Kampmeeting
JULY 5-12, Seventh-day Adventist
Kinship International meets at
Temescal Canyon (near Los Angeles)
for a week of fellowship and relaxa tion
which includ es a trip to Disney
Land. A victory celebration for the
favorable outcome of the group's
trademark infringem ent lawsuit filed
by the denomination's General Conferenc
e will be held. for information
call Rob Pet erson at (818)837-7782.
SEE CALENDAR, Next Page
T Noteworthy T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ •· ............................... .
Lesbian feminist
to pastor
. Baptist church
Nadean Bishop, a self-described lesbian
feminist Baptist preacher has
been appointed minister of Univer-
CALENDAR,
From Previous Page
Health Conference
& AIDS/HIV Forum
JULY 8-12, The Los Angeles Airport
Hilton and Towers is the setting for
the 14th National Lesbian and Gay
Health Conference and 10th Annual
AIDS I HIV Forum sponsored by the
National Lesbian and Gay Health
Foundation and the George
Washington University Medical
Center. More than 220 workshops
focused on lesbian and gay health,
mental health, substance abuse, and
AIDS/HIV will be pr esented. Also
discussed will be the impact of age,
gender, race and sexual orientati on
on the delivery of health care. For
registration information and a
program brochure contact Daniel E.
Reichard at (202)994-4285.
Lutherans
Concerned
Assembly 192
JULY 9-12, Lutherans Concerned/
North America meet s at the
Philadelphia College of Textiles and
Science for Assembly '92. ''Free to
Celebrat e: We are the church" is the
theme . For information write to
·· LC/NA , Box 10461, Fort Dearborn
Station, Chicago, IL 60610-0461.
Integrity
National
Convention
JULY 9-12, Integrity, the lesbian/
· gay justice ministry of the Episcopal
Church gathers in Houston, Texas, for
its 14th annual national convention.
The Most Rev. Edmond L. Browning,
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal
Church is scheduled to attend. Featured
speakers include Dr. Louie
Crew, founder of Integrity. For
information contact Integrity, Inc.,
P .O. Box 19561, Washington, DC
20036-0561.
1992 Gentle
Warrior Retreat
JULY 13-16, a retreat for gay Catholic
priests and brothers to be held at
Temenos, a 78 acre forested and
cabined preserve which deliberately
maintain s a simple environment free
sity Baptist Church, Minneapolis. She
is the first woman and first lesbian
preacher in the congregation's 142-
year history. The church is a member
of the American Baptist Church, a
denomination which opposes ordination
of Lesbians and Gays but
which has no ·control over local
of cars, phone and electricity, located
north of Amherst, Maine. For information
write to Theo Foros: Gentle
Warrior Retreat, c/ o Communication,
P.O. Box 60125, Chicago, IL
60660-0125. Registration is $50.
1992 GLAD
Alliance Event
JULY 17-20, The Gay, Lesbian and
Affirming Disciples, Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) meets for its 1992
GLAD Event. The Fort Worth
campus of Texas Christian University
is the setting. A long weekend of fun,
friendship and inspiration is promised.
Featured guest is well-known
author Chris Glaser. For information
write to the GLAD Alliance, P :o. Box
19223, Indianapolis, IN 46219-0223 or
call Randy Palmer at (319)324-6231.
CCL 10th
Anniversary .
National
Conference
JULY 17-20, The Conference for
Catholic Lesbians meets in the Boston
area. CCL is a national organization
for Lesbians of Catholic heritage. For
·information contact CCL-SS, P.O. Box
435 Planetarium Station, New York,
NY 10024.
11th Annual
PFLAG Convention
SEPTEMBER 4-7, ''Love in Action,
Joy in Diversity" is the theme for the
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays Federation covention to be held
at the Hilton Hotel in Seattle, Washington
. Over 300 participants are
expected . Registration is $150 per
person . Speakers include Pepper
Schwartz, Ph.D., co-author of the
best- se lling American Couples. An
excursion to Mt. Rainier and a cruise
on Puget Sound in planned. For more
information contact Ardyce Fish, 7737
-14th S.W., Seattle, WA 98106,
(206)763-4575.
Send calendar items to:
Second Stone
Box 8340
New Orleans, LA 70182
or FAX to:
(504)891-7555
· congregations. Bishop was raised as a
Southern Baptist.
