“A Church that doesn’t provoke any crisis, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of society in which it is being proclaimed, what gospel is that? Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980) “Never let other people define your reality or put you into bondage to their ways of thinking.” Jerry Maneker.
This is the tagline that I was first greeted with upon stumbling into Jerry Maneker’ blog, A Christian Voice for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights.When I first saw the tagline and first read the two latest blog entries I thought to myself: “This can’t be real, I’ve never met any Christian who has advocated for gay rights as strongly as he has, yet alone cared as much as this man does for the LGBT community. How is it possible that I, a gay woman, and he a Christian man can share the same beliefs when stereotypically we are at opposite ends of the spectrum?”I am thoroughly delighted to report that I was in fact not dreaming, hallucinating, or suffering from a severe bump to the head. Jerry Maneker does indeed exist. The retired Rev. Dr. is the shining example of a true ally to the LGBT community. His blog, which is updated on a regular basis, focuses on the many issues surrounding the LGBT community and his unique outlook on them as a Christian man. For me it was so refreshing to read his view-point while backing it up with verses of the Bible. Typically, in my experience it is always homophobic people using Bible verses to back up reasons why gays are damned to Hell. Naturally, I had several questions swirling around in my head after being presented with all this new information. Luckily for me, the Rev. Dr. was more than willing to answer my questions. I warn you reader; there were a lot of them:
TTR: What do you do when you’re not advocating for gay rights? In other words, what do you do? JM: I’m retired, so I mainly read, look up news on the computer, answer e-mails, and watch T.V.
TTR: What are some of the books and T.V. shows that you enjoy? JM: I like novels, particularly spy novels; Turner classic movies that have films from the 1940s; I don’t watch that much T.V., but I like some mystery shows like the show “Mystery,” and other such shows.
TTR:What inspired you to start writing Christian Voice? JM: I was sick and tired of seeing the perversion of Christianity by arrogantly ignorant professing Christians who missed the point of the Gospel of Grace and who cause untold suffering upon God’s LGBT children.
TTR:Have you always been an advocate for gay rights, and if so when did you first get involved? JM: I became an advocate for gay rights about 20 years ago, and began my blog about 7 years ago.
TTR:As a Christian that is advocating for gay rights have you ever received any backlash from other Christians, or just homophobic people in general? JM: I’ve gotten backlash by both groups, mostly from the former.
TTR: If you are comfortable enough, what are some of the things that have been said to you by both groups? JM: A lot of hostile statements, saying that I am not a Christian; I have lost “friends” who no longer talk with me and I am no longer invited to teach and preach in churches that used to ask me to do so. All of the “friends” I had at church no longer invite us to their homes or want to have anything to do with me.
TTR: I’m sure you had to defend yourself to them when they brought up the verses in Leviticus that condemn homosexuality, what did you say? JM:Christians are not bound by the laws in Leviticus or any other law. We are in Christ, and he and only he is our savior, and not our obedience to laws deemed appropriate to an ancient society surrounded by enemies that needed people to be fruitful and multiply.
TTR: Do you feel that it was worth losing all those people in your life and all those social connections to stand up for something you believe in? JM: Absolutely! As Jesus says, “what does it profit anyone if he gains the world and loses his soul?”
TTR: What are your feelings about the LGBT community regarding rights and where they fit into society? JM: Right now, LGBT people are second class citizens in society, and will remain so unless and until meaningful activism is generated at both the organizational and grassroots levels; LGBT people are not content with that second class status; frivolous and counterproductive displays are replaced by coordinated activism, such as taking one homophobic church in each city or jurisdiction and picketing that church each and every Sunday service, showing how what they preach is opposed to the Gospel message.
TTR:What do you think of the Baptist group from awhile back that was protesting at the funerals of fallen marines because they felt that God was punishing America for allowing gay marriage in some states? JM: They’re clearly not Christians, but mere haters who want their 15 minutes of fame.
TTR: So, obviously there are “Christians” who give Christians a bad name. Do you sometimes feel that there are gay people who give gay people a bad name? JM: Yes! When gay people refer to themselves and to each other as “queers, “ “fags,” “dykes,” and “trannies,” that gives them a bad name to potential straight allies, and reinforces the hate of homophobes who regularly use those hateful words to define LGBT people. Moreover, marching down Market Street in San Francisco half or fully naked during pride parades; which have, in my opinion, long outlived their usefulness. Equates “gay” with “sex,” and has straight people merely see gay people as sexual beings, and not as full human beings.
TTR: How do you feel pride parades were useful in the past? JM: They helped people be comfortable with their identity and helped in-group solidarity of LGBT people. They were useful for several years after stonewall, but are no longer useful as they exist.
TTR: Do you think it’s ever going to be possible to get the parades back to what they once were? JM: Only if people get over the Mardi Gras atmosphere of the parades and convert that energy to political and social agitation. Pride parades have long outlived their usefulness.
TTR: How do you feel about the recent rulings on the Anti-Homosexuality bill in Uganda, and how do you feel about the current laws in place? JM: They’re horrible, and I lament the fact that there is not a groundswell of revulsion expressed by “Christians” in the U.S. and in Europe against this atrocity.
TTR:In your blog you mention how you no longer attend church, do you feel that you have been forced out of certain institutions based on your viewpoints? JM:I can’t align by my presence or by my money with hateful “churches” who demonize LGBT people. If I could find a church that was truly embracing of LGBT people, I would join it.
TTR: Have you heard of the Episcopalian church, do you agree with what they preach and how they view gays? JM: Episcopal churches differ. If they are truly inclusive, I’m in favor of them; if they aren’t truly inclusive, I’m against them.
TTR:How do you feel about the Gay Straight Alliances, do you think that they are helping at all in the fight for gay rights? JM: They are absolutely useful in helping to foment understanding by straight kids, in cementing in-group solidarity of LGBT kids; and helping to provide a refuge from harassment for LGBT kids.
TTR: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of my questions. I have truly enjoyed hearing your answers. It is so nice to talk to a TRUE Christian and ally who does not make rash judgments based on sexual identity. I have just one more question to ask you:Is there anything you would like to add about yourself or your views that I have not covered?
JM: It was a pleasure to answer your questions and I have nothing to add save that the word “homosexual” was coined in the late 19th Century and didn’t appear in any English Bible until the 1946 edition of the Revised Standard Version.
And there you have it, Rev. Dr. Jerry Maneker is a Christian man who truly believes in equality for the LGBT community. He believes in it so much that he has willingly made himself an outcast in some (obviously small-minded) groups. He is a beacon of hope, and an inspiration to the entire community as well as its allies. For more on Jerry Maneker check out his blog, the link is located in my blog roll.
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