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Thanks goes to the Human Rights Committee for bringing this event to Greensboro and special thanks to Lee Carter, an HRC board member who resides in Greensboro and spearheaded the event. A very special thanks to all those who worked to make this happen.

Left to right, Rev. Susan Parker, Lee Carter, Rev. Dr. Arnetta Beverly, Rev. Dr. Miguel A. De LanTorre, Rabbi Fred Guttman and Harry Knox.

The keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre who obtained his Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Joining Rev. Torre for the evening’s discussion were panelists Rev. Dr. Arnetta Beverly, Rabbi Fred Guttman and Rev. Susan Parker. (Their bios below)

The one personal observation I would like to share with you and one I find most exciting is how two of those speakers explained how they had journeyed from a place of misunderstanding to where they are today.

Torre told how his attitude was typical of the conservative evangelical community he belonged to at the time. He believed homosexuality was a sin and that a person had to leave “that lifestyle” in order to have a relationship with Christ – that is what he had been taught, he said.

But then he shared about how he learned one of his conservative evangelical friends was gay. He said together they prayed, fasted and proclaimed the demon of homosexuality to leave this person.

But the person’s sexual orientation wasn’t converted to heterosexuality – rather Torre said that was when his attitudes begin to change.

Rev. Beverly also spoke about a person who once had come to her years ago who was struggling with the sin of homosexuality. Beverly said she did not offer the person any answers because she had never been given those answers herself. Today she regrets that and today she offer those answers as part of her ministry.

I spoke with two other ministers at the event who told me privately they also had held to the same attitudes that gay and lesbian individuals lived lives that displeased God and that they today also regret the harm they caused.

Of course, I also share that regret as one who has been liberated from religion – based bigotry and prejudice.

But I’m encouraged everyday by what I see as a monumental shift among the everyday people of faith who are making the same realization that Torre, Beverly, other clergy and many the people of faith like myself are making – the harm to LGBT people, especially youth, from religion – based bigotry and prejudice must end.

Rev. Torre said he lost track of the person he referenced in his personal story and doesn’t know where he may be today. Unfortunately, Beverly knew what happened to the person she referenced – he committed suicide.

And we do know the whereabouts of the many gay kids and other LGBT individuals who have been oppressed at the hands of church teaching – they are all around us. One somewhere is thinking about whether he or she would be better off dead than growing up gay in America.

We all know what the answer is – the church has failed you most miserably and most terribly. But the church’s day of reckoning – just as it had to reckon with the prejudice and mistreatment of others in the past – is near.

For our youth and others, that day must be today.

Bios of speakers:

• Rev. Torre completed his doctorate in social ethics at Temple University in 1999. Rev. Dr. De La Torre has been a commentator on ethical issues for an array of media outlets, served on several civic organizations, authored numerous articles and published over 20 books, including the award – winning Reading the Bible from the Margins (Orbis, 2002). He presently serves as associate professor for social ethics at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO, and is a member of HRC’s Religion Council.

• Rev. Dr. Arnetta Beverly, who was born in Greensboro and grew up in Lexington, N.C. She has served congregations across North Carolina for over two decades. In 1992, she received her Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School and in 1999 she obtained a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University in Madison, NJ. Rev. Dr. Beverly was the first African – American female in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church selected to serve as the Director of Nurturing and Ethnic Ministries, Director of Connectional Ministries and appointed to the Conference Cabinet serving as its Northeast District Superintendent. Additionally, she is the first African – American female to pastor St. Matthew’s Church.

• Rabbi Fred Guttman has served as the rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Greensboro since 1995. Prior to coming to Greensboro, he was the associate rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Chesed in Jacksonville, FL. He currently serves on the boards of the Greensboro Jewish Federation and the Union for Reform Judaism’s (URJ) Commission on Social Action and Mid – Atlantic Regional Board. Rabbi Guttman has previously served the boards of the National Conference of Community and Justice and the URJ’s Commission of Sacred Music. He was ordained by Hebrew Union College and in 2004 the college awarded him a Doctorate of Divinity.

• Rev. Susan Parker is a pastor at Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston–Salem, where she has been on staff since August 2003. Rev. Parker has served on numerous boards and committees in support of LGBT equality and has received awards for her work from PFLAG of Winston – Salem and the Human Rights Campaign. She received her Master of Divinity degree from the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University and will receive her Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary this May.

If the Texas State Board of Education moves to include mention of Phyllis Schlafly and Jerry Falwell in school textbooks, Faith In America hopes they will document how harmful their anti-gay actions have been to millions of gay and lesbian youth.

