12 GAY People's ChrONICLE
AUGUST 6, 1993
COMMUNITY FORUM
Continued from previous page Festivities. We will never neglect our duty to our God and our community.
Maureen L. Stanley member of Emmanuel and Trilogy
11 more for Trilogy
The Chronicle received eleven additional letters taking issue with the "Religious music" letter of July 9.
To the Editors:
I am puzzled. What were the comments from Trilogy that were so insensitive and lacking good judgment? They said they disagreed with the right wing fundies, spoke of where they are located, and what they offer to gay people who might be interested.
I found their song to be uplifting and encouraging. Maybe I would not have found their table, but I got a good idea of what EMCC stands for by seeing them perform. I do not think that this is a time at all when gay religious groups should be silent. The louder the fundies get, the louder gay groups should get. It is so appropriate for gay religious groups to speak out, so that we know they are there and that they are not like the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells. Jessie Nagle
To the Editors:
The only group I could possibly object to speaking (and being) at Pride would be NAMBLA [North American Man-Boy Love Association]. Which at one time the Chronicle allowed their ads to be printed in the paper and even tried to justify printing
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them. Now that was insensitive and inappropriate.
EMCC has been at every Pride and has performed. No, I'm not crazy about their views, but I would not expect them to be crazy about mine. Even so, I have come to look forward to EMCC being there. If they are to be restricted then there better be restrictions on every speaker or performer... because somewhere down the way even the most inoffensive words will offend someone.
To the Editors:
Gerald Hamblin
I am a Christian who happens to be a lesbian. Pride is about celebrating all of what and who we are, collectively and individually. I am proud to serve Christ and know no condemnation in Him for loving someone of the same sex. Where better to sing and celebrate both of those facts than at Pride.
I agree with Ms. Cudnik that Pride is about inclusiveness. But does she mean only inclusive of those who do not profess Christianity. Anyone who truly loves and serves Jesus Christ must also love their fellow human beings, and you can't get much more inclusive than that.
Ms. Cudnik states that we should be content to have a booth at Pride and those searching will find us. How many of us have heard heterosexual people say "It's okay what you do in private just as long as you aren't in my face with it." It's like they are saying that we should only be gay when we are around gay people.
Furthermore, as a Christian, Ms. Cudnik surely knows that our Lord did not sit back and wait for people who were searching to come and find Him. Quite the contrary, He went looking for them, wherever and whenever they happened to be.
To the Editors:
A.M. Ponzo
[Doreen Cudnik's] letter was to me very insensitive and very intolerant to a group of people who have always performed at Pride... No matter what, people will always view things differently... You are not going to not offend someone.
Gay people are such easy targets for the right wing fundamentalists. And gay Christians are easy targets for gay people to attack. It is not EMCC's fault that the Bible has been misinterpreted. How the heck are you going to know about and celebrate the difference in the gay community if we are not allowed to share them?
To the Editors:
Sarah
In this day of persecution by religious straight people, I was glad to see Christian gay people there and performing. Seeing them was what made me look around to find their table. Although it was in a somewhat isolated section out of the way, I found it. I have struggled with my religious convictions as others have, so EMCC was like a little oasis in the midst of all those Jerry Falwells and Pat Robertsons. Keep up the good work, EMCC. I am proud, I was proud and you should be too. Take courage, it's those from within that do the most damage. Sherry M.
(I am still working on coming out more)
To the Editors:
The day the different organizations are told they can't represent what they are all about and what pride means in their lives, is the day I will stop going.
Sally
the rest of my name is confidential
To the Editors:
I would like to know why Doreen Cudnik complained about EMCC but said nothing about the emcee who took credit for the weather. Why was it all right for her to say that, she being a witch? Wasn't that a religious activity of faith she proclaimed? Or is
it that all other forms of religious activity is okay as long as it does not remind us of church and those who use the Bible against us. I say no one should be subjected to favoritism.
To the Editors:
Sandy Aron
I don't agree... that Emmanuel MCC was insensitive. Nor do I agree that what was spoken and sung was inappropriate. Pride is the celebration of gay people and their right to be proud. We at Emmanuel are proud of the fight we have won to believe in our faith wholeheartedly and express it as gay people. On stage, EMCC disagreed with the persecution tactics of the fundamentalists or the right wing Christians. A song was sung about "marching to victory with power in our hands." Yes, it was flavored with God in it, but that is because our faith is so deeply a part of us that we could not deny being Christian any more than we could deny being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. We have fought hard to maintain our integrity and dignity in a world where we are constantly being attacked. We too are deserving of tolerance...No matter what, we can not please everyone.
We at Emmanuel certainly do not want to offend anyone, but we realize that the nature of our faith is such that it will offend someone no matter what. When that happens, come talk to us.
To the Editors:
Terry Heiman
I want to tell you what offended me: Country Dancers going on and on, and people into witchcraft taking credit for the weather. I am a Christian who has dealt with guilt for a large portion of my life, and I was proud to see Trilogy entertain. Doreen's letter to me was saying "shut-up, you have no right, you should be seen not heard." Well, I'm glad they were heard. After all, it is called "Pride."
To the Editors:
Mary Ann A.
You know, no one can take away our pride. That is what it is all about... gay people involved in many very diverse activities. No one is going to totally agree with others. But this is Pride, we're hearing, seeing what the other is all about. It is like the showcase of our community, I want to see it all. Something that may strike me as ridiculous may have struck someone else as meaningful, so I say EMCC, get out there and show yourself... Don't let anyone tell you that you have no right to express yourself, 'cause if you do, then who is next? Jeff Styckius
To the Editors:
I, for one, don't agree with what Doreen Cudnik wrote about the religious music from EMCC being inappropriate & insensitive... Just because the straight community is using the bible wrongly against us, does not mean that those of the Christian persuasion should be kept silent. Sure, I could have searched through the crowds & come upon their table. But hearing Trilogy on stage let me know where they were coming from... They said they disagreed with Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell... I heard them share an example of the music at EMCC. I didn't mind it at all.
I'm glad there are religious groups out there checking & studying those scriptures used against us. They are proving that the scripture is used wrongly.
Charles S.
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