New Survey: Anti-Gay Bigotry of Churches Is Alienating The Millennial Generation

I've noted before that the stridency and anti-gay hysteria of the anti-gay Christian Right is likely to increase as the generational shifts make it more and more evident that the Christianists are losing the larger culture war against LGBT Americans. The other trend is that the Public Religion Research Institute found via a new study is that as the Christian Right becomes more strident in its anti-gay jihad, Millennials by a 7 out of 10 majority agree that religious groups are alienating young people from religion and Christianity. In short, those who wear their religion on their sleeves incessantly and make a mockery of the true Gospel message are turning those between 18 and 29 to reject religion - or at least organized religion - because of its obvious hate and mockery of true the supposed true Christian message as enunciated by Christ according to the Gospels. One can only hope that those who hold themselves out as the protectors of Christianity will lead to its death -or at least the virulent form promoted by the Christianists. Here are some of the survey findings:

The Millennial generation (age 18 to 29) is transforming the landscape on gay and lesbian issues in American religion, politics and society, the Millennials, Religion & Gay and Lesbian Issues Survey finds. There is at least a 20-point generation gap between Millennials and seniors (age 65 and older) on every public policy measure in the survey concerning rights for gay and lesbian people - a trend that persist even among conservative political and religious groups such as Republicans and white evangelical Protestants.

The generation gap in support for same-sex marriage is striking and persists even among conservative political and religious groups.

Nearly half (49%) of Republican Millennials favor allowing gay and lesbian people to marry, compared to only 19% of Republican seniors and less than one-third (31%) of all Republicans. Forty-four percent of white evangelical Millennials favor allowing gay and lesbian people to marry, compared to only 12% of evangelical seniors and 19% of evangelicals overall.

There is broad acceptance of same-sex relationships in society and Americans are comfortable with gay and lesbian people in a variety of public professions.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans agree that gay and lesbian relationships should be accepted by society, including majorities of all major religious groups except white evangelicals.

Americans are comfortable with gay and lesbian people serving in a variety of public roles in society, including as a law enforcement officer (75%), a doctor (71%), a judge (70%), a high school teacher (63%), an elementary school teacher (61%), and a clergy person (56%).

Most Americans believe it is difficult to live openly as a gay or lesbian person, but twice as many Americans believe more gay and lesbian people “coming out” is a good thing rather than a bad thing for American society.

More than 6-in-10 Americans believe that negative messages from America’s places of worship contribute either a lot (23%) or a little (40%) to higher rates of suicide among gay and lesbian youth.

Among religious groups, 73% of non-Christian affiliated, 64% of Catholics, 60% of black Protestants, 59% of white mainline Protestants, and 51% of white evangelical Protestants say places of worship contribute either a lot or a little to higher rates of suicide among gay and lesbian youth.

The full report can be found here. Over all, the results are very bad news for professional Christians and purveyors of hate like Maggie Gallagher, Tony Perkins and Benedict XVI.

