The religion issue. By: David

The religion issue.

By: David

     As I Co-wrote in Declaration of culture war. I’m terribly disappointed in the African American turn-out for prop 8 in California. Saddened doesn’t begin to describe hearing that 70% of a community that is a part of my ethnic make-up (Black/Latino on my mothers side and yes I’m disappointed in the Latino turn out too), came out in-favor of prop 8. Now there are caveats. The Mormon Church and the knights of Columbus put out ads directed to the African American community with Obamas voice. Half that said Obama is again the ban on gay marriage in California (which is true) and then said vote yes on 8. Another that had Obama from a debate saying that he’s against gay marriage (also true).  And in general a lot of people across a broad spectrum thought that voting yes on 8 meant you were in favor of equal marriage. That said! I’m still disappointed. But we (the L.G.B.T community) are to blame to some extent for that 70% vote. Our outreach to the African American community was minimal.

I can understand why that is. I grew up going to many different churches. Jewish temple, Catholic Church and Black churches. Listening to how we’re talked about in black churches is horrifying. Scary! Pop culture hasn’t helped much either. Except for Chris Rock how often do we see black men take our side on an issue. But I feel we’re still to  blame for the 70% number. Because we didn’t talk to the African American community. Speaking as someone that has attended black churches let me say that while it’s not a place that can be called gay friendly. I promise you 2 things. 1: you can ask to come in and talk to the congregation and 2: if you do address an African American congregation you will not end up buried under Jimmy Hoffa or leave with one less limb. African American churches are unique in that they are also a forum for community discussion. As long as you don’t bust in and go Ross Perot on them, they will let you speak. But what you must do is come prepared.

            Tip1: before you address their congregation. Attend a sermon at least once. It’s important to learn how to speak to them (for the love of god don’t imitate the minister or the choir. That’s called mocking). Yes you may hear something hateful about us at some point if it’s brought up. But stay and listen. Most importantly take notes on what their saying. Other than on homosexuality I promise you that black churches are the friendliest places on earth.

            Tip 2: Come prepared. We have to remind them that we’re not that different. In fact we’re more alike than different. We are fighting for our rites just as African Americans had fought for theirs. That the language currently used against us is the same that was used to justify segregation. That the people who are against African American issues (Conservatives) are against us. That we’re both being played to our detriment. That what hurts us (gay people) will inevitably hurt those (black people). This is where my Jewish side reminds you of the saying they came for the gays, then they came for the gypsies then they came for me.

            Tip 3: talk to the Old congregation members. For me personally I feel it’s important to talk to them as there’s a lot that we must learn from them. As time goes by we have less and less people from the 50’s and 60’s to talk to and learn from and the more we end up having to learn from books. Nothing against books. But if you can learn from people who were there as opposed to people sitting at a computer at the whim of a publisher or someone with an agenda, the better. And in the African American community is a matriarchal and patriarchal society.

            Tip 4: Discuss how were being hurt. There’s real evidence to show that discrimination from the government and isolation from communities is tied to homelessness disease and drug abuse in the L.G.B.T community.

            Tip 5: This is where as an atheist I must say. Please don’t challenge their faith to much. You can point out that the bible supports slavery and suppression of women and a lot of other things. But try not to turn the discussion into getting rid of God. If anything try to emphasize the more positive parts of the bible. Judge lest ye be judged. All sins are equal. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Etc…

            Tip 6: Leave on a positive note. Like any job interview.

Black churches aside. This is where I must say. It’s time to tackle the 501 c status of all churches that actively set out to stop gay marriage. There is a big difference between faith and religion. Faith is belief. And as Guy and I discussed in Declaration of culture war. Religion is about money. Plain and simple. Don’t believe me? The Mormon Church didn’t just hate gays. At one point they hated black people too. According to the Mormon Church, if you had dark skin that meant you were cursed by god. That the only way Blacks, Latinos and actual Native Americans (if you know anything about Mormons then you know why I had to put the word actual in there) could get into heaven is as slaves. Then that changed. Why? For 2 reasons. 1: it was hard for those young boys to knock on peoples doors and ask them to convert to Mormonism and by proxy hate black people. The other reason is because Mormon colleges needed federal money and their football teams sucked. If we’re to get anywhere in our struggle. We have to start attacking our enemy where it hurts the most. The bank account! I won’t even begin to guess how much money gets skimmed of the top when the heads of all these religions scream “the queers are trying to get married. Give me money or they’ll get your children” and the parishioners do so. But lets be honest, it’s got to be happening. Krefflo Dollar, Pat Robertson, and all these mega church people aren’t simple preachers living humble lives. They live in mansions. They drive huge cars while their flock scrapes by literally on a hope and a prayer. We are demonized for cash. Not for anything the bible says. You don’t see the pope advocating for the law to be changed so that disobedient children can be stoned to death without the cops getting involved. You don’t see church groups marching for a ban on clothes on 2 mixing fabrics. Although I would like to see a ban on polyester. Only us and abortion.

            Now boycotting churches is a good thing to do because the idea in doing that is to reach the parishioners. But that alone won’t stop these churches from demonizing us. Because they don’t get their money from us. But what we can do is take their money away from them. Revoke their 501 c status. We pay taxes. Why can’t they? There’s no reason for them to not pay. Once they cross the line that separates church and state then they should pay taxes. Saying being gay is bad during a sermon is one thing. When you tell your parishioners to vote against gays and sponsoring ads or to vote for someone because of their stance on gay issues. That’s when the line has been crossed. Politicians have let churches run amok because of the power that religious leaders over their parishioners. They want those votes. But I think it’s long past time to start suing politicians that cross that line. Because not voting for them is now enough. You have to cost them money. Sue the state and the federal government. Make the powers that be enforce the laws that they already have on the books. Once we start costing the churches that oppose us money. When the gain they get from demonizing us and going after us is less profitable than the fines and taxes they’ll have to pay for breaking the law, they’ll shrink away. Even preachers can do risk/reward analysis. Al Capone` didn’t go down for murder and extortion. He went down for tax evasion. Crooks, thugs and bastard like the religious right that profit from preaching hetero-supremacy can be taken down much like Capone`. Remove their 501 c status and they have no ability to fund ads. They’ll stay away from politicians to keep their 501 c status. This will cost them their political power. They will not direct their sheeple on how to vote to keep their status. The religious right is our enemy. In any war, the enemy isn’t just defeated when they run out of people to sacrifice. The enemy is defeated when they have no money to pay for their wars. These churches may never like us. But we win when it becomes to costly for them to express their hate outside the walls of their church.