|
|
You Gotta Have Faith
by AMY MATHENY 2004-02-01
|
|
This article shared 2902 times since Sun Feb 1, 2004
|
|
Many people think that having an article on faith in a GLBT magazine is an odd waste of space. That there are more important topics. Gender, ethnicity, healthcare, HIV/ AIDS prevention and treatment, politics, these are all more relevant. And yet, faith is a crucial element always missing in our community. While the heterosexual world relies on faith as a foundation for their identity, homosexuals often deny we need it. I won't say religion. Not yet. I know it is a scary word conjuring images of Jerry Falwell, the Pope, or Fred Phelps. People who ridicule, reject, or abuse us. Or, religion points to the too perfect and benevolent such as Mother Teresa and saints to whom we can in no way relate. But faith should be ours. Sure, we have been rejected by many churches or temples, but when has that stopped us? We made our own bars, our own movies, our own newspapers. It is supply and demand like everything else. Why are we not demanding that faith is a necessity in our lives?
As a lesbian who is also a Christian, I know that my faith informs my identity greatly. I also know that GLBT people have strong views on faith. It is ironic to me that I find more negativity in telling GLBT people that I am Christian, than I do telling Christian people that I am lesbian. Why is that? Do Christian people hide their true feelings about my sexuality? Why are GLBT people so quick to be loudly shocked? Asking me 'How?' and 'Why?' GLBT people can be very passionate about their rejection of faith. Many of us shrink away from anything Christian. We struggle with issues based in childhood Catholicism. GLBT people raised Jewish now just celebrate the 'important' holidays, not feeling entirely comfortable with their religious identity. Islamic GLBT men and women have been repressed so subversively by their faith that it seems unfathomable to pray as did their parents.
But what does that mean for us as adults? As gays and lesbians? As a community? Has our sexuality become our religion? But then where is our faith? It is a question that needs to be addressed.
What is faith? Faith n 1) belief in, devotion to or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof; 2) a system of religious belief, or the people who adhere to it; 3) belief in and devotion to God; 4) a strongly held set of beliefs or principles; 5) allegiance or loyalty to somebody or something.
Most believe in something. That one is easy. System of belief? Many GLBT people say they don't believe in organized religion. Understandable. Judgment comes down from many of 'faith' to exclude us. God? What kind of God are we talking about, you may ask. Strongly held principles? Well, no community is as passionate as ours. Loyalty to somebody or something? Oh, there is the rub. How loyal are we to ourselves? We are in denial somehow. We pretend we don't need faith and I am sure that we do. That it is an essential missing ingredient to us as a community.
Lest I be thought of as a Southern (which I am) converter (which I am not), let me say that I believe a diversity of faiths is as important as a diversity of sexuality. But I believe faith is sorely missing in the GLBT community. That we somehow feel unworthy of the divine. That it does not belong to us. It is for heterosexuals, our parents, 'others.' I think it belongs to us more. And that as a community we have a great ability to use our faith for good. In this space, as odd as it may seem, I will work with others to explore that. The divine in ourselves and our community. How unlocking it, accepting it and sharing it, will make us stronger individually and as a community.
editor@windycitymediagroup.com . Leaders of various faiths answering questions monthly. Matheny is co-host of Windy City Radio, Sundays, 11 p.m., WCKG, 105.9 FM.
|
|
|
|
This article shared 2902 times since Sun Feb 1, 2004
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | Pope: Church open to LGBTQ+ people...but there are rules 2023-10-02 - On Aug. 6, Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church is open to everyone—including the LGBTQ+ community—and that it has a duty to accompany them on a personal path of spirituality but within the framework of ...
|
| | Pope: Church open to LGBTQ+ people...but there are rules 2023-08-07 - On Aug. 6, Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church is open to everyone—including the LGBTQ+ community—and that it has a duty to accompany them on a personal path of spirituality but within the framework of ...
