"The ideological rift in The City's gay community led to arrests
and bloodshed when police broke up a group of leftist demonstrators
at a fundraiser for the new San Francisco LGBT Community Center,"
reports
the San Francisco Examiner. According to the paper:
Sixty to 70 members of Gay Shame, a radical LGBT group that opposes the mainstreaming of the gay community, rallied outside the event. -- No matter who was to blame for the violence, it brings to the surface a simmering tension in The City's LGBT community, where politically moderate middle-class gays and more radicalized gays often are at odds on everything from homelessness policies to safe-sex issues.
Actually, the "politically moderate" of San Francisco would be considered extremely liberal in most other burgs. Only in comparison to the city's far left do they come off as centrists. Still, it was positive to see Supervisor Bevan Dufty, described by the Examiner as "a moderate gay politician," reflect that "It really seemed to me like I was in a parallel universe and I was watching a Fred Phelps demonstration."
As the nation moves in a more conservative (but not necessarily intolerant or anti-gay) direction, the hard left is becoming increasingly shrill. I expect that liberals will have to decide whether they can perpetuate coalition politics built on forming united fronts with these groups. Or whether the left will make demands that are so beyond the pale that they'll further marginalize themselves into cult-like political sects driven by anger and narcissism.
None So Blind...
In Grant Parish, Louisiana, some Christian ministers are up in
arms over their discovery of a rural retreat for gay men called
Manitou Woods. Reports
The Town Talk website:
"We have a good, quiet community. We certainly don't want that (camp) in our community," said the Rev. Eddie Douglas of First Baptist Church in Pollock. -- The Rev. Mike Malone of Victory Baptist Church in Pollock said he is organizing a prayer vigil on March 5, coming out against the camp and the lifestyle of its visitors. -- "If you don't say something, God will hold us all accountable for our actions," Malone said. "We're standing up for the word of God."
Skip Ward, 82, has operated the rustic camp since 1995. "We've
never really had any publicity for the camp around here because
many of the people who come to our gatherings are not from here,"
he said. Now, he's receiving hate mail. According to the news
story:
A local disc jockey, after using numerous sexually graphic references and expletives, wrote: "Basically, what I am saying is this 'homo-camp' you guys (and I use that term loosely) have put together is disgusting and immoral. I, nor 99 percent of my radio audience want to be, nor want our families and children to be, subject to this appalling display of filth." He ended the e-mail by saying the camp "will not happen."
He's a bit confused with his threat, of course, since the camp has been in business since 1995, with no negative impact on the community noted. But it's interesting how the good parsons' "hate the sin" exclusionary gospel so easily trickles down into the "hate the faggots" of the gutter bigots.
Not everyone is opposed, thankfully. Fran Demers, a spokeswoman
for the local Chamber of Commerce, said:
"If it brings people to Grant Parish and those people spend money, then that is good for the economy of the parish. We can't afford to arbitrarily say who can and can't open a business in our parish. If they conduct themselves in a manner that is community-minded, I believe people need to accept it."
Yes. capitalism is the real progressive force, and
always has been. But man does not live by bread alone, so not
giving up on the spiritual front remains vital. As the Rev. Jim
Reed of Colfax United Methodist Church told The Town
Talk:
"My personal belief is that God calls every person to be in fellowship with Him," Reed said. "And that fellowship is available to every person. Anyone who excludes (homosexuals) is missing the point of the Gospel."
Which is a point worth making.
Faith or Fundamentalism
On the subject of matters of the spirit, there's a very fine
letter
by Jay Michaelson in Gay City News. It's in response to
an
interview journalist Rex Wockner conducted with David Bianco,
the founder of the gay-press Q Syndicate, who announced he is
selling his remaining shares of the company, no longer identifies
as gay, and hopes to marry a woman because he has become an
observant Orthodox Jew. Michaelson responds to Bianco,
saying:
One of the most important teachings of Judaism is that everything is God. God is absolutely everywhere, here, now, in every moment, One. In loving relationships, of whatever configuration, God is especially, noticeably Present.
Let's hope love continues to win out over narrow fundamentalisms
of all stripes.
--Stephen H. Miller
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