Culture shift concerning homosexuality, bisexuality, etc.

Events during 2008-DEC illustrating
cultural shifts about sexual minorities

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	2008-DEC-02: USA: Statistical data on conservative Protestant beliefs: Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals was interviewed on the NPR program "Fresh Air," He volunteered some polling data from an unknown source: About 40% of young evangelical Christians know a close friend or family member who is gay. 52% of young evangelicals support either SSM or civil unions for loving, committed same-sex couples. He also said that he believes in civil unions for same-sex couples. This contradicts the NAE's position which is to have governments recognize such couples only as roommates, and to recognize their children -- if any -- as illegitimate. A few weeks later, he lost his job as vice presidency of the NAE, allegedly because of this statement in support of civil unions. More details 2,5
	2008-DEC-06: USA: Newsweek article on same-sex marriage (SSM): Lisa Miller, the society and religion editor of Newsweek, was the main author of an article supporting SSM using biblical themes. It generated so many comments from readers that the comments section of their website became overloaded and was temporarily shut down. It has raised a firestorm of controversy. More details.
	2008-DEC-11: USA: Latina lesbian selected to lead council: Nancy Sutley, a deputy mayor from Los Angeles will become the first prominent member of the LGBT community to become part of President-elect Barak Obama's administration. She will lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Washington Post states: "Sutley, whose mother is from Argentina, identifies herself as a Latina. She was a member of the California Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender steering committee of Clinton's campaign and is the first openly gay nominee for a top job in the Obama administration." 1

2008-DEC-12: LGBT band to be part of Inaugural Parade: DiversityInc reports: "For the first time in history, an LGBT group will participate in the Inaugural Parade, reports 365 Gay.  President-elect Barack Obama's Inaugural Committee extended the invitation to the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, which includes LGBT bands from across the country. The association said it plans to pick players from among its member bands. 3

2008-DEC-13: Pink Planet TV program: This is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual (GBLT) program that surveys the GBLT scene in one city during each episode. On this date, the Canadian cable channel Sex-TV carried the program as it visited Dallas, TX. It discussed the vibrant GLBT community there. Laura Miller, the mayor of Dallas, welcomed Pink Planet to the city. She was wearing a cloth band around her neck displaying the rainbow colors. Lupe Valdex, sheriff of Dallas County and, according to PegasusNews, "the only openly lesbian Latina sherrif" in the U.S. She said: "You're watching 'Pink Planet'." 4

2008-DEC-22: UK: In 2007, the government of the UK passed a set of  Sexual Orientation Regulations (SOR).  It prohibits most groups or individuals who provide goods and services to the public from discriminating against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation. The law has been widely misrepresented by religious conservatives. It does not apply to religious rituals and services. It does not create special rights for homosexuals; it applies to persons of all sexual orientations. Catholic Caring Services (CCS) of Lancaster UK was caught between a rock and a hard place. One of their sponsors, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster requires the CCS to completely follow Church teaching regards human sexuality. This includes discrimination against homosexuals who wish to become adopting parents. They also require the agency to follow Catholic teaching on marriage, abortion, human sexuality, the morning after pill, etc. The SOR requires agencies to be free of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. However, the regulations do contain an exemption to cover agencies that are committed to operate according to the beliefs of their religious sponsor; such agencies can continue to discriminate. The CCS elected to follow the spirit of the law. As a result, the Diocese eliminated the CCS funding and now regards them as a non-Catholic agency. The CCS' trustees voted 9 to 1 to remove the word "Catholic" from their agency name. 6

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today. 

1. Steven Mufson and Philip Rucker, "Nobel Physicist Chosen To Be Energy Secretary Browner, Two Others to Get Climate Posts," Washington Post, 2008-DEC-11, at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
2. "Top evangelical leader resigns over gay unions remarks," ReligionNewsBlog, 2008-DEC-12, at: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/
3. "Obama OKs LGBT Bands for Inauguration Parade," DiversityInc, 2008-DEC-12, at: http://www.diversityinc.com/
4. John Wright, "Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez supported by Gay &Lesbian Victory Fund," 2008-FEB-08, at: http://www.pegasusnews.com/
5. "Rev Richard Cizik on God and global warming," NPR's Fresh Air program, 2008-DEC-02, at: http://www.npr.org/ The data comes about 4 minutes, 10 seconds into the program.
6. Hilary White, "Lancaster Bishop Pulls Funding from Ex-Catholic Adoption Agency," LifeSiteNews.com, 2008-DEC-22, at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/

Copyright © 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Initial posting: 2008-DEC-13
Latest update: 2008-DEC-24
Author: B.A. Robinson

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