P-FLAG names
development
director
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays (P-FLAG) has appointed Louis
R. Mendonsa as its new Development
Director. He will work with the
Executive Director and the Board of
Directors to determine development
goals and strategy to achieve the
financial support required to enable
P-FLAG to meet its program goals.
Mendonsa is the parent of a lesbian
teenager.
UFMCC youth
network forms
A network of Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Church
youth is being formed by Rev. Elder
Nancy Wilson . Interested persons
under age 27 may contact Rev.
Wilson at c/ o UFMCC, 5300 Santa
Monica Blvd., Suite 304, Los Angeles,
CA 90029.
Historic ordination
celebrated
A celebration was scheduled to be
held at First Congregational Church ,
San Francisco, on May 3 for the
tw entieth anniversary of the ordination
of Rev . Bill Johnson. Johnson
was the first openly gay person
accepted into ministry by a major
religious denomination.
Today Johnson serves as Secretary
for the AIDS Program Ministries
Coo rdinations at the United Church
Board for Homeland Ministries in
Cl eve land. He declared himself
openly gay in 1970 as a student at the
Pacific School of Religion.
-The Pacific
Ohio has first
"Reconciled
in Christ"
congregation
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Columbus,
has become the first Lutheran
congregation in Ohio to become a
"Reconciled in Christ" church, meaning
the church has publicly engaged
in ministry inclusi ve of gay and
lesbian people . Church members
voted without dissent in January to
approve the designation. Neal
Coryell, of Lutherans c;:oncerned/
Central Ohio, said, "Congregations
that choose to become Reconciled in
Christ generally have already shown
welcome to gay and lesbian folk, and
view them as very much an
important part of the church."
Texas ministry
. sponsors TV show
Silent Harv est Ministries, Dallas, has
started a television ministry through
the auspices of community cable
access. The half-hour program, which
started in early March, features Rev.
Elder Freda Smith, pastor of River
City Metropolitan Community
Church of Sacramento, California.
The show is available to Dallas cable
subscribers on ChafiI\el 12-B.
Church growth
prompts extra
service
White Rock Community Church,
Dallas, is growing so rapidly that a
second Sunday morning service has
been added . The church is a non-denominational,
evangelical church.
Worship is offered at 9:00 a.m. and
10:30 a.m. Sunday. There is also a
Wednesday Bible study as well as
monthly concerts and other social
events. The church may be reached
at (214)320-0043.
Louie Crew
honored
Dr . Louie Crew was presented with
the Bishop's Outstanding Service
Award by the Rt. Rev. John S. Spong,
Episcopal Bishop of Newark, New
Jersey, on January 24. Crew, who
founded Integrity, Inc., ierves -on the
vestry of Grace Church, Newark,
represents the South Essex Convocation
on the Diocesan Council, chairs
the History of the Diocese Task Force
and was a founder and board
member of The Oasis. Bishop Spong
said, "I suspect that no lay person in
the last ten years in the United States
has so effectively moved his faith
community beyond its prejudices as
has Dr. Crew.
Transexual lesbian
runs for office
Diana "S" Holmes, who has
announced her candidacy for the
Hawaii County Council seat in the
Puna District, may be the first person
in Hawaii to run for office from a
hospital psychiatric ward. The
Nanawale Estates resident was previously
a Council candidate in 1988
when someone broke into her home
and apparently attempted to murder
her with a machete, leaving her
bleeding arid in a coma. No suspect
was ever arrested for the attack.
Holmes, a self-described Christiantransexual-
lesbian, had been campaigning
actively on a civil rights
platform . Now still recuperating from
the severe injuries suffered in the
SEE NOTE-WORTHY, Pag ~ 19
Second Stone• May/June 1992 U:Z:]
T Resource Guide T •.•~-········--················· ················•· ··•·········· ········ Listings i~ the Resource Guide are free to
churches, organizations, publications and
community service~. Send information to
Second Stone, Box 8340, New Orleans, LA
7_0182 or FAX to (504)891-7555 .
National
RELIGION WATCH, P.O. Box 652, North
Bellmore, NY 11710. A newsletter monitoring
trends in contemporary . religion.
