Sunday Drive: Leviticus Law Library

Leviticus 18 and 20

Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 20: 13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Both of these verses seem like straightforward condemnations against any homosexual behavior. However, we need to consider what was happening in the world of the Israelites at the time these rules were issued. The book of Leviticus is a series of rules for the Israelite priesthood and laity to ensure ritual purity. Elsewhere in this book we find listings of ‘unclean’ foods, requirements for priestly vestments (no blended fibers), and requirements for males to cleanse oneself after incidental contact with women who are having their menstrual period. No one makes the argument that these laws have any application today; in fact, the arguments for rejecting these laws are often based on their historical and religious context.

In the case of the verses quoted above, let’s look at the historical and religious contexts. The laws presented in chapters 18 and 20 are meant to prevent the Israelites from doing what the Egyptians and the Canaanites did.

What did the Canaanites do?

Friday News Roundup

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  Santa Claus comes out and Focus on the Anus is not amused. GLSEN is using the play about Santa's "heartfelt struggle to reconcile his relationship with Italian toymaker Giovanni Geppetto" as a fundraising tool. FOTA is objecting that it sexualizes Santa and "perverts the innocence of Christmas." My take:
  
  • It's about time! There have been reports of his exploits for years in various gay and straight magazines—sordid tales of "My night with Santa" and such. (j/k)
    
  • This is also another double standard thing. Eartha Kitt can sing "Santa, Baby", and it's fine. A little child sings "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and they have no problem. Change the lyrics to "I Saw Daddy" and then they have a problem.
    
  
  
• Roman Culture of Death—Father Geoff Farrow has some thought provoking insight into just how much the Catholic Church's influence is affecting the culture that then creates anti-LGBT laws.
  
• In the "You can't make this stuff up Department": In the movie Bruno, Sascha Baron-Cohen dupes various people into being in sketches and skits in the movie. One of them was a pastor who urged Cohen-as-Bruno to convert and become an "ex-gay". Now, that pastor is running for mayor in Birmingham, Alabama.
  
• In November, a Houston, TX student was brutally beaten for being gay after getting off his school bus. The student had asked his assistant principal and his bus driver for assistance because previously other students threatened him, saying they were going to "beat the gayness out of him". After the bus driver and principal failed to respond appropriately, he was beaten anyway. The bus driver has now been fired, and the principal is still under investigation.
  
• Priest abuse victims want an investigation of the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, while there have been multiple reports indicating the Church's negligence, prosecutors are unable to bring charges, often because of statutes of limitations. I would like to see a systematic investigation of the Church, but unfortunately, it looks like change will have to come from the inside. (h/t http://queeringthechurch.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/preventing-the-cover-ups/)
  
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  Bilerico:
  
  • Who decides LGBT strategy? It's an interesting and thought provoking question. One recommendation I will make is that we decide on a strategy and make it work. That's part of how the right-wing nuts have been so successful. Their success politically is the fruit that came from the seeds of the "Moral Majority" and the "Christian Coalition". It is shameful that my rights have to be put to a vote, but since they are, by God, I'm going to fight.
    
  • Congress to Gays: "LA-LA-LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Dr. Jillian Weiss writes about ENDA. I think she may have a point.
    
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    Parents can't opt their kids out of Alameda Diversity Curriculum. Last Spring, some conservatives were throwing a hissy fit because the Alameda School Board decided to adopt an LGBT-inclusive safe-school curriculum. Now a judge has ruled on a lawsuit by those parents, indicating that this does not fall under "Health education" and therefore, they cannot choose to take their kids out of the prgram. He also indicated that this would violate California's educational policy to provide equal rights and opportunities to all.
    
    The result would be that parents who object to instruction in tolerance of individuals or families of other races or of mixed races, of persons with disabilities, or of persons or families of other races, ethnicity, or religion, would have the right to have their children excused from instruction on those topics. This result could not have been contemplated by the Legislature, since it substantially hinders the ability of schools to implement California's policy under Education Code section 233 to provide equal rights and opportunities in public schools to all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, or religion.
    
