GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE MAY 3, 1996

COMMUNITY FORUM

Rabbis do officiate at same sex unions

To the Editors:

I am writing in response to Mubarak Dahir's recent "Speak Out" article in the April 19 edition of the Gay People's Chronicle. I write as a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis who was present at the recent convention, as the father of a lesbian, as vice president of P-FLAG Akron, and as a member of Chevrei Tikva Congregation of Cleveland.

The article ["Rabbis should practice what they preach"] caused me both concern and pain. Your analysis of the recent action taken by the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) was both misleading and incomplete. While it is true that the recent resolution calling for the legalization of same sex unions was confined to the civil arena, the reason makes all the difference in the world.

It has been assumed by the members of the CCAR that the report of the committee on human sexuality (due next year) would encompass the question of rabbinic officiation at same sex unions. No resolution was expected this year. The resolution that was presented (and overwhelmingly passed) was submitted because of the timely nature of the civil debate, and it was felt that the statement could not wait until the committee report. It was passed to be immediately helpful to those struggling with official recognition. The CCAR and the Union of American

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mittee. Those colleagues are both gay and straight. It is no longer difficult to find a rabbi comfortable with that action in most parts of the country. I am proud of the work done by the CCAR and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and expect that support for rabbis who officiate will be part of the committee report.

Rabbi David M. Horowitz Temple Israel Akron

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As minorities we all to often want to criticize instead of looking at the good side of anything. Why don't we try to say, "Look what we've done in the last 20 years"? Instead we complain bitterly about how terrible things are. Really, how many women or African American doctors and lawyers were there, 20 years ago? Mr. Dahir might be too young to know, but there are many of us out there that do know. Twenty years ago there were no role models for gays or lesbians to speak of. Religious groups wouldn't recog nize that we existed, except as living in

Hebrew Congregations have been on record Don't knock our friends mortal sin. While we don't have enough laws

as being supportive of gay rights since the mid 1970s. Since that time, resolutions calling for full equality for lesbi/gay individuals have included civil rights, rights in housing and employment (including synagogue employment), and the acceptance of gay congregations in the Union.

In 1990, the year my daughter came out, the CCAR approved a resolution that included openly gay people in ordination as rabbis. In the last six years we have distanced ourselves from the Boy Scouts of America (because of their homophobic stance) and have chosen to include the announcements of our colleagues' same sex unions in a manner that is equal to heterosexual marriages.

The work done by the CCAR should be applauded, not condemned. Many (I have no statistics) of my colleagues (including me) are quite willing to officiate at same sex marriages, even before the report of the com-

To the Editors:

In the April 19, 1996 issue, in the Speak Out column, Mubarak S. Dahir wrote a very negative article about Reform rabbis adopting a resolution calling for the right of gays and lesbians to share in the rights of civil marriage. He was critical that they don't "practice what they preach."

Mr. Dahir failed to take a few things into consideration. First, there are laws in this and every state prohibiting the “civil” ceremony of marriage to same sex couples. Second, some Reform rabbis have unofficially performed these rights without benefit of their state's laws backing them. What is most important here is the criticism towards the

to protect us from discrimination, we now have some laws and more being pressed into the books. Rabbis, ministers and priests wouldn't dare take a favorable attitude towards gays and lesbians a generation ago. Today they are talking.

Some so-called civilized societies in the Middle East still think homosexuals should be put to death or put in jail. Fortunately in the United States we have people like the Reform rabbis, and more who will fight for our rights. Start looking at the positive side of life and gradually the negatives will be eliminated.

Paul Zeitzew Cleveland

only major religious group who have openly Dems and the GOP

and strongly embraced gays and lesbians as people of value and not tried to ignore or put them down as sinners. I don't see this happening in any other major religion.

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are not the way

To the Editors:

The Third Annual Human Rights Campaign North Coast Dinner on April 13 was a great success, exceeding past attendance and fundraising records ["Metzenbaum electrifies 500 at Cleveland HRC fundraiser", April 19]. Despite the enthusiasm of those in attendance, the course charted by HRC is destined to disappoint. The emphasis on campaigning for "friendly" Democrats and Republicans is not the way forward for gays and lesbians.

The Chronicle reports former Senator Howard Metzenbaum gave a rousing speech on the need for gays and lesbians to join with other oppressed communities in support of all. Metzenbaum called on the audience to fight for the rights of all Americans, specifically citing immigrants, minorities and the poor.

It's a good message, but what is the record of Metzenbaum's party? We should think about this, because most candidates HRC will support will be Democrats.

How are Clinton and the Democrats supporting immigrants? Last year, the Clinton administration built a ten-foot-high steel fence along 24 miles of the California border and into the Pacific Ocean. An additional $4 million is earmarked for fencing near San Diego. Clinton has doubled the number of INS inspectors looking for undocumented workers and has stepped up harassment and arrests. 4,000 were arrested last summer in a sweep across six southeastern states. A new immigration bill with wide bipartisan support will increase the Border Patrol by 1,000 each year for the next five years.

How are Clinton and the Democrats supporting the poor? The White House has called for a $100 billion cut in Medicare-and endorsed more than $600 billion in social service cuts over the next seven years. In

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Correction

In the April 19 issue, our typographical error changed a number in a letter written by Gretchen G. Kelly. A phrase near the end should have read, "CATF having just announced raising $300,000 from Art for Life..."

September, Clinton endorsed a Senate bill to rescind Aid to Families with Dependent Children. He's also proposed a five-year limit on eligibility for welfare.

How are Clinton and the Democrats supporting minorities? In addition to the above, Clinton is attacking affirmative action. While claiming to support it, Clinton has called for a review of affirmative action to seek out "unfair" programs. He also opposes quotas, the only effective tool to make affirmative action work.

And, finally, what about us? How are Clinton and the Democrats supporting gays and lesbians? The Clinton administration continues to push "don't ask, don't tell.” Harassment and expulsions of gay and lesbian service members have actually increased under this administration! Clinton opposes gay marriage rights. Most telling of all, the Clinton administration refused to support us in the Colorado case now before the U.S. Supreme Court. And finally, let's not forget all those rubber gloves at the White House.

Clinton and the Democrats offer no solution for gays and lesbians. They offer no solution for working people fighting against layoffs and downsizing.

They offer no solution for women, minorities or immigrant workers. Clinton and the Democrats, together with the Republicans, are obstacles to a solution. Both parties

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