When did it become an item of faith that gays are sworn enemies of Christianity? I’m not just talking about anti-gay people; these days questions like “What do homosexuals expect from me, a Christian?” seem perfectly valid to everyone. Some Christians prescribe witnessing “God’s love” to homosexuals (ugh, that word) as if their own churches aren’t full of gays every Sunday. Sure, there are arguments about the Christian Bible’s stance against homosexuality, but it’s never been a main tennet of the religion until now. For some reason, I think Anita Bryant started this whole thing, but I have a feeling I’m extremely ignorant about it.
You might want to look at some of John Shelby Spong’s writings for a liberal cleric’s perspective on homophobia in the Christian Church. His book, Living in Sin, deals specifically with such topics.
It would take a lengthy post with a lot of historical documentation to come up with an answer, but the bottom line is that when gays attempted to come out and assert their self-worth and right to live their lives as they pleased, much of Christianity took it as a slap in the face against their teachings about ethical behavior (which are, interestingly, based in the legal paradigm which Jesus Himself condemned).
Anita was one early campaigner on the anti-gay side, using her celebrity in support of a stance she believed in – and therefore got a lot more press than other events of the time and before. And it was only about that time that gay people actually began seeking out public affirmation of their rights. I suspect one of our gay members who is more learned than I in the history of the gay rights movement can give much fuller details.
Didn’t Anita Bryant later turn around and say she regrets her earlier campaigns?
Guin, I’ve been doing some searches on that and have been coming up rather empty-handed – do you know where you heard about Anita Bryant and regretting her earlier campaigns?
I believe Anita Bryant successfully spearheaded the first non-government run campaign of homophobia. She used both religious and secular arguments in her attempts to repeal Florida’s anti-discrimination law. It is from her, primarily, that we first see the following concepts develop
- “Gay people cannot reproduce, so they must recruit”
- “Think of the children!”
Both have lingered since then, and are proving rather die-hard even in the face of real evidence. But they are dying, as evidenced by the recent turn to “Equal rights, not special rights” as a slogan for the anti-gay campaigns.
However, I would say she didn’t start this trend, only took it to an organized and national level. In the 1950s, the government began constructing mythos of the homosexual as an alien “other” out to corrupt the purity of the United States (see the McCarthy hearings, ironically helped along by his closeted gay protege Roy Cohn, who later died of AIDS). This sudden shift in government stance prompted the formation of the homophile movement primarily seen in the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis. Both organizations worked to end witch-hunts, but were small and rather quiet in their efforts.
During this time there was no reason for churches to be loud in condemnation of homosexuality, because they weren’t being challenged by anyone. As well, the government was doing a lot of the work for them.
However, this began to change as society shifted in the late 1960s with the rise of radical civil rights organizations, such as the Black Panthers, and the influx of younger gays who were involved in similar radicalism. It was a pile of kindling waiting for the match, which was provided in 1969 with the failed attempt by police to raid the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York. As they were attempting to load arrestees into vans, someone hit a police officer, and touched off a riot which lasted two days.
Suddenly, and seemingly (to the American mainstream) out of nowhere, these gay radicals finally had a flame to fan and something to rally around. They began forming new organizations which were loud in proclaiming government and societal injustice, performing “zaps”, lightning protests, of high profile officials, and otherwise demanding to be heard.
At that point, the churches were no longer condemning in a vacuum. They had active challengers opposing their words, a real enemy to rail against. No movement is as strong as it is when challenged by another. And, during the 70s, you also see the rise of organized Christian right movements, most especially the Moral Majority under Jerry Falwell. Thus, two movements, seemingly diametrically opposed, were on the rise and on a collision course.
Thats my 2 cent analysis of the history in this conflict.