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Tikkun Magazine, July/August 2010, Online Exclusives
By Ann Craig
The late Mary Daly, Catholic lesbian feminist theologian, shook up the faith world in 1973 with her book, Beyond God the Father. Today, the wake-up call is to go beyond "God vs. gays." "God vs. gays" is a popular catch phrase representing the drive in religion and politics to position lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people outside the pale of any faith tradition—condemned by God and the righteous.
When journalists buy into the formula of God vs. gays, anti-LGBT people gain national platforms and pro-LGBT people of faith are ignored. Conservative religious voices become the "go-to" media voices on LGBT issues. People like James Dobson of Focus on the Family or Bishop Harry Jackson are pitted against LGBT equality advocates who may or may not be part of any faith tradition. But all of this is changing.
Over the last five years, national LGBT organizations have created religion and faith programs to impact public policies and religious traditions. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Human Rights Campaign (HRC), National Gay & Lesbian Taskforce (NGLTF) and the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), all established religion and faith programs.
These programs build on the decades of work by LGBT groups in denominations and faith traditions to change the climate around LGBT concerns. Through insightful analysis, expert spokespeople and effective media strategies, these programs are making a difference. When the Rev. Ed Bacon declared on Oprah that "Being gay is a gift from God," he represented the wake-up call that is happening because pro-LGBT faith leaders are speaking out and media is not automatically turning to anti-LGBT religious groups for commentary.
GLAAD helps real people share their stories through media. Whether it's the NGLTF Bishops and Elders Council saying "No" to Lou Engle, or producers of "Jihad for Love" getting interviews on Public Radio, or Jewish leaders getting out a press release saying, "Rabbis support LGBT welcome," or a United Methodist transgender minister telling his story on the CBS Early Show, GLAAD is doing its part to give the wake-up call to the world. It's no longer "God vs. gays," it is "God loves gays." "God loves LGBT people, our families and our friends."
These changing messages have a measurable impact. Last summer, Lutherans eliminated all bans against gay people. A nationwide Associated Press article led with a quote from Emily Eastwood, the head of Lutherans Concerned who said, "Today, I am proud to be a Lutheran..."
GLAAD helped amplify the wake-up call through Lutherans Concerned with media training, pitching, spokesperson training and on-site logistics. The wake-up stories continued as GLAAD helped garner media coverage when:
GLAAD's media work with these and other pro-LGBT faith groups help spokespersons gain confidence in their own voices. Clear talking points allow reporters to pick up their messages more accurately. Media strategies help stories that might not have seen the light of day receive nationwide coverage.
Today, people are going beyond "God vs. Gays" to wake up to the message that God loves everyone—including LGBT people—and that is making news!
Ann Craig is Director of Religion, Faith & Values at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
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