LUTHERANS CONCERNED I NORTH
AMERICA, Box 10461. Fort Dearborn Station,
ChicaQo, IL 60610-0461. Publi cation:
The Concord
PRESBYTERIANS FOR LESBIAN & GAY
CONCERNS, P.O. Box 38, New Brunswick,
NJ 08903-0038. Publication: More Light
Up date
UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP OF METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITY CHURCHES 5300
Santa Monica Blvd., #304, Los Angeles, CA
90020, (213)464-5100. Publication: Keeping
in Touch
BRETHREN / MENNONITE COUNCIL
FOR LESBIAN AND GAY CONCERNS,
Box 65724, Washington, DC 20035.
Publication: Dialogue
, UN ITED CHURCH COALI TIO N FOR
LESB IAN / GAY CONCERNS, 18 N.
Co llege, Athens, OH 4570!, (614)
593-7301. Publication: Waves
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS KINSHIP
INTERNATIONAL, Box 3840, Lo s Angeles,
CA 90078, (213)876 - 2076. Publication:
Co nnection
RECONCILING CONGREGATION PROGRAM,
P.O. Box 23636, Washington, DC
20026, (202)863-1586 . Publication: Open
Han ds
INT EGRITY, INC., P.O. Box 19561, Wash-·
ing ton, DC 20036-0561, (718) 720-3054.
Publication: The Voice of Integrity
ECUMEN ICAL CATHOLIC CHURCH, P.O.
Box 32, Villa Grande, CA 95486°0032.
Ho ly Spirt Church, East Moline, lL,
(309)792-6 188. St. Michael's Church,
Russ ian River, CA , (707) 865-0119.
Publication: T he Tablet.
LIVING STREAMS, P.O. Box 178, Concord,
CA 94522-0178. Bi-monthly publication,
AIDS NATIONAL INTERFAITH NETWORK,
300 I St., NE, Ste. 400, Washington,
DC 20002. (800)288-9619, FAX
(202)546-5103. Publication: Interaction.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIA N
RIGHTS - 1663 Mission St, 5th Rr., San
Francisco, CA 94103.
GAY AND LESBIAN PARENT COALITION,
P.O. Box 50360, Washington, DC
20091. Publication: Network.
THE WITNESS, Published by the Episcopal
Church Publishing Co., 1249 Washington
Blvd., Ste .. 3Il5, Detroit, MI 48226-1868.
(313)962-2650
INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN
ARCHIVES, The Natalie Barney Edward
Carpenter Library, P.O. Box 38100,
Hollywood, CA 90038. (213)854-0271.
Publication: Bulletin.
COUPLES Newsletter, Published by TWT
Press, Inc ., P.O. Box 253, Braintree, MA
02184-0003.
WOODSWOMEN - Adventure travel for
women, 25 W. Diamond Lake Rd .,
Minneap<;>lis, MN 55419, (800)279-0555,
(612)822-3809, FAX (612)822-3814.
DAUGHTERS OF SARAH - The magazine
for Christian Feminists, 3801 No. Keeler, \
Chicago, IL 60641, (312)736-3399.
CHI RHO PRESS - A special work of the .·
UFMCC Mid -Atlantic District. Publisher of .
-religious books and materials. P.O. Box
7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898,
(301)670-1859.
COMMUNICATION MINISTRY, INC.Dialogue
and support group for gay- ano
lesbian . Catholic clergy and religious. P.O.
Box 60125, Chicago, · 1L 60660-0125.
Publication: Communication
WOMEN'S ALLIANCE FOR THEOLOOY,
ETHl€:S AND RITUAL ,- 8035 13th St., -
Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301)589-2509,
. fwi1•s-i SeaJ~d Stone• May/Jitii~·Im
:l..:!::...J' .
FAX (301)589-3150. Publication: WATERwheel.
AFFIRMATION/United Methodists for Gay
& Lesbian Concerns, P.O . Box 1021,
Evanston, IL 60204.
ST. TABITHA'S AIDS APOSTOLATE,
Christian AIDS Network of the Merican ·
Orthodo ,; Catholic C hurch of St. Gregorios,
P.O. Box 1543, Monterey, CA 93940 .
(408)899-0731.
THE WOMEN'S PROJECT, 2224 Main St.,
Little Rock, AR 72206. (501)372-5113.
Workshops on women's issues, social justice,
racism and homophobia.
NATIONAL GAY PENTECOSTAL
ALLIANCE (also Pentecostal Bible Institute
[Ministerial training]) P.O. Box 1391,
Schenectady, NY 12301-1391.
