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

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: 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: 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.

By: Eddy

Eddy — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:54:21 +0000

Adding to that, I believe that identity is formed through our primary sources. As Teresa aptly described it, a person’s world of comparison consisted of their family, neighbors, and church. As we industrialized, it included work to a greater degree than previously. She left out my personal ‘biggie’ though…the media. By virtue of television, examples of what it meant to be a man, a woman, a girl, a boy, a family…those were all dispensed to us in captivating daily doses to the point that for many of us, they exceeded the daily doses that we received from all the other sources combined.
Little Johnny or Suzie processes a lot more information that may impact their sense of self…their identity…from watching an hour of television than they do from an hour of some childhood activity. Magnify that to the real hours most spend and factor in all the other media outlets that teach us what’s hot, what’s not, what’s expected, what isn’t. I strongly feel that, for most, the media is the primary contributor to any sense of identity and yet most of us simply take it for granted and view it as ‘passive entertainment’.

By: Jayhuck

Jayhuck — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:54:21 +0000

Ann,

I would venture to say that most people’s understanding of a homosexual is not a woman who holds her religion and faith dear to her and uses critical thought about this subject rather than rationalize it, and lives her life as a chaste woman because her faith and religion is of more value than human desire. Am I right?

The only thing I have a problem with is this paragraph. It sounds like you’re saying that a homosexual woman cannot hold her religion and faith dear to her? Is that what you meant? Just trying to clarify. Thanks

By: Teresa

Teresa — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:54:21 +0000

It sounds like you’re saying that a homosexual woman cannot hold her religion and faith dear to her? Is that what you meant?

Jayhuck, not meaning to step on any answer Ann should give; I believe she meant, most people think that a Christian Homosexual woman is an oxymoron, in fact that person doesn’t exist for them. I’m sure Ann believes that homosexual women can be Christian and take their Faith very seriously. I’m sure that’s what she thinks about me.
At least, that’s how understood her question.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:22:52 +0000

Interesting article from today’s Daily Monitor (the main ‘non-censored’ UG daily): http://www.monitor.co.ug/LifeStyle/Relationships/-/691230/1165790/-/dqgdfm/-/index.html

By: Teresa

Teresa — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:22:52 +0000

I might lose my faith, or deny acting out on my impulses. Or I might reinterpret my faith and live out my attractions.

Thank you, David, for your candid honesty. It is a bit of a pickle, isn’t it?