18 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE MAY 14, 1993

PSYCHED OUT

Fundamentalist Christian 'love' for gays and lesbians

by Mike Radice "Why do they hate us?" is a common question posed by many lesbian and gay people when referring to the fundamentalist "right wing Christian" position on homosexuality. To unearth the answer to this question, I gave up my May Day weekend house-cleaning and grocery shopping to become Ohio's "homosexual spy."

Registering with a fictitious name, profile, and a Columbus address, I attended the Leadership Training School sponsored by the Christian Coalition, held in Columbus earlier this month. The Coalition is a national fundamentalist Christian political action organization headquartered in Virginia Beach, and is headed by our longtime intimate "friend" and Republican presidential wanna-be, Rev. Pat Robertson.

The purpose of the seminar was to train Ohio's fundamentalist Christian activists in contemporary political campaign methods, so that they could successfully obtain control of their local, state, and national governments. Guy Rodgers, with National Field Direction for the Coalition, emphasized that "Christian values" (their version) should prevail in this country.

So, what did I learn? To paraphrase Bill Clinton, "Here's the reality, stupid!"

The numerous lectures I endured, and the literature passed out by the Coalition, revealed several basic incorrect principles believed about homosexuals. The "trainees" bought this stuff hook, line, and sinker.

Belief number one: Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, and is not innate.

This was the universal song of the presenters and participants. Rodgers mentioned

that he knew of homosexuals who received "help," became heterosexual, and later became happily married. "If they are gay one year, and straight the next, then they can't really be homosexual," quipped Rodgers.

Belief number two: All homosexuals are unhappy and angry people, therefore it cannot be a "natural" way of life. If homosexuality was "meant to be," they would all be happy.

The speakers and participants claimed that the homosexuals that they knew personally, and through their political activity, were all miserable and angry people. For example, Greg Cunningham, director of the Cuyahoga County chapter of the Coalition, summarized his experiences and knowledge of homosexuals by telling the trainees that alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide, disease, participation in 12-step programs, and general unhappiness, were all pervasive in the homosexual community. He added that he had befriended a homosexual client through his own work as a personal fitness trainer, and that the client admitted to being miserable as a homosexual.

Belief number three: Homosexuals are liars, and cannot be trusted.

This was the fundamentalist Christian rationale for any homosexual who appeared to be mainstream, or confessed to being happy and normal while living the "homosexual lifestyle" (sic).

Belief number four: Homosexuals know that their "lifestyle” is unnatural and selfdefeating.

Fundies believe that the Christian Bible is the law of the land. They also wrongfully believe that the Bible outlaws homosexuality, and that by "revealing the word of God

as written in the Bible," the informed homosexual will then automatically know that being gay or lesbian is unnatural and forbidden.

Belief number five: Homosexuality defies natural law.

Fundies believe in their own version of the concept of "natural law." They believe that God set into motion expected behaviors and patterns of life called "natural laws," and that these laws are spelled out in the Christian Bible. They also believe that there is no deviation from the "natural laws" (sic) as outlined in the Bible. According to the fundies, the Bible states that homosexuality is the creation of Satan, and must be eliminated from the Earth.

Now, before you read on, take a deep breath, and do a reality check: we all know that these beliefs are completely false and irrational. Now that you've regained your composure, you may continue.

Homosexuality is not the only issue which concerns fundamentalist Christians. Other issues presented at the seminar included the breakdown of the domination of men over women, and of employers over their employees and businesses; the secularism of our state, local, and federal governments (they believe that the government should be a Christian government, as commanded by God); the existence of abortion rights for women; the increasingly pluralistic nature of this country; and the

humanistic approach of American education (they believe that their version of Christianity should be the backbone of school teachings).

The common psychological theme which permeates their beliefs is one of control: complete control. I listened to speaker after speaker claim that God made the Earth, and that it was under his complete domination. The speakers also proclaimed that God made his (sic) plan known in the Bible, that God's plan had to be unquestionably implemented, and that the Earth's heterosexual male population was charged with seeing to it that the job got done; even if it meant side-stepping the truth to do it.

Yes folks, fascism is emerging in the United States, and is growing by 10,000 members per week. The School's trainees were told that God commands them, as it is written in the Bible, to "take back this country." The trainees were also taught techniques for hiding their fundamentalist Christianity in public, so as to win elections in local, state, and national offices. "Jesus didn't always answer the question either," was Rodgers' rationale for hiding the truth from the public.

If this phenomenon doesn't motivate us to come together as a community to ensure our civil and personal freedoms, nothing will.

Next issue: How to identify and deal effectively with the new "stealth fundies."

Pride '93 Needs a Van for Transporting Differently-Abled Marchers and a Motor-Home for Saturday June 19th, Please Contact Patti at 621-5280

They're trying to make you invisible.

Again. Still.

At a time when we know that the 10% estimate is too low, they're trying to say the gay population is only at 1%.

At a time when over 1 million gay/lesbian/bi and transgender people filled every Metro-rail car, every hotel room, every corner of every street in the D. C. area for the 6-hour long March on Washington, they're trying to say merely 300,000 were there.

At a time when invisiblity equals death for our community through insufficient attention to the health and safety needs of gays AND lesbians AND bisexuals AND transgenders, YOU need to show up, stand up and be counted.

At a time when Cleveland's Pride festivities have been moved from the side streets and back alleys, you can join us as we march to Public Square and spend a day filled with music and friends and merchants and celebration. And yes, visibility.

Visibility today brings us that much closer to acceptance tomorrow, to equal rights not special rights, to protection not isolation, if not for this generation then for the generations that follow.

Help end the conspiracy of silence. Show up. Be visible. Be counted,

PRIDE '93. SATURDAY. JUNE 19TH.

Donations of time, energy and MONEY may be directed to: PRIDE '93, PO Box 91031, Cleveland, Ohio 44101 or call (216) 621-5280 for information.