(518)372-6001. Publication: The Ap<;>stolic
Voice.
FEDERA T!ON OF PARENTS AND
FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS, INC.
P.O. Box 27605, Washington, DC 20038.
Send $3.00 for.packet of information.
HONESTY: Southern Baptist Advocates for
Equal Rights, P.O. Box 7331, Louisville, KY
40257. (502)893-0783.
EVANGELICALS CONCERNED, c/o Dr.
Ralph Blair, 311 East 72nd St., New York,
NY 10021. (212)517-3171. Publications :
Review and Record.
CONFERENCE FOR CATHOLIC LES BIANS,
P.O. Box 436 Planetarium Sin .. New
York, NY 10024. ( 607)432-929 5.
NEW WAYS MINISTRY, 40 12 29t h St., Mt.
Rainier, MD 20712, (30 1)27 7-5674. A
gay-affirming organization bridging the
lesbian/gay community and the Roman
Catholic Church.
CHR ISTIAN ITY & CRISIS Magazine, 537
West 121st St .. New York, NY 10027 .
(212)662-5907. •
BLK Magazine, Box 83912, Los Angeles, CA
90083-09 12. (3 10)410-0808.
GAY, LESBIAN AND AFFIRMING
DISCIPLES ALLIANCE, P.O. Box 19223,
Indianapolis, IN 46219-0223.
(319)324-6231. Fo r memb ers of the
Chr istian Church (D iscipl es of Christ).
Publication: Crossbeams.
PARTNERS Magazine for Gay & Lesbian
Couples, Box 9685, Seattle , WA
98109-0685. (206)784-1519.
NEW DIRECTION Magazine for gay/lesbia n
Mormons, 6520 Selma Ave., Ste. RS-440, Los
Angeles, CA 90028 .
WOMEN'S ORDINATION CONFERENCE ,
P.O. Box 2693, Fairfax , VA 22031-'0693 .
(703)352- 1~6.
Alabama
-BIRMINGHAM . THE ALABAMA FORUM,
P.O. Box 55894, 35255-5894.
. (205)328-9228.
Arizona
TUCSON - Casa De La Paloma Apostolic
Church, 1122 N. Jones Blvd., P.O. Box
14003, 85732-4003. (602)323-6855. Rev.
Margaret "Sandy" Lewis. pastor.
MESA - Boundless Lrive Community
Church, 431 S. Stapley Dr., 85204 .
(602)439-0224. P.J. Fousek-Gregan, pastor.
Sunday, 10:00 am.
California
SAN FRANCISCO - DIGNITY, 208 Dolores
St., , 94103. (415)255-9244. Publication:
Bridges.
SACRAMENTO - THE LATEST ISSUE, P.O.
Box 160584, 95816. (916)737-1088.
WEST HOLLYWOOD - Evangelicals
Together, Suite 109-Box 16, 7985 Santa
Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046,
(213)656-8570. Publication: ET News
SAN FRANCISCO - Ioutherans Concerned,
566 . Vallejo St., #25, 94133-4033,
(415)956-2069. Publicatiqn: Advent.
SAN FRANCISCO - Gay and Lesbian
Historical Society of Nort)lern California,
P.O. Box 42126, 94142 . (415)626-0980.
Publication: Our Stories.
SAN FRANCISCO - The Pars_onage, 555-A
Castro St., 94114-0293. Publication : The
Parsonage News
GLENDALE - Divine Redeemer MCC, 346
Riverdale Dr., 91204. Sunday, 10:45 a.in.,
Wed., Fri., 7:30 p.m. Rev. Stan Harris, pastor.
Publi _~_ation: From Mary's Shrine.
Colorado
DENVER - EvangelicalsReconcilecl _-P.O.
Box 200111. 80220, (303)331-2839.
Colorado Springs: (719)488-3158.
DENVER - Eva ngelicals Concerned /
Western Region, P.O. Box 4750, 80204.
Publica_!i_s,n: ThE Cable.
District of Columbia
Integr .ity/Washington, Inc., P.O. Box i9561,
20036 - 0561. (301)953 -94 2 1. Publication:
Gayspring.
MCC of Washington, DC, 415 M St., N.W.,
20001. Rev. Larry J. Uhrig, pastor.
Florida
ST. PETERSBURG - King of Peace MCC,
4825 9th Ave. N., 33713-6135 .
