By: Candace Chellew
"You see them come out in force when they think a lesbian is going to come out on television, the preachers come out then. Y'know, something like this happens, where are they?"Ellen Degeneres
at a Capitol Hill vigil for Matthew Shepard, Oct. 14.At a recent vigil for Matthew Shepard in Washington, D.C., Degeneres made a good point. Where are the preachers?
When she was about to come out on her television show, preachers were lined up to talk about it. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and all the other right-wing Bible thumpers were racking up face time on talk show after talk show, decrying her bravery as "promoting homosexuality" and calling her names like "degenerate." Now, when a young man, 21 years old, loses his life to the brutality that these men create with their talk of a war against the "homosexual agenda" where are they? They are strangely silent.
Just a romp through their websites shows they are not concerned over the life of one homosexual. Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network site is littered with stories about the Y2K problem, and the Christian perspective on Halloween. The Family Research Council and the American Family Association talk about homosexuality all right, but their party line is compassion, support and "healing for homosexuals who want to change their orientation."
That sends a not so subtle message that Shepard got what he deserved. He didn't have to be gay, they tell us and the rest of America, he could have been a heterosexual if he'd just had enough faith. It's lies and hypocrisy. These people will prattle on all day about being pro-life, until the life of a homosexual is taken. Then they pontificate about how it could have been avoided, if the person had just not been homosexual.
I agree with them it could have been avoided. They could have been the ones to prevent the death of Matthew Shepard. His senseless torture and murder could have been avoided if these people had been spreading a truly Christian message: we are all God's children, and God weeps when evil is done to any of God's children be they gay, straight, bisexual or transgendered. God weeps for Matthew, and God weeps for the continued evil these so-called Christians perpetrate on our community with their hateful words and their lies about change.
But DeGeneres' plea hits home in the gay community, too. At the vigil on the Capitol steps, I saw not one preacher from the gay community. It's my turn to ask: Where are the preachers? Where are our defenders from the pulpit?
I see two answers to this question. First, there is an understandable aversion to religion and religious types among gays and lesbians. The religious right has so co-opted Christianity that most gays and lesbians have given up their faith all together. Those of us who cling to our faith, despite the odds, are often objects of ridicule within our own community. It's a hard row to hoe being rejected both in and out of the gay community. This disregard of Christianity within the gay community often leads to gay and lesbian, or pro gay and lesbian preachers, being overlooked when vigils, or protests are organized.
I plead with the gay and lesbian community, don't leave us out! We are a valuable asset to the community. We speak in a language the Religious Right understands. We know the words that will speak to the hearts and minds of the religiously minded in America and around the world. We are a valuable asset to you in the fight for civil rights. Remember us when you organize rallies and vigils! Use the gay and lesbian preachers among you, let us be a valuable tool in the arsenal against hatred and oppression!
The second answer to the question goes hand in hand with the first. Since we are so often overlooked by the gay community at large, we in the gay and lesbian religious world become complacent. We don't speak up and ask to be included in rallies and vigils. We are often too afraid ourselves of being rejected, or passed over, or not taken seriously when we ask to play a role.
I ask the gay and lesbian civil rights leaders to remember us when you need speakers, and I ask gay and lesbian pastors and religious folk to speak up when the time comes. We must let our voices be heard too.
Working together we'll never hear another person ask from the podium: "Where are the preachers?" We're here, and we're ready to be heard.
This editorial first appeared in Southern Voice in October 22, 1998, issue.
Here is an email address for anyone wishing to send Matthew and his family a message:
Here is the fund set up in his name:
Matthew Shepard Fund (#1926083)
c/o 1st National Bank
Box 578
Fort Collins, CO 80522For more information and an archive of news articles and essays visit:
Matthew Shepard Online Resources