|
| | Hungry Souls Collective founders talk genesis of company, other work endeavors 2021-12-22 - Licensed clinical social workers Victoria Aron and Mikki Guerra have joined forces to create Hungry Souls Collectivea woman-, LGBTQIA- and minority-owned business that specializes in trauma, addiction and spirituality. According ...
|
| | Chef Sheldrick Holmes embraces spirituality, authenticity at The Grail Cafe 2021-11-08 - Officially, The Grail Cafe is a restaurant in the South Loop. But for owner and chef Sheldrick Holmes, one of the few openly gay Black restaurant owners in the area, the cafe is both home and ...
|
| | AFC conference focuses on bisexual health 2017-11-08 - Dr. H. Sharif Williams, otherwise known as Dr. Herukhuti, (Center for Culture Sexuality and Spirituality founder, Goddard College professor of interdisciplinary studies and CUNY School of Professional Studies adjunct associate ...
|
| | Tangible Things immerses visitors in African culture 2017-02-06 - To stop at the unassuming storefront and walk through the doors of Tangible Things is to immediately allow all the senses to become immersed in a wealth of African culture, a beautiful myriad of spirituality and ...
|
| | Youth center supporting LGBT young adults, changing workspaces 2016-07-27 - Tucked away in the basement of the Wellington Avenue United Church is a refuge. It's not a place to find comfort in spirituality, as one may guess, but a place for LGBTQ youth to find support ...
|
| | Queer Youth Exploring Spirituality Holds Fundraiser in Pilsen May 14
2016-05-11 From a press release - Queer Youth Exploring Spirituality (QYES) will be hosting its first fundraising event 5-7 p.m. at Lincoln United Methodist Church located at 2242 S. Damen May 14. The event will be emceed by the QYES Youth Leader ...
|
| | Latin@ issues focus
of community
strategy session 2015-03-31 - Wesley United Methodist Church of Cicero's Queer Youth Exploring Spirituality (Q-YES) group hosted a community strategy session, "Latin@ LGBTQA United For Action" March 28 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Cicero. This was the third Latin@ ...
|
| | Q-YES to host panel
on Latin@ issues 2015-03-25 - Wesley United Methodist Church of Cicero's Queer Youth Exploring Spirituality (Q-YES) group will be hosting a community strategy session, "Latin@ LGBTQA United For Action," Saturday, March 28, 12-3 p.m., at ...
|
| | LGBTQA youth retreat
examines spirituality 2014-06-24 by Robert Castillo - Pre-Retreat: Organizers ironed out last-minute details On a recent Monday evening at Wesley United Methodist Church in Cicero, Alicia Vega, Cesar Robles and Katya Mazon were finalizing details for a unique event taking place, a three-day ...
|
| | Affinity hosts Spirituality, Faith, Non-Belief in LGBTQ Communities 2013-09-19 - Affinity with the Charles Shelby Rooks Society will host a panel discussion Spirituality, Faith, Non-Belief in LGBTQ Communities on Sept. 21. The panelists will be Consuella Brown, Ann DeShawn, Brenda Lee, and Anthony Stanford, the author ...
|
| | Meshing sexuality, spirituality in video 2013-09-10 Special to the online edition of Windy City Times - The month-long "My God Is Not A Bully" campaign was powerful and inspiring to Anna DeShawn, the founder and CEO of E3 Radio and a collaborator in the project with the Church With A Church Movement ...
|
| | Pope Francis: Don't judge gay people
2013-07-29 HRC, Catholic LGBT Ministry respond - Pope Francis has said gay people should not be marginalized or judged, the BBC has reported. Speaking to reporters while flying back from Brazil, the pontiff asked, "If a person is gay and seeks God and ...
|
| | Cardinal George urged to sit out 'ex-gay' conference
2013-07-24 - Cardinal Francis George is being urged to skip a conference this weekend they say will offer workshops on "reparative" gay therapy. Conference organizers say that's not the purpose of the event, but some participants have close ...
| |
|
|