(813)323-5857. Sunday, 10:00 a.m. & 7:30
p.m. Rev. Dr. Fred C. Williams, Sr., Pastor.
Georgia
ATLANTA - SOUTHERN VOICE, P.O. Box
18215 , 30316. (404)876-1819.
ATLANTA - All Saints Metropolitan Com munity
Church, P.O. Box 13968, 30324.
(404)622-1 154
Hawaii
KAHULUI - BOTH SIDES NOW Newsle tter,
PO . Box 5042, 96732.
Illinois
CHI CA GO - OUTLINES, Published by
Lambda Publi cations , 3059 N. Southport,
60657. (312)871-7610. FAX (312)
871-7609.
Louisiana
BATO N .ROUGE :Dignity, P.O. Box 4181,
70821. (504)383-6010.
Maryland
THE BALTIMORE - ALTERNATIVE, P.O.
Box 2351, Baltimore, MD 21203.
(301)235~340I. FAX (301)889-5665.
Massachusetts
CHERRY VALLEY - Morning Star MCC,
231 Main St., 01611. (508) 892-4320.
Publication: Morning Star Witness.
Michigan
DETROIT - CRUISE Magazine, 19136
Woodward North, 48203. (313)369-1901.
FLINT - Redeemer MCC, 1665 N. Chevrolet
Ave., 48504. (3 13)238 -6700. Sunday, 6:00
p.m . Publication: Sounds of Redeemer .
'ANN ARBOR - Huron Valley Com- munity
Church meets at Glacier Way UMC, 1001
Green Rd., Ann Arbor, 48105-2896.
(313)741-I174. Sunday, 2:00 p.m.
DETROIT - Integrity, 980 Whitmore, #205,
48203. _
GRAND RAPIDS - Bethel Christian
Assembly, 920 Cherry SE, P.O. Box 6935,
49516. (616)459-8262. Rev. Bruce
Roller-Pletcher , -pastor. Publication: Bethel
Beacon. Television: Channel 23, Sun., 10:00
p.m.
ANN ARBOR - Tree of Life MCC, meets at
First Congregational Church,- 218 N. Adams,
Ypsilanti. P . O. Box 2598, 48106.
(313)665-6163. Sunday, 6:00 p.m.
Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS - All God's Ch~dren
-Metropolitan Community Church, 3100
Park Ave. S. (612)824-2673. Publication:
The Disciple.
MINNEAPOLIS - EQUAL TIME , 310 E.
38th St , Room 207, 55409. (612) 823-3836.
Published by Lavendar , I~.
New Jersey
HOBOKEN, The Oasis, 707 Washington St,
P.O . Box 51_49, 07030. (201) 792 -0340.
New Mexico
SANTA FE - THE CATSBY CONNECTION.
551 W. Cordova, Ste. DIE, 87501.
(505)986-1794.
New York
SCHENECTADY - .. Lighthouse Apostolic
Church, 38 Co lumbia St., P.O. Box 1391,
12301-1391. (518)372-6001. Rev. William
H. Carey, pastor.
NEW\'ORK - Lesbian and Gay Co mmuni ty
Services Center, Inc.; 208 W. 13th St., 10011.
(212)620-7310. Publi catio ns: Center Stage,
Center Voice.
NEW YORK - Integrity-, P.O. Box 5202,
10185-0043. Publication: Outlook.
ROCHESTER - THE EMF'I'Y CLOSET, 179
Atlantic Ave., 14607-1255. New York State's
oldest gay new spaper.
North Carohna
WILMINGTON - GROW Community
Service Corp<;>ration, P.O. Box 4535, 28406 .
(919)675-9222. Youth outreach: ALIVE for
gay, lesbian, bisexual youth.
RAL EIGH - Raleigh Religious Network for
Gay and Lesbian Equality, P.O. Box 5961,
27650-5961. (919)781-2525.
Ohio
CO LUMBUS - Metropolitan Community
Church, 1253 North High Street, 43201.
(614)294-3026. Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
Publication: The Beacon News.
COLUMBUS - STONEWALL UNION
REPORTS, Box 10814, 43201-7814.
(614)299-7764.
Pennsylvania
ALLENTOWN - Grace Covenant Fellowship,
247 N. 10th St., 18102. (215)740-0247.
Bryon Rowe, Pastor. Thom Ritter, Minister of
Music.
