This month my testimony of surviving a physical assault, when I was gay identified, was printed in the Exodus Impact. I have attached the testimony to this post so if interested, you can download (It is an Adobe file. You can get the free reader here.)
In addition I wrote the following for the newsletter:
In this edition of the Impact you have read my testimony of facing true hatred and paying a heavy price for being openly gay identified. I will never forget the night I was attacked. I have forgiven my attackers and received healing for those memories. Today, I remember that pain and allow it to empower a passion to stop true violence against gay-identified people.
Most Senators and Conservative Christian groups on Capital Hill have read this testimony. When Alan and I have visit with Senators and staff, we state directly that while we oppose bad public policy on a national level, we know that pockets of true homophobia still exist. Each time we visit an office, our team was very clear that we do not condone violence. If there was any way possible we would take the attack personally rather than allowing our gay loved ones to suffer.
However, mandating on a federal level that some people deserve more justice than others is a terrible public policy move that undermines the heart and spirit of true civil rights. A federal policy will not make the difference in every corner of the nation. What will is bold leadership of Congressional men and women, and local leadership having community wide dialogs. They can lead by creating a forum of respected pro-gay activists, pastors and former homosexuals to assess the state of homosexual concerns for their area. This forum can more effectively address the concerns of each community’s own issues and ways to increase greater civility and respect for all persons in each community. It is my prayer that true tolerance for everyone, including former homosexuals, will be fostered in these gatherings.
Leaders addressing their spheres of influence at the point of need will do much more good for their community than a national policy that threatens the civil liberties of one group in the name of protecting the same for another.
Let us show our gay identified neighbors and community that we love them: being honest that small pockets of hatred can and do exist; and initiating dialog and speak against evil directed toward the gay identified community. We should not let our good hearts and good intentions lead us to pass bad public policy.
The Following was added as a highlighted statement in the newsletter:
Our team does not condone violence. If there was any way possible, we would take the attack personally rather than allowing our gay loved ones to suffer.
Mandating on a federal level that some people deserve more justice than others is a terrible public policy move that undermines the heart and spirit of true civil rights. What will make a difference are bold Senators, House Representatives and local leadership having community wide dialogs; creating a forum joining respected pro-gay activists, pastors and former homosexuals to assess the state of homosexual concerns for their area, each community assessing what they believe to be important issues and ways to increase greater civility and respect for all persons in each community. It is our prayer that true tolerance for everyone, including former homosexuals, will be fostered in these gatherings.
Every person deserves civility and dignity. All violence is hatred. Let us initiate dialog and speak against evil directed toward the gay identified community. At the same time, let us not let our good hearts and good intentions lead us to pass bad public policy.
Some of you who regularly read this blog go silent when I post stuff of this nature. I want to encourage you to add your comments. You don't have to engage those who don't particularly care for my point of view :).
Download HateCrimes.pdf Need help reading it? Get the free Adobe Reader here.
Technorati Tags: Christianity, Community, Current Affairs, homosexuality, Hate Crimes
Yes, some people are assaulted because they are fat, or homeless, or black, or female, or drunk, or sober, or just in the wrong place at the wrong time. All these assaults are immoral and all are already illegal.
Why should gay people be treated as more special than these victims? Is bullying a kid because he is fat somehow less heinous than because he is gay? That's the message you will be sending, if gays are granted special protection that fat/skinny/ugly/weak kids are not.
Posted by: Marty | Sunday, May 07, 2006 at 08:01 PM