    
    
    
  
  
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  I know I spend a lot of time discussing the Catholic Church. Part of it is that while there are other evangelical, fundamentalist 'movers and shakers' that are doing things that are just as nasty, the Church is extremely active in my area. One blanket criticism I can make, no matter what denomination, is that the loud Anitas will not let an open and honest debate. Case in point, the symposium sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis called "Understanding the Cultural and Legal Battle". Brian McNeill wrote an article for the Progressive Catholic Voice about it. One commonality I notice is that there seems to be an overlap in tactics, at least, between the religious conservatives and the political conservatives. Neither group in either arena will allow facts and honest discourse. They just obstruct anything until the consensus matches their prejudices.
  
  
  
  Wayne Besen of TruthWinsOut.org also has some commentary on how the Catholic church is blurring the line, and making it difficult for GLBT people and their supporters.
  
  

Using My Gay for Good

Thanks Michael!  Now if more people would A) listen to what you said, and B)come out!
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On Jobs and the Economy

The President's first year is almost up.  Mr. Obama has done some good things, but there are many miles to go yet.  One thing I think needs to be addressed is while Congress is concentrating on creating jobs and shoring up the economy, they should consider the implications of ENDA and repealing "Don't ask, Don't tell."

While neither bill creates jobs necessarily, they will have an economic impact.  By passing ENDA, various LGBT people will keep their job instead of losing it because of who they love or how their gender presentation.  Since those people will keep the jobs they have, the potential replacement job they would take is left open for another qualified candidate, reducing the competition, and giving someone else a chance.

Repealing DADT would have a multiple effect on the economy.  It would leave jobs open for civilians that a discharged servicemember would potentially take; it would save the money that the military that would use training a replacement for the discharged person, allowing it to be allocated for something else; and it would enlist some new recruits because a potential gay enlistee could serve openly.

I urge Congress to think about this.
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Thinking About the Marriage Equality Failures

It seems likethe meme all around the blogosphere over the past few days is the latest marriage equality failures in various states and the resolve to not let it keep happening.  For instance there is a vote coming up on it in New Hampshire scheduled sometime next week.  One thing I notice is just how many seemingly supportive politicians turn Benedict Arnold and stab their LGBT constituents in the back.  There are many candidates who raised money from the LGBT community, and traditionally LGBT donors have made a significant contribution to the Democratic party as a whole. 

While money doesn't buy a vote, people do give monetary support to the candidate that supports their causes.  I urge you to vote for and donate to the individual candidates who have actively done things to support the LGBT community, not groups like the Democratic National Committee, who will distribute your cash to multiple candidates, who may or may not support the issues you want. 

One of the biggest factors in the losses also seems to be support and voter turnout.  Our elected senators and representatives hear more from the Anitas, and therefore think that their message is the consensus among their constituents.  Write, call, email, or otherwise contact the Senators and representatives in your area, and ask for their support.  If they are supportive, thank them and urge them to keep fighting.  If they are not, lobby them and make a case why they should be supportive.  The Anitas get their message out because they've succesfully used fear to motivate their base.  While I dislike fearmongering, progressives need to mobilize their base as well.  If they're going to turn the volume up to 11, we need to turn it up to 13--making sure we counter their message appropriately with facts, and logic. 
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12-2-2009 News Roundup and Comments: NOM, Salvation Army, Ben Nelson, Uganda, Family Research Council, Rick Warren, and more

• Does DC have a God-Given Right to Vote on Marriage? According to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), (you know… Maggie Gallagher's Catholic/Mormon front group that used lies to squelch same-sex Marriage in Maine.), the citizens of Washington DC have a right to vote on marriage, which the DC council is blocking. (Via Towleroad)
  

  One of the things I find interesting is how circular the Anita's tactics are. When a court decision saying that denying same-sex marriage rights is illegal comes through, they call the judges "activists" and the judges are "legislating from the bench"; therefore, the legislators should be the ones to make a law-- (that is what happened in California). When the legislators (the peoples' duly elected representatives, by the way) do pass a law allowing same-sex marriage, they are trampling the peoples' right to vote. If a people's vote legalizes it, the Anita's challenge it in the courts. Round and Round it goes. Sometimes, it seems like they just want to wear the resistance down so anti-gay laws are passed through sheer fatigue. Why won't they see that no one is equal until EVERYONE is equal?
  

