Gay Christians Take a Stand as World Youth Day Begins

Filed Under Gay Events, LGBT Youth, Religion | July 4th, 2008 

Gay Christian NewsSYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA — A network of lesbian and gay Christians, including prominent members of the Catholic, Uniting, Pentecostal and Anglican churches, will stand together for gay rights and challenge the Vatican’s condemnations of same-sex love, right on the eve of World Youth Day.

On Sunday, July 13, Pitt Street Uniting Church will host a public gathering and prayer service entitled: “Lesbian, Gay Queer – and Christian: Claiming Our Place, Celebrating Our Diversity” which is being organised by the newly formed Lesbian and Gay Christian Network. Several of Australia’s best known gay Christians will speak, including Uniting Church minister, Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Catholic author, educator and activist, Michael B Kelly, former Pentecostal minister, Anthony Venn-Brown, and Anglican parishioner and Sydney TAFE lecturer, David Reeder. These speakers will engage in dialogue with a panel of young gay and lesbian people from all main Christian Churches. The discussion will be moderated by writer and broadcaster, David Marr.

“We will take a stand for the dignity of gay and lesbian people, right in the heart of Sydney”, said spokesperson, Michael B Kelly. “We will share our spiritual wisdom and encourage a new generation of gay youth to embrace their sexuality as good, holy and God-given”.

Kelly said that this event, timed for the eve of World Youth Day, offered a public voice for gay and lesbian people who have been condemned, marginalised and silenced by mainstream churches, and especially by the Catholic hierarchy. “The version of Christianity that is coming to Sydney during World Youth Day has no place for strong, self-affirming gay people, for our relationships, our experiences, our voice. We will not be silent and allow another generation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth to be told that they are disordered, that their sexual relationships are evil, and that they must be silent and invisible if they wish to be part of the church. We call on gay and lesbian Christians, on our families, friends and supporters, to join us in standing up for the goodness of being gay, and not allow right-wing religious propaganda to silence our faith, hope and love”.

Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon, who is also acting as spokesperson for the event, agreed. “We need to claim our place and give witness to the grace of God in our lives as lesbian and gay people. The churches are happy to use our gifts and our hard work – it’s time we celebrated all the richness and wisdom that we have offered the Christian community, and show that the negative messages about us are based on fear and ignorance”.

Anthony Venn-Brown stressed the value of the inter-denominational nature of this event, ““As Australia’s first openly gay Pentecostal, it’s important to stand with my brothers and sisters from other Christian denominations and particularly young people, to affirm that God loves us as we are”. David Reeder added, “Young people need to know that using bible texts to support anti-gay teaching is a choice – and it’s based on prejudice, not a belief in biblical truth. We have to claim the God of love, not the God of hate”.

Michael Kelly concluded, “On July 13 will make a powerful statement to all the churches that the justice and love taught by Jesus must reach to all people – of every faith and of every sexual orientation. We will stand together: Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church, Pentecostal, old, young and in-between, people of every gender, and we will share the faith, courage and grace we have come to know, and together we will send a message of hope to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.”

Event Date/Location: Sunday, July 13, 2:30pm. Pitt Street Uniting Church, 264 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW.

Source: Anthony Venn-Brown of ‘A Life of Unlearning’ Blog

Related Link: – World Youth Day 2008