The Texas State Board of Education in a 10-5 party line vote approved some controversial alterations to what most students in the state and other areas of the country will be studying as history. After a public comment period, the board will vote on final recommendations in May.

According to an Associated Press story, it would mean not only increased favorable mentions of anti-gay activist Phyllis Schlafly but also more discussion about the anti-gay Moral Majority and Heritage Foundation.

“The bigotry, prejudice and violence that has been justified and promoted by these so-called conservative groups has inflicted a horrific toll on the lives of gay and lesbian individuals, especially youth,” said Brent Childers, an evangelical Christian who serves as executive director Faith In America. “It’s unimaginable that millions of kids across this nation may now be taught that people who espouse and promote religion-based bigotry are to be looked upon as favorable.

“History, time and time again, has judged such religion-based bigotry as harmful and unacceptable, whether such bigotry and prejudice was perpetrated toward American Natives, women or African-Americans. Apologies have been issued by the church and others for their role in promoting religion-based bigotry toward a minority group.”

Childers said that he recalls how his own past bigotry and prejudice toward gay Americans was fostered and reinforced by Falwell and other anti-gay figures who for years used the religious and political arenas to promote the attitude that it’s OK to be prejudiced and hostile toward gay and lesbian individuals.

“Now, the Texas Board of Education is poised to use public school textbooks to give a stamp of approval to the religion-based bigotry and hostility that has been promoted by groups like the Moral Majority or Heritage Foundation. To put a positive spin on those group’s prejudice and hostility toward gay Americans is no different than if someone proposed to rewriting history to portray segregation, racism or looking upon women as inferior in favorable terms.”

Faith In America is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to educate Americans about the harm caused when religious teaching is misused to justify prejudice, discrimination and violence against people based solely on their sexual orientation. Brent Childers, a straight evangelical ally, serves as executive director. In September 2008, Faith In America founder and longtime civil rights advocate Mitchell Gold published “Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay In America”. The book, a not-for-profit venture, has been used in community forums across the nation to bring awareness and understanding to one of the greatest moral failures of our time: Misusing religion in a way that subjects gay teens to traumatic depression, fear, rejection, persecution and even physical violence.
www.faithinamerica.com

This event is free and open to the public. Students, educators and church members are especially invited to attend. Advance tickets are not required.

Soledad O’Brien has worked on CNN special reports including “Black in America” and “Latino in America” and is currently working on a “Gay in America” special report for the network.

“Crisis” describes the personal, social and religious pain of growing up gay in America. It is told through essays contributed by 40 successful and well-known professionals as well as not-well-known younger people. The foreword is written by tennis great Martina Navratilova.

Gold is co-founder of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, a nationally recognized furniture manufacturer headquartered in Taylorsville, N.C. He is also the creator of Faith in America, an organization dedicated to educating people about the harm of religion-based prejudice against the gay community.

“I’m looking forward to interviewing Mitchell about a topic that is at the very heart of America’s culture war,” O’Brien said. “Mitchell does it in a manner that shows compassion for all sides.”

Gold published the book, co-edited with Mindy Drucker, in response to what he calls a silent mental health crisis among the more than 1.6 million gay young people in America. “They are at significant risk for suicide, addiction, depression, and violence, and yet those who should be helping them may very well be contributing, if not causing, their heartache and confusion,” he said. “There are teenagers all over the world today in crisis mode because they fear what will happen if others discover their sexual orientation.”

Like the other contributors to the book, Gold has lived through this experience. As a gay teen, he was suicidal. Eventually, with the help of a psychiatrist and support from his friends, he learned to accept himself.

Gold now calls upon others, especially those in the religious community, to take the lead in creating an accepting atmosphere for young people experiencing this same crisis.

Some of the book’s contributors include the Right Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man ordained by the Episcopal Church; acclaimed actor Richard Chamberlain; U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), chair of the House Financial Services Committee; and Hilary Rosen, a political analyst on MSNBC and political director for The Huffington Post.

The book also includes essays by two mothers of gay young people who died as a result of their sexual orientation. Another contributor to the book is former Reverend Jimmy Creech of Raleigh, N.C., who set out on a journey to study the Bible and science after one of his congregants came out to him more than 20 years ago.  He was defrocked by the United Methodist Church for performing a same-gender marriage ceremony.

Proceeds from the sale of “Crisis” are donated to non-profit organizations that help young people struggling with issues related to their sexual orientation.

The Visiting Writers Series is free to the public thanks to the support of sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Catawba Valley Community Foundation, UNC-TV, Hickory Public Library, United Arts Council of Catawba County, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Crowne Plaza hotel of Hickory, and WFAE 90.7 FM, Your NPR News Source.