Obama Throws Gay Relationships Under the Bus Yet Again

Yesterday, Barack Obama - the Follower in Chief - addressed gay marriage at a White House press conference and then disingenuously held a Pride reception at the White House. Obama's message to LGBT citizens like me and the boyfriend in states hostile to any form of LGBT equality is basically - "o f*ck yourself, I'm fine with discrimination on a state by state basis." I find it pretty sad when the issue of whether or not one has the full rights of a United States citizen depends on what state one lives in. In Washington, D.C., or soon on July 25, 2011, in New York, LGBT citizens have far more equality than in backwater states such as Virginia. And according to Obama, we're supposed to believe it's just fine that we are 4th class citizens. Has the man heard of the U.S. Constitution and concepts such as equal protection and freedom of religion? Obama can fluff up his list of "accomplishments" for the LGBT community all he wants, but since I live in a state where LGBT citizens can be fired at will, can be openly discriminated in housing and are afforded ZERO legal recognition of their committed relationships, I am NOT impressed. Obama needs to grow a spine and get his head out of his ass. Here are highlights from The Advocate on this latest betrayal:
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President Barack Obama did not directly address a question during Wednesday’s news conference on whether marriage is a civil right, referring instead to his track record on LGBT issues and his support for states to decide the issue.
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The president enumerated LGBT accomplishments under his administration, including hate-crimes legislation, signing repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” (which remains in effect pending certification), and his decision to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal court challenges against the 1996 law. “And so we’ve said we cannot defend the federal government poking its nose" into what states decide, he said. DOMA, he reiterated, is unconstitutional, his Justice Department has concluded.
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However, the president noted, “What I’ve seen happen over the last several years, and what happened in New York last week, was a good thing. What you saw was the people of New York having a debate, talking through these issues; it was contentious, it was emotional, but ultimately they made a decision to recognize civil marriages. And I think that’s exactly how things should work. And so I think it’s important for us to work through these issues, because each community is going to be different and each state is going to be different to work through them.”
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So there you have it. If I want to be more than a 4th class citizen, I'm supposed to move to another, friendlier state. For those who cannot move, they are simply screwed. And I'm supposed to happily support this man? I don't think so!

University of Virginia Department of Psychology Seeking Gay Couples for Study

I received an e-mail from Cristina Reitz-Krueger, a Doctoral Student at the University of Virginia (my Alma mater),asking me to do a post on a research project that she is working on. She is seeking engaged LGBT couples who are planning to marry or enter into a committed domestic partnership. To participate in the study, one must be: Between 20-35 years of age and you and your romantic partner must: Live in the United States at least 50% of the time; Not currently be parents; and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony for the first time within the next 365 days. Here is the text that I was asked to publish:
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Engaged volunteers needed!
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I am looking for volunteers for a study of attitudes towards marriage and parenthood among engaged couples. The study consists of a 25-30 minute online survey. To qualify for the study, you must be 20-35 years old, live in the U.S., and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony within the next 365 days. You and your romantic partner must not have children, and this must be the first marriage for both of you.
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You can:
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-Help a doctoral candidate;
-Increase the pool of scientific knowledge;
-Support research on marriage and families; and
-Spend some time thinking about your relationship!
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I am working with Dr. Charlotte J. Patterson, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. This study has been approved by the University of Virginia Institutional Review Board #2009025800.
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If you and/or your romantic partner are interested in participating or want further information, please email me at survey.couples@gmail.com. I will send you a link that you can use to access the study.
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I hope that readers who meet the stated criteria will help Christina out. Sadly, the boyfriend and I do not meet the age limit and I have children - although we might well get married within the next 365 days. :)

Why the Lack of Employment Non-Discrimination Protections Harms Virginia

With some regularity I receive inquiries from GLBT individuals who are contemplating a possible move to Virginia - either due to a job transfer or a perceived job opportunity. The two questions that come up time and time again relate to (1) what employment protections, if any exist for LGBT employees and (2) whether same sex relationships receive any state recognition whatsoever. The answer, of course is that there are ZERO employment non-discrimination protections for LGBT citizens in Virginia and that our relationships receive no recognition whatsoever. Indeed, because of the "Marriage Amendment" passed in 2006, same sex partners are strangers to each other Virginia law unless appropriate estate planning and powers of attorney have been put in place. Today I received another inquiry from an out of state resident contemplating a possible job transfer to Virginia. Here's a redacted version of the e-mail inquiry:

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Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:12 PM

To: Mike Hamar

Subject: Question regarding non-discrimination case law in Virginia

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Mr. Hamar and staff Aloha!

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My name is_____; I'm currently employed in Hawaii with__________. My Principal is considering transferring me to a position in Norfolk, but I have concerns with the lack of comprehensive employment non-discrimination law in Virginia. My HR forum chair in Virginia sent me to the Equality Virginia website, which had a link to your firm.