• Boycott the Salvation Army's Red Kettles and toy drives! Why, you ask?
  
  • They are extremely anti-gay and they have lobbied AGAINST the repeal of anti-gay laws in Scotland, arguing that homosexuality will harm children. John Aravosis @ AmericaBlog has a roundup.
    
  • They are also checking residency when they help a family and give the children toys. Whether this is an impromptu immigration check or not, I think it is horrible that they would end up saying "I'm sorry honey. Santa can't give you a toy because you don't live here." They also verify the immigration status of anyone who comes to the shelter.
    
  • There are plenty of other organizations out there that extend a hand to families that one can donate to, without supporting anti-gay policies or discrimination against undocumented immigrants. It's Christmas, for crying out loud!
    
• Ben Nelson is going to introduce a Stupak-style amendment in the Senate, and is threatening to filibuster if it is not adopted. Here we go again!
  
• Enlightened Catholic speaks about the Catholic Church's lack of response on Uganda. They have some interesting thoughts there. I urge you to check it out. Like the Enlightened Catholic, I too am amazed at how the Catholic Church preaches one thing and practices another. I would think that Uganda's proposed law would fall under the "treat homosexuals with dignity and respect" doctrine, but apparently, their position more closely resembles "the only good gay is a dead gay".
  
• Youngest, openly gay mayor elected in Campbell, CA. Woot! Way to Go! We've come a long way, but we've got a long way to go.
  
• Rick Warren is at it again. Now he's trying to say that he shouldn't have to state a position on Uganda because no one cared when "146,000 Christians were killed because of their faith." I agree with Alvin McEwen:
  

  The irony is that Warren is also a member of this same group who are always complaining about the erosion of Christian values in America.
  

  If this is true, all of them, especially Warren, should take a good look in the mirror before pointing fingers.
  

  I was always told that when you point a finger at someone, three point back at yourself.
  

• Family Research Council's stance is built on distortion. We knew that already. However, we need to hold their feet to the fire and let them know just how damaging their distortions are. Alvin also has a breakdown of how the FRC has distorted facts to make a case against LGBT equality.
  
• Joe Jervis @ Joe My God has a tweet of the day that I find interesting. NOM thinks that DC Councilman Tommy Wells' letter opposing reauthorizing the DC School voucher program is a punishment for needy children and the Catholic Church. In actuality, he's saying that DC voters should not pay for private schools that do not provide a decent or adequate education and taxpayers in Washington DC should not have to support schools that encourage discrimination.
  

  What Wells' letter says:
  

  We believe the program has placed too many District students in underperforming private schools and supports discriminatory employment practices at religious-based schools, in violation of the D.C. Human Rights Act. DCOSP provides vouchers for students to attend some schools that are seriously deficient. Specifically, these schools were not accredited or even in the process of becoming accredited, and employed teachers who had not graduated from college. According to a report by the General Accountability Office, these schools: "Did not meet basic requirements to operate in the District. For example, a few had no certificate of occupancy on file with the District or had certificates that did not specify educational use." We acknowledge that some of our publicly funded voucher students attend high-performing private schools. A small minority attend Sidwell Friends, St. Albans, and John Carroll High School. However, too many attend schools with fewer resources and lower standards than those of our public schools.
  

  I agree with Joe and with Councilman Wells. If you don't think public schools are doing an adequate job educating your children, pay for the schools with your own damn money, not my taxes!
  

• LGBT POV has an excellent article and interview about Harvey Milk's induction into the California Hall of Fame with his nephew, Stuart. "Ya gotta give 'em hope!"
  