For more information about the Visiting Writers Series at Lenoir-Rhyne University, go to http://visitingwriters.lr.edu or call 828-328-7077.

Established in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne University is a private, coeducational university located in Hickory, N.C. It is affiliated with the N.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is open to students from all religious backgrounds. Undergraduate degrees include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and bachelor of music education in more than 60 majors and concentrations. Graduate degrees are offered in business administration, counseling, occupational therapy and athletic training. The Web site is www.lr.edu.

BOY’S SILENT STATEMENT MAKES BIG IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD

By Kate Ward

FAYETTEVILLE — When he chose to stand up for his beliefs by sitting down for the Pledge of Allegiance, 10-year-old Will Phillips never dreamed his message would circle the globe.

The West Fork student was honored by furniture designer and author Mitchell Gold on Saturday during a book signing at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Gold serves as chairman and founder of Faith in America — a group dedicated to educating the public about “the harm caused by religious-based bigotry and prejudice used to justify condemnation, discrimination and violence toward gay Americans.”

“Will, you’re on the road toward completing a noble mission,” Gold said. “Because of you, other people’s lives will be better.”

It was Oct. 5, when the West Fork Middle School student refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The silent statement made a big impact around the world, gaining him international attention.

“I thought about not standing for the pledge because there really isn’t liberty and justice for all,” Phillips said.

“I’m glad my message is getting out to so many people, but it wasn’t my original intent. Originally, my intention was to not swear about something that doesn’t exist.”

Phillips parents said their son’s actions were based on his own upbringing.

“He had asked about the meaning of the pledge and why we say it,” Phillips mom, Laura, said “We shared our views. I told him that I don’t say the pledge and my husband does. We gave him the choice to do what he wanted because we’ve always raised him to stand up for what he believes in. We told him there would be social ramifications, but it’s something he feels really strongly about.”

After thinking about the meaning of the pledge, Phillips’ mom said her son decided he didn’t want to stand or say it in class.

“He’s received e-mail, phone calls and letters from people in India, South American, Canada, Germany — you name it,” she said. “He never expected any of this attention. He was adamant that the didn’t want to do it for self-promotion. I guess, it just goes to show that little voices can make a big impact.”

Phillips was one of three volunteers Saturday who read excerpts from Gold’s newly released book, “Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America.”

To show his appreciation for Phillip’s courage, Gold presented the fi fth-grader with a handmade leather chair.

“One of the boxes we’re stuck in right now is that people who grew up believing one way aren’t always comfortable changing their way of thinking,” Gold said.

“Will, as you sit down to stand up for your belie fs, we want to give you this chair so you can be comfortable.”

The Mormon church is supporting gay rights.

Sound a little suspicious?

That has been the read around the blogosphere as of late, after the Church of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that it would support a Salt Lake City ordinance barring housing and workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Cue cynicism: “The Mormon Church views gays as worthwhile human beings in the workplace, but not in their own bedrooms. Got it,” quipped a blogger at gay blog Queerty. Over at Seattle’s alt weekly: “No one is fooled: this ‘rare’ action is an attempt to blunt charges of anti-gay bigotry … in the wake of Prop 8.”

We know the Mormon church does not agree with gay marriage—it adamantly opposes homosexuality. But writing off their support, which probably played some role in this legislation passing, is childish, willfully ignorant of how this law came to be and what it means. Like the fact that leaders of gay-rights groups in Utah have, for the past two months, met secretly with LDS officials regarding the proposition. Or that this will actually make a difference in the lives of gay Salt Lake City residents.

The Mormon church could have easily sided with the Sutherland Institute, a local conservative think tank that opposed the measure on the grounds that “each new inclusion in the law of such vague terms as ’sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ represents a mounting threat to the meaning of marriage.”

As Andrew Sullivan more thoughtfully writes over at The Atlantic, “Someone has decided to offer an open hand. A civil rights movement should never spurn such a good faith effort.”

Gay Americans want the right to full and equal marriage, and rightfully so. There’s a good chance that, in the relatively near future, a younger generation of voters will make that the norm. But, in the here and now (and especially in conservative states like Utah), the right to marry is not even on the table: 31 states have voted down gay marriage by popular vote. What is available are smaller, albeit imperfect, offerings that the gay community can—and should—embrace, while still demanding more.
Just take a look at how the two gay-rights votes, both in liberal states, fared this past election: the marriage initiative in Maine failed, the everything-but-marriage referendum in Washington state passed. Granted, the Washington state referendum was not ideal: namely, it did not include marriage rights. But it did include inheritance rights, pension benefits, and a whole host of other benefits. These things matter, as does employment discrimination. And, in at least the short term, they are applauding rather than deriding.