A Question Heard Around The World
Rev. Reggie Longcrier of Hickory, N.C., asked one of the most talked-about questions at the Democratic CNN/YouTube Presidential Debate in Charleston, S.C.
Americans look back on history and recognize it was wrong to use religion to justify discrimination against African-Americns and women. So why it is still OK today to use religion to deny gay and lesbian Americans their full and equal rights?
Close to 6 million people saw the Longcrier YouTube presidential debate question. With close to 24,000 YouTube views, it was one of the most watched questions.
“Millions of gay Americans struggle every-day against the misuse of religion to perpetuate prejudice and inequality,” said Jimmy Creech, executive director of Faith In America. “These individuals don’t just fight bigotry when they’re denied the right to marry their partners, they combat it on the street, in the workplace, in their children’s schools, and in every other aspect of their lives. Religion-based prejudices pervade and profoundly shape the daily experiences of these people and I’d like to commend my friend Rev. Longcrier for furthering the national dialogue for those and all Americas on this critically important subject.” (read entire release)
So, why is it still OK to use religion to deny gay and lesbian citizens their full and equal rights?
The short answer is simple: Because people confuse bigotry with religious truth.
Many times throughout history people have misused religion to justify bigotry. Most Americans recognize historical precedents in which religious teachings were misused to hide fear and prejudice and to justify oppression and discrimination – slavery, racial segregation, gender inequality, to name but three examples. And yes, today most Americans recognize that these past examples of religion-based discrimination were unconstitutional and wrong.
Unfortunately, too many Americans fail to recognize the same misuse of religion against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens.
After Rev. Longcrier's question was asked during the debate, some pastors in his community criticized his acceptance of gay and lesbian Americans. Read more.
Just as generations were taught that slavery was acceptable, the races should be kept separate and women were not equal with men because the Bible says so, generations have been taught that the Bible says homosexuality is unnatural and sinful. While most people have abandoned the religious beliefs that justified slavery, racial segregation and the inherent inequality of women, many people hold on to the anti-gay religious teachings because of their fear and lack of understanding of homosexuality. They confuse their bigotry with religious truth because their religion conveniently hides their fear and prejudice.
All of the psychological and medical professional associations recognize that sexual orientation – whether heterosexuality, bisexuality or homosexuality – is a healthy, normal and natural aspect of the human personality. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people deserve to be affirmed and accepted. It is an abominable misuse of religion to justify harm to anyone or any group of people, especially to reject as immoral and socially unacceptable their inherent humanity and dignity. It is unconstitutional to use religious beliefs to deny any group of American citizens full and equal civil rights and protections.
Faith In America’s mission is to educate America about the history religion-based discrimination and the injury and injustice it causes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people today. We challenge all Americans, especially elected officials, to denounce the misuse of religion and to support full and equal civil rights and protections for all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. We hope you'll join us in our quest for freedom, justice and equality.
And we hope you'll join us in our efforts.