• Humor Via MadPriest
  
  • Bishop Shaw's same-sex edict leads British couple into a life of vice
    
  • Health, Safety and Equality considerations for Christmas Carols
    
• Cardinal says gays 'will never go to heaven' To paraphrase from an earlier post: Until they own up to the pedophilia and abuse and start making efforts to clean house and handle it appropriately, the Catholic Church has lost all credibility in telling others what to do with their sexuality.
  
• New York Senate votes down gay marriage.
  
• Gay By nature, Part 2
  

  "All the biological and developmental evidence shows that homosexuality cannot be learned so teaching about same-sex relationships in schools cannot result in increases in homosexuality. You cannot learn homosexuality like you can learn maths! A certain amount of same-sex horseplay is common in adolescence but there is no evidence that is disproportionately results in adult homosexuality."
  

• UN AIDS opposes sodomy laws. Statement: Laws that criminalize groups and behaviours threaten to jeopardize universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support
  
• "Quis custodes custodiet?" is Latin for "Who is guarding the guards?" Terrence @ Queering the Church has an article up about how the Vatican ties into the pedophilia cover up in Dublin, the US and other places. It is worth noting that in the 35-page document from the Vatican's Holy Office he discusses there is no mention of any support or concern for the welfare of any victims complaining. It purely concentrates on the canon laws for dealing with complaints against priests.
  

Progressive Catholic has an Op-ed from the 12-2-2009 issue of the Irish times. Maureen Gaffney says the Church's view of sexuality is at the root of its troubles.

Tuesday News Roundup: World Aids Day, Washington DC Marriage equality bill, and more

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Today is World Aids Day. The 2009 theme is "Universal Access and Human Rights". According to the World Health Organization:

HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most significant public health challenges, particularly in developing countries.



Thanks to recent advances in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV is no longer a death sentence for many in developed countries. However, more than 5.5 million people in need of ART in low- and middle-income countries still have no access to treatment

An estimated 2 million people die every year from HIV/AIDS and its complications. The economic crisis has hurt many organizations, and cut funding for many programs. Please consider donating to your local Aids Charity if you are able, or click here to donate to the Minnesota Aids Project. Now on with the News:

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  Same Sex Marriage
  
  • Richard Cohen discusses Gay Marriage and the Manhattan Declaration in the Washington Post
    
  • Do you want to protect the sanctity of marriage? Don't ban same-sex marriages; Ban Divorce.
    
  • DC Council votes to approve marriage equality. Are they going to call Archbishop Wuerl's bluff?
    
  • New York may vote on Gay Marriage Bill today
    
  
  
• BBC: Are we getting complacent about AIDS?
  
• Rachel Maddow on Rick Warren, Uganda and their "Family" ties, Via Towleroad
  
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  World AIDS day
  
  • Presidential Proclamation
    
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    Minnesota Marks World AIDS day, via KARE11.
    

    A total of 8,819 Minnesota HIV/AIDS cases have been reported, including 2,976 people who have died, since AIDS tracking began in 1982 and HIV tracking began in 1985. An estimated 6,220 people are currently living with HIV in Minnesota. On average, the Minnesota Health Department received a new report of an HIV case every 27 hours in 2008.A total of 8,819 Minnesota HIV/AIDS cases have been reported, including 2,976 people who have died, since AIDS tracking began in 1982 and HIV tracking began in 1985. An estimated 6,220 people are currently living with HIV in Minnesota. On average, the Minnesota Health Department received a new report of an HIV case every 27 hours in 2008.

    
    
    
  • Advocate: World Aids Day Around the US
    
  
  
• A Right-wing 'go-to blogger 'has had enough of the lunacy from the teabaggers/birthers/fundie/nutjobs
  
• Protesters in St. Louis, MO protest outside the Catholic Basilica there to protest Diocese's donation to Maine's anti-gay "Yes on 1" campaign.
  
• Gay By Nature? Part 1
  
• PEPFAR funds being laundered to promote antigay and 'Ex-Gay' programs?