Tennessee
NAS HVILLE - Integrity of Middle Tennessee,
Inc., P.O. Box 121172, 37212 -1172.
(615)383-6608. Newsle tter.
Texas
DALLAS - White Rock Community Church,
P.O. Box 180063, 75218. _ (214)285-2831 ,
(214)327-9157. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Jerry
Cook, Pastor.
AUSTIN - Joan Wakeford Ministries, Inc.,
940 1-B Grouse Meadow Ln., 78758-6348,
(512)835-7354.
DALLAS - Silent Harvest Ministries, P.O .
Box 190511, 75219-0511. (214) 520-6655.
MIDLAND - Holy Trinity Community
Church, 1607 S. 'Main, 79701.
(915)570-4822. Rev. Glenn E. Hammell,
Pastor. Publication:Trinity Tribune
DALLAS - Holy Trinity Community
Church, 4402 Roseland, 75204.
(214)827-5088. Rev . Frederick Wright ,
Pa stor. Publication: The Chariot
LUBBOCK - Lesbian /Gay Alliance, Inc.,
P .O . Box 64746, 79464-4746.
(806)791-4499. Publication: Lambda Time s.
Virginia
ROANOKE - MCC of the Blue Ridge, P.O.
Box 20495, 240f8, (703)366-0839.
Publication : The Blue Ridge Banner
RQ~NOKE - BL UE RIDGE LAMBDA
PRESS, P.O. Box 237, 24002,
(703)890-3184.
FALLS CHU RCH - MCC of Northern
Virginia, 7245 Lee Highway, 22046.
SEE RESOURCE GUIDE, Next Page
"Open and Affirming: A Journey of
Faith" is a new•Open and Affirming
Video Resource from the United
Church Board for Homeland Ministries.
The color, 55 minute, VHS
video documents the experiences of
three United Church of Christ congregations
exploring the question of
whether or not to declare their
churches Open aud Affirming of lesbian,
gay and bisexual persons . The
three Southern California congregations
are Irvine UCC (Irvine); First
Congregational Church, UCC (Long
Beach); and Pilgrim Congregational
Church, UCC (Carlsbad).
The UCBHM is distributing the
new video as part of its commitment
to implementation of the Open and
Affirming Churches Resolution adopted
in 1985 by General Synod 15. It
has established a cooperative relation- ·
ship with the Rev. Ann B. Day, ONA
Coordinator for the United Church
Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns,
and ONA Resources in Massachusetts.
ONA Resources will continue to distribute
ONA print resources.
The video project was begun in
1990 by Irvine UCC out of a recognition
of the need for a resource for
UCC congregations considering whether
or not to engage in an ONA
process. It was produced by Easy
Brothers Video Productions. UCBHM
bought the rights to the video in
1991.
The three congregations featured
. utilized different approaches to the
ONA dialogue and a sampling of
each is documented . Persons
RESOURCE GUIDE,
From Previous Page
Washington
SEATTLE GAY NEWS, 704 E. Pike, 98122 .
(206)324-4297. FAX (206) 322-7188.
SEA TILE - Grace Gospel Chapel, 2052 NW
64th St., 98107 . (206)784-8495. Sunday,
lUlO a.m . & 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, 7:30 ..
p.m. Jerry Lachina, Pastor.
International
LONDON - Lesbian and Gay Christian
Movement, Oxford House, Derbyshire St.,
London E2 6HG , UK, 071-739-1249.
Listings in the
Resource Guide
are free at the
request of the
_ organization.
Send to
Second Stone
Box 8340
New Orleans, LA 70182
or FAX to
(504)891-7555
Just_Out
involved in the leadership of the
process share helpful suggestions for
congregations considering beginning
an .ONA process . Highlights of the
video are candid comments from
members of the three churches concerning
their personal experience of
the ONA process.
The E. Rhodes & Leona B.
Carpenter Foundation, the Riverside ·
Church of New York City and the
United Church Board for Homeland
Ministries provided major funding for
the project. Funds also came from
UCC Conferences, congregations and
individual members nationwide.
The video package, released on
March 1, includes printed resources
concerning the ONA process and wor-
...... ~- ..
ship resources developed by Irvine
UCC. The purchase price of $25.00
per video includes shipping and
handling. The video is not available
for rental. Pre-paid orders may be
sent to Bill Johnson, ONA Video
Resources, UCBHM/ DAMA, 700
Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH
44115-1100.
