Comments on: American Psychiatric Association representatives issue statement against Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill

By: Teresa

Teresa — Wed, 30 May 2018 20:55:24 +0000

Why is sexual orientation (still not sure what that means to any given person) quite important to you? I certainly understand being a minority within a minority within a minority, however, I do not understand placing such an importance on it. What is it about your co-religionists that doesn’t leave you with the warm fuzzies? Their attitude toward homosexuality or you? The first I can understand (in a way), the second, I cannot.

Hi Ann,
I suspect my being homosexual takes on importance for me, Ann, only in so far as I may feel “less than”, not “good enough”, being “out not in”, “on guard” in relation to others. I own this as my own problem, not others, which I’m working on. However, often my perception of being “out not in” is correct; and, is not a skewed perception. There are those of my co-religionists, and not few in number, who definitely feel … they’re good, I’m bad … they’re right, I’m wrong … they’re in, I’m out.
So, it becomes important to me, Ann, when I feel I’m attacked in some way because I’m gay. I’m not left with the warm fuzzies when my co-religionists have a judgmental attitude toward homosexuality, which happens to include me.

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 30 May 2018 20:55:24 +0000

Richard Willmer,
As I have said often here – I really, really, really dislike labels that catagorize anyone’s totality by an assumed definition of that label. Just seeing how people here take issue to various definitions to these labels is a good example of why we need to be very careful. Thank you for your post and what it said – I agree.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 20:55:24 +0000

The notion that a person somehow ‘inferior’ simply because he/she is gay is, in my not-so-humble opinion, … well, silly. Fortunately, there are many parts of the Church that do not fall prey to this nonsense.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 20:55:24 +0000

@ Ann
I think you’ve hit on a very important point here about ‘terminology’. What people understand by the term ‘homosexuality’ varies enormously (both inside and outside the Church). There is a lot of ‘sloppy thinking’ (often driven by prejudice) around on this subject. People like Warren take great care with how they use terms, differentiating between ‘homosexual’ (adjective), ‘same-sex attraction’, ‘same-sex activity’ and ‘same-sex relationships’ – all of which terms carry, at the very least, different connotations.
I object profoundly to the use of the term ‘homosexual’ (noun) to describe a person. ‘Homosexual person’ has been generally substituted for ‘homosexual’ in Catholic dialectic, although ‘LGBT person’ is starting to be used now as well. I do use ‘gays’ as a short-hand to describe LGB people, but sometimes think I shouldn’t.
Transgendered-ness (itself a very broad term) is a completely different phenomenon; many transgendered persons are actually heterosexual with respect to the sex on their birth certificate, and many – in common with many gay men and lesbians – are in stable. committed and loving relationships.
Use of terminology is very important, as it shows the ‘thinking’ behind what is being said.

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 30 May 2018 20:55:24 +0000

Although, I’d say for me, sexual orientation is quite important. I know this may seem narcissistic; but, being a “minority within a minority within another minority”, doesn’t often leave me with a warm, fuzzy feeling for my co-religionists, whatever pickle their in.

Teresa,
Why is sexual orientation (still not sure what that means to any given person) quite important to you? I certainly understand being a minority within a minority within a minority, however, I do not understand placing such an importance on it. What is it about your co-religionists that doesn’t leave you with the warm fuzzies? Their attitude toward homosexuality or you? The first I can understand (in a way), the second, I cannot.