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Are Religious Groups Fanning Anti-Gay Bias?

Mike Militich

The mass shooting in Orlando at a gay nightclub has provoked an outpouring of responses from religious groups. While many denominations in the U.S. embrace gay rights, others remain hostile to LGBTQ issues, grounding their beliefs in the holy writings they use.

Speaking on GLT'sSound Ideas, Illinois Wesleyan University Chaplain Rev. Elyse Nelson Winger called on denominations that have been vocal in their opposition to homosexuals to turn down the rhetoric.
 
Nelson Winger said even denominations that support LGBTQ rights may be unintentionally fostering an anti-gay bias by "engaging in silence."

"It is true that there are many religious denominations that still interpret homosexuality as contrary to God's will, as sinful, but many religious groups across many traditions have come to different understandings," Nelson Winger said.
 
"I think this is a time where we have to ask ourselves, those of us who are in traditions that have come to different understandings of homosexuality, where are we being silent about our understandings  and can we be complicit in the on- going realities of homophobia?"
 
The Catholic Bishop of Orlando was widely criticized for not specifically mentioning the LGBT community by name in a public statement of condolence. A few extreme Christian groups used the tragedy as another opportunity to criticize homosexual behavior.
 
"Religious leaders need to be absolutely intentional," Nelson Winger said, in condemning violence against gays. "Silence is no longer acceptable," she added.
 
Nelson Winger said she believes gay-bashing has become worse in some parts of the country in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling legalizing same sex marriage across the land.
 
"Certain voices are amplified in thewake of that decision," Nelson Winger said.
 
Polls show, however, that a majority of Americans support same sex marriage. Nelson Winger noted that  the Constitution guarantees organized religion the freedom to practice beliefs that might run contrary to the Constitution. However, in the realm of business or government, Nelson Winger said, "The question is the place of (those beliefs) next to other human rights and the Constitution. Do we permit one's religious beliefs to allow for discrimination against another?"
 
 
As for the local religious community, she said, "Now is a really good time for some intentional conversations. Many denominations have policies and statements that welcome the LGBT community, but it's not necessarily known because we don't talk about it enough."

She noted that many members of the local Muslim community recently attended a prayer vigil to honor the 49 people who died and the nearly 50 others wounded in the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history. She warned, however, against "equating Islam with this terrorist."

"It is a gracious act for the Muslim community to reach out to the gay community, but  they are not responsible for the actions of this individual and they are not responsible for apologizing for him," she said.

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