As May approaches and Gay Pride season begins (at least on the West Coast with Long Beach’s festival), I’ve decided to post an essay/lecture I wrote several years ago. The essay offers another take on Gay Pride and celebrations- from one Same Gender Loving Christian’s perspective. Enjoy the kick off, the season, the celebrations, and love one another. Be safe, sane, spectacular!!!!
Confessions of how a Gay Christian of Color survives Gay Pride Season
As Gay Pride season begins to descend upon us, I’ve to pose the question: is there any reason to celebrate gay pride? As a gay Christian I figured I was as good an authority as any other gay activist to deliver commentary on the issue. While my days of “we’re here we’re queer!” on the frontlines of parades and throwing red paint upon shiny white churches I deemed homophobic are a good ten years behind me, many friends still consider me quite the rebel if not radical. This is certainly up for debate; however, what I have learned is there are various ways of demanding change and go about ensuring that this change takes place. While it is quite a liberating experience to yell, “hell no we won’t go” on the steps of West Hollywood’s city hall building with about 50 other same gender loving activist, it has been an equally rewarding experience liberating my mind and developing my own individuality/purpose for the cause. It has been enormously essential incorporating my spirituality and call to social activism. This has been a long and rewarding thought process of revision, resistance, and rejuvenation.
Revisions
1. Our self-debasing, adherence to the role of victim, other, or minority! In the area of human sexuality we are all apart of the majority. As we adopt the human created notions of divided sexual orientations- heterosexual and homosexual, we perceive ourselves as divided, majority vs. minority, normal vs. abnormal, natural vs. unnatural. Division/classification is a tool of dominant groups to maintain dominance. In the area of human sexuality we are more alike than we are different and the only thing that separates us is the gender of the individual with whom we express our god given sexuality with. Let’s not forget when Moses had his encounter with the burning bush in the story of the Exodus and expressed his doubts about leading his people, what did the bush say? “tell them I am who I am’ sent you.” the first name for god in the Scriptures: I AM WHO I AM.”
We aren’t victims. We are participants within a struggle against systematic heterosexism and dominance. As participants within this dance of dominance we must learn to lead! A friend of mine in responding to the old saying, “the meek will inherit the earth,” replied, “yes, but who among them will be bold enough to claim it?”
As people living within an oppressive society we must accept that we have the potential (and responsibility) to liberate this society from the oppressive laws and institutions that govern it. This would include the church and the church culture many gay Christians exist in (I chose the word exist fore if you’re not fully self-actualized and open, I feel, you’re not living truly.) we have to be bold enough (authoritative, assertive, assured and yes even open enough) to do it. As gay Christians, in Jesus Christ, we have the ultimate authoritative, assertive, assured and yes, even open model to inspire us. Jesus was never in the closet regarding his identity and purpose. The creative encounter with the eunuch should open the eyes of even the most conservatively blind.
2. The authority and history of our culture of dominance (read: patriarchal, white, heteronormal, and privileged) legacy of dominance by our American elite in relations with oppressed populations has been at the least problematic and at worst brutal and bloodied. If one simply glimpses our timeline of encounters one is left with a picture of bloodshed; native Americans subject to systematic culturicide and genocide; African American slaves subject to lynching, torture, whippings; women suffragettes abused (physically and sexually) and incarcerated; and the physical assaults of gays before stonewall and after, etc. history illustrates any attempt at liberation and justice of an oppressed group is met with violence and resistance from the dominant group. The same thing happened with mosses and the organized Hebrews as they attempted to flee Egypt; they were met with the violence of the pharaoh. Was the death of Jesus as a political prisoner a passive event? Rather violent I would suggest. For many Protestants this “theology of the cross” - the violent death of Jesus lifting up the social sins of his day- remains a spiritual and theological reference point.
Christians (Gay, bi, or otherwise) must rebel against this country’s legacy of dominance and resist the dogma of our society. Our Christian heritage is a history of rebellion and liberation. We must discontinue the legacy set by our elitist forefathers of using the bible as a means of enslavement and oppression.
Resist
The dominant and sub-culture that aims to define who, what, how you are
Resist the extremes of any extremist group’s “agenda.” Groups that claim to speak/know the word of god and those so beaten by the Christian right that they fight their views with rebellious spirit of Jesus Christ whom fought against traditional Christian dogma. Jesus blazed a new path and now Gay Christians must continue to follow his lead.
However appealing a rebellious spirit may appear, question the foundation beneath that spirit. Often oppressed populations do more acting out rather than the hard work of actual action/reflection that leads to social transformation.
Shallow consumerism: an escapist driven, pleasure seeking society touches all groups regardless of ethnicity, class, cultures, and religious/spiritual affiliations of sub/dominant origin. Irresponsible (Read: exploitative, abusive, unsafe) sexual expressions cross all gender/sexual orientation lines and often manifests in celebratory events (such as Mardi gras, Spring break, sports celebrations and yes even Gay Pride events) in other words don’t get swept up in the euphoria of celebration, remain on firm ground.
Rejuvenate!
Celebrate! From an internal space that is genuine, human and divine. Remember that not only does our legacy include equal amounts of stonewall rebellion, pride festivals- past, present, future; Harvey Milk, James Baldwin, and Audre Lorde, as gay Christians our legacy also includes the “ol school” “OC” himself- the Original “Rebellious” Christ! The Christ who fought and indeed died for the liberation of humanity. We must never forget that we are indeed a part of the body of Christ.
While Jesus was mindful of fellowship, reflection, and ritual his gatherings were done for the purpose of rejuvenation and maintaining focus- again liberation (some may argue spreading of the good news of salvation, I contend salvation and liberation as equal.) Jesus’ words are meant to be followed by action. “take and eat, take and drink” are words that come from the ultimate celebration that brings Jesus into solidarity with all oppressed groups as they seek to remain strong and united when faced with betrayal and death.
Celebrate unity within oppression yet never waver from the “good news,” liberation from oppression.
Beautiful Black Men