Beacon of Hope videos available
''Beacon of Hope," the TV ministry of
Bethel Christia'l Assembly, a pro-gay
and lesbian evangelical church in
Grand Rapids, Mich., has announced
the release of a video tape series by
its pastor, Rev. Bruce Roller-Pletcher.
NOTEWORTHY,
FromPage17
attack, Holmes is also fighting her
placement in the psychiatric ward of
Hilo Hospital where she claims she
has been wrongly placed. Holmes
has only recently reacquired the
ability to stand, and she vows to walk
out of the hospital on her own before
the campaign is over. The candidate
may be contacted through Friends of
Diana Holmes, c/ o Hilo Hospital,
1190 Wainuenue Ave., Hilo , HI
96720,
-Both Sides Naw
Alabama church
.celebrates
11th anniversary
Birmingham's Covenant Metropolitan
Community -Church celebrated its '
11th anniversary with the dedication
of a new church building. Pastor Cliff
Morrison said, '1t has been one of the
greatest blessings of my life, to see
what God hlls done with these people
in this community, giving us the
collective strength to do this task.
Integrity president
named to church
commission
Bruce Garner, president of Integrity,
Inc . has been appointed to the
Episcopal Church's Standing
Commission on Human Affairs. Not
only is he the first gay person to
serve on the General Convention
interim body charged with oversight
of gay and lesbian issues, he is also
the first openly gay person to serve
on any standing commission of the
Episcopal Church.
Each of the three tapes in the series
consists of two hours of preaching - a
series of four sermons on a topic.
Titles include "Clobbering the Clobber
Passages." One tape includes four
sermons on sexual ethics for gay and
in Mesa, Arizona, has moved from
meeting in a private home to its own
facility . The dedication service was
held Jan . 26. The new church, located
at 431 South Stapley Dr., Suite 23,
seats 35 and has meeting room and
office space. P.J. Fousek-Gregan is
pastor.
Larsen to pastor
All God's Children
Rev . Charles W. Larsen was elected
■
lesbian people. __
For information on · the videos
contact Bethel Christian Assembly,
P.O . Box 6935, Grand Rapids, MI
49516.
Senior Pastor of All God's Children
Metropolitan Community Church in
Minneapolis. Larsen succeeds Rev.
Arlene Ackerman. Prior to his
appointment Larsen was Senior Social
Worker in Child Welfare with the San
Francisco Department of Social
Services. He has a Master of Divinity
degree from the Candler School of
Theology of Emory University,
Atlanta. Larsen has also served on
the faculty of the UFMCC's Samaritan
College.
■
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Books & Publications
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PSYCHOTHERAPIST/WRITER seeking
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ARE YOU WILLING to give your life to
others like Jesus did? Consider an ordained
ministry as a priest or deacon? The Ecumenical
Catholic Church, an Independent
Catholic Denomination, with an open
ministry inclusive of the homosexual community
is seeking dialogue with women and
men who wish to explore their call, within
the catholic tradition. Feel called! Begin the
dialogue, write about yourself to: Fr. Bruce
LeBlanc, Vocation Director, P.O. Box 192,
E Moline, IL 61244.
WILDERNESS, From Page 11
At the conference, theologian and
· activist Mary Hunt reminded us not
to imagine that because we have
carved . a niche for ourselves, the
world has changed. And while, if I
look at it one way, my white,
middle-class privilege makes it easy
for me to be a Lesbian, if I look at it
another way, the combination of good
luck and unpredictable danger that
characterizes my experience as a
Lesbian turns my white, middle-class
privilege upside down .
At a white, middle-class woman, I
can keep safe by following the rules,
by keeping quiet, by doing what's
expected. But as a Lesbian, I'm
vulnerable even if I'm quiet. What
safety I have has been won for me by
those who have broken the rules,
who have com.e out, who have risked
and lost not only whatever conventional
power and privilege they had,
but even, -in some cases, their lives.
And if I want to keep my life, if I
want to fight the hatred and violence
that still threaten it, I have to give it
up: I have to learn to take some of the
same risks as those who have gone
before.
Irene Elizabeth Stroud is an M.Div.
student at Union_ T heolo¥icaSl eminary
in New York City. Reprinted with permission
from the March 16, 1992 issue of
Christianity & Crisis. Copyright 1992
by Christianity & Crisis. (See Resource
Guide)
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