By Gary Barlow

Getting real
More than 100 ministers from the Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal and Uniting (Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational) churches are marching in Australia’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney March 1 to apologize for their churches’ past rejection of GLBTs.

“We recognize that the churches we belong to, and the church in general, have not been places of welcome for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Indeed the church has often been profoundly unloving toward the GLBT community. For these things we apologize, whatever the distinctive of our Christian position on human sexuality—to which we remain committed. We are deeply sorry and ask for the forgiveness of the GLBT community. We long that the church would be a place of welcome for all people and commit ourselves to pursuing this goal,” reads a statement that the ministers have signed.

“We really recognize that the church has been completely silent on the issue of embracing a homosexual community and if anything actually has been quite hostile,” said Pastor Mike Hercock, a spokesman for the group, 100 Revs. “I supposed we wanted to make an effort and acknowledge the difficulty and sometimes the distress caused by the church.”

Geez—what an idea, eh? Imagine leaders of an institution that preaches love as its very basis reaching out to people instead of condemning them. Who knows? This could catch on.

Sydney’s Mardi Gras is one of the biggest gay events in the world, sort of like Pride and Market Days all rolled up into one. The chairman of this year’s Mardi Gras, Marcus Bourget, told the Sydney Morning Herald that 100 Revs’ gesture is not going unnoticed in the gay community.

“It’s a historic moment in the history of Mardi Gras for ministers to be marching to say sorry,” Bourget said. “In a way, it’s what Mardi Gras is all about—understanding, compassion and acceptance.”

Rock me, baby
Of course, there’s nothing like good old-fashioned religious bigotry to bring us back to reality. Last week it came from Israel, where Shlomo Benizri, an anti-gay Shas Party member of the Knesset, that country’s parliament, said the recent earthquake there was the result of “homosexual activity practiced in the country.”

Now, we’ve all had good sex, I suppose, but so far as I know, none of the “homosexual activity” I’ve ever been involved in has caused the earth to tremble, and I’m skeptical of anyone else who might claim the ability to literally “rock my world.”

Mind you, I can’t testify to anything that Mr. Benizri might have experienced.

Mike Hammel, the head of the Israeli Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association, told Ynet News that he was “flattered he (Benizri) attributes us with such magical powers.” On the other hand, Hammel said, “One must wonder why Shas MKs (members of the Knesset) are so obsessed with the gay community.”

Hey, maybe they just want in on some of the rocking sex, you know. Even old guys like Shlomo want to “feel the sky come tumbling down, tumbling down…”

Gay 101
Well, we’ll have none of that earth-moving-under-our-feet activity down in Tennessee, at least not if Tenn. state Rep. Stacey Campbell has anything to say about it.

Campbell was trying last week to get his fellow Tennessee House members to consider his proposal to ban teaching about homosexuality in the state’s public schools.

Now, I must say that I try to keep up with things but I had not heard that Homosexuality 101 had become a common course in Tennessee schools. Apparently Tennessee education officials were in the dark, too.

“When I saw the bill, I asked, ‘Where’s the problem?’” said Bruce Opie, legislative director for the Tennessee Department of Education.

Campbell insisted he’s heard of two schools where homosexuality is being taught. Then again, he blanked when asked to name the schools.

“He’s trying to solve a problem that’s just not out there,” said a spokesman for the Tennessee Education Association.

Well, now, what do we have legislatures for if not to solve problems that don’t exist? It’s not like they’re there to deal with the problems that do exist. Maybe this is one time that Texas has it right—there the state legislature can only meet for 90 days every two years, which kind of limits the small talk, you know, as well as the small-minded proposals.

Campbell’s measure, by the way, went nowhere.