December 18, 1992 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 17

'People have misused these verses to support prejudice'

stranger who lived in their town, and threatened to commit a gang rape on two "men" (really angels) who had come to visit him. The angels prevent this, but God still wipes out Sodom on the following day.

People have used this story for several centuries to claim that homosexuality is wrong. What it really teaches is that sexual violence such as gang rape is wrong, and that's true whether the victims are angels, men, or women! This story has more to say to people who harass or beat up "queers" than it has to say against lesbians and gay men..

The "abomination" verses (Leviticus 18: 22, etc.)

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." The words seem really clear, and a couple of chapters later the death penalty is called for in such cases. Because of this, these verses are the most popular ones among those who want a "verse" to "prove" that homosexuality is wrong. But, these verses come in a place where there are rules forbidding Israelites to follow the religious customs of their pagan neighbors. These customs included having sex with animals and sacrificing babies to their gods. There were many bizarre religious customs in the ancient world (and there are still some today!). One of these was "sacred prostitution." In the religion of Israel's neighbors, a person could go to the temple and have sex with a woman, or a man, who did this as their "ministry." It was considered an act of worship. This is the "abomination" that is talked about in Leviticus 18:22. Another verse, Deuteronomy 23:17, makes this really clear: "None of the daughters of Israel shall be temple prostitute; none of the sons of Israel shall be a temple prostitute." It's as simple as that!

So far as we know, Jesus said nothing about homosexuality. Paul, however, did say some things that people use against lesbians and gay men.

Natural and unnatural desires (Romans 1:26-27)

"Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error." What Paul says here has to be read in the light of Leviticus 18:22. Paul's comments come in a discussion of idolatry, and it seems that Paul believed the worship of idols to be the cause of homosexuality. In other words, Paul believed that idolatry caused some people who were heterosexual

by "nature" to become homosexuals. This sounds strange to us.

But, many people still believe that gay men and lesbians have chosen to be homosexual, even though it's been shown otherwise. And, we do hear people talk about "straight" people in prison who start having sex with other men, or women, because no one else is available. This example helps us understand that there are circumstances in which some people may act against their own sexual orientation. After all, many gay people have forced themselves into heterosexual marriages because of religion. Others force themselves into vows of "celibacy" where they promise never to have sex of any kind. In Paul's day, some men, in a religious frenzy, would even castrate themselves and then become sacred prostitutes. So, if you are confronted with these verses, remember that Paul was speaking about idolatry and used his understanding of its effect on some people as an example.

The "wrongdoers" list (I Corinthians 6:9-10, etc.)

"Fornicators, idolaters, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers--none of these will inherit the realm of God." It is a basic Christian belief that sex is too special to be bought and sold. This verse (and a similar one, I Timothy 1:10) says exactly that. All of the people listed here are acting in destructive ways. Adultery broke the vows between a husband and a wife, threatening destruction to their marriage. Male prostitutes and their clients treated one another as commodities rather than people. These acts spring from a willingness to use others rather than love and respect them. That's why they are wrong.

Would you believe that these few verses are all the Bible supposedly has to say against homosexuality? Considering all that some Christians have to say on the issue, it's not much! Most gay people have no problem agreeing that rape, worshiping idols, and buying and selling sex are not desirable practices. They're not good for heterosexuals either! The tragedy is that religious people have misused these verses and continue to use them today to support their prejudice against homosexuals. That is sinful.

The story of David and Jonathan

Gays need to know that there are also a couple of places in the Bible where love between people of the same gender is praised. Both of these occur in the Old

Continued on next page

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