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My question to you is, despite there being no such workplace discrimination statute in Virginia, do you know of any case law in your state which has held a wrongful termination in violation of a company's non-discrimination policy as breach of contract and liable for damages? I researched through Lexis Nexis, but no longer have access to Westlaw, and my experience and knowledge as a paralegal is focused in Hawaii.

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I've already experienced workplace discrimination due to my sexual orientation in the face of both a corporate anti-discrimination policy and a comprehensive state statute (HRS 378). Only the threat of a very public lawsuit kept me my job. A state with no such statute, and no precedent for liability based on breach of contract means no protections whatsoever. Do you have readily available information concerning this issue? Thank you very much for your time.
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Warm regards, Honolulu, HI

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I have already advised the writer that no statutory protections exist. I am researching the issue of any supportive case law, but doubt that any exists. American citizens should not have to live this way, but such is life in the Old Dominion - and it will only get worse if Taliban Bob McDonnell and Ken "I'm a Kook" Cuccinelli get elected next week. Here's the message that I sent to a reporter at the Virginian Pilot who covers GLBT issues, if you will, concerning today's legal issue inquiry when I forwarded him the redacted message that I had received:

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I received this e-mail which shows that Virginia’s lack of non-discrimination protections is a deterrent to LGBT employees wanting to come to Virginia. I have edited out the sender’s name, but I DO get questions like this regularly. Typically, I tell them that they are better off NOT moving to Virginia if they have a comparable job opportunity in a more gay friendly state.

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Bob McDonnell, are you listening??? Bigotry does not help make one a "jobs governor."

ELCA Churchwide Assembly - 4th Update

UPDATED: Only one resolutions remains to be voted on. The following tree resolutions have been passed in the affirmative:

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1. Step one asks the assembly whether, in principle, this church is committed to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.
2. Step two asks the assembly whether, in principle, this church is committed to finding a way for people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as professional leaders of this church.
3. Step three asks this church whether, in the future implementation of these commitments, it will make decisions so that all in this church bear the burdens of the other, and respect the bound consciences of all.

The ELCA has taken the first steps to implement the social statement on human sexuality adopted earlier in the week by a two thirds vote. These first steps encourage:

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Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have been asked to implement the newly adopted social statement on human sexuality by continuing the study of sexuality, assist members to welcome people who are gay and lesbians, encourage comprehensive sex education programs in public schools, support the church’s work to combat HIV/AIDS and to take the “spirit of this statement” into all appropriate activities.

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The resolutions also asked the ELCA’s Board of Pensions to amend its benefit policies to bring them in line with the social statement, presumably to provide benefits for partners of ELCA employees who are in same-gender relationships.

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With respect to the issue of clergy in partnered same sex relationships, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly has also moved closer to approving partner clergy in committed same sex relationships with one more vote yet to go. Highlights on this issue to date are as follows:

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Voting members of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are in the middle of taking steps to make it possible for the Lutherans in same-gender relationships to serve as professional leaders in the denomination. . . . A majority vote is required to pass each of the four resolutions. With a 771-230 vote, the assembly amended and approved a resolution that states "that in the implementation of any resolutions on ministry policies, the ELCA commit itself to bear one another's burdens, love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all." With a 619-402 vote, the assembly approved a second resolution that commits the ELCA "to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountably life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships." Prior to considering the two resolutions, voting members defeated a "substitute" motion with a 344-670 vote to strike out all four resolutions and replace it with the following: "rostered leadership of this church who are homosexual in their self understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relations and practicing homosexual persons are precluded from rostered leadership in this church."

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During the afternoon plenary, voting members will consider the two remaining resolutions -- that the denomination find a way for Lutherans in same-sex relationships to serve as ordained ministers and other professional leadership roles in the church, and that the denomination consider a proposal for how it will exercise flexibility within existing structures and practices to allow for Lutherans in same-sex relations to be approved for professional service in the church.

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I continue to hope that the ELCA will do the right thing and approve both of the remaining resolutions.