God Doesn't Discard or Discriminate Against LGBT People

by Michael Jones · 2009-05-18 09:45:00 UTC
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Gay is OK

That's the central tenant of a sermon given by Grace United Methodist minister Rev. Diana Holbert in Dallas this past weekend.  The sermon, entitled "Why Gay is OK," was a direct response to a rather homophobic sermon given by Dallas megapastor Dr. Robert Jeffress last November, which he labeled "Why Gay is Not OK." Jeffress runs the Web Site Pathyway to Victory, and distributes his sermons via radio, podcast, and television.

In other words, Jeffress has a soapbox for his homophobia and twisted biblical message.  So it's good to see a response to him from another member of the Dallas clergy scene.

Here's a quick glance at Rev. Holbert's sermon from the Dallas Morning News:

[Rev. Holbert] told her diverse East Dallas congregation that homosexuality is not a big issue in the Bible and that Christians should be more focused on subjects such as health care, greed in the corporate world, and the welfare of children. About a third of the church's membership is gay or lesbian, she said.

During her sermon, Holbert said, "God doesn't discard or discriminate."

"The Bible has often been used to attack gay and lesbian persons," she said. "Let's put a stop to that."

Clergy like Rev. Holbert continue to offer a very important voice in the struggle for LGBT equality.  Bridging the gap between LGBT activists and churchgoers/clergy is one of the areas that the group Marriage Equality USA said needed improving in their post-Prop 8 analysis.  We're seeing evidence that LGBT groups are taking that message to heart, with the announcement last week that the Human Rights Campaign would be forming a partnership with California Faith for Equality.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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