I am confused as to why this informative site feels the need to "expose" and use for 'examples' - "famous" or "notable" Baha'is who are homosexual. What's the point? And I question the "intent". Was Mark Tobey's permission (or his families permission) given to "use" him? Why?
While I am not going to answer for Barb & the others in terms of 'outing' or exposing Baha'i leaders and others I think that it's important to note that this faith, in concert with the other Abrahamic based faiths, has suffered for quite a number of years from an almost institutional hypocrisy.
No where has then been more evident that in the last 20 years in the United States where there have been numerous examples of the so-called christian right's leaders/pastors/spokespersons who have spewed vitriol about the LGBTQ community only to find themselves engulfed in a same-sex scandal that ultimately "outs" their sexuality or at the very least points to their blatant hypocrisy.
What is very important to note is that Barb & company are offering a safe refuge and community for those LGBTQ Baha'i who are struggling with their sexual or gender orientation and their faith.
As such, honesty is almost always the best policy and quite frankly, it really is time for persons who hold strategic positions in any faith to stop demonising the LGBTQ community, particularly if they themselves may be lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning.
Just my two cents worth.
Sincerely,
Brody Levesque Washington Bureau Chief LGBTQNation Magazine * LGBTQNation.com (202) 556 0877
The point is there is nothing to expose. Get over it. It's one's sexuality. Exposing means that we are digging deep into people's lives to find out some dirt on them- like if they are a straight Bahai man cheating on his wife. These instead are individuals who lived their lives as gay people and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. So what's being exposed? Am I exposing you for being female because your name is Linda?
This is yet another example of the pervasiveness of this idea that homosexuality has to be something hush hush, to keep in the closet. And to openly speak of it and others who are just gay (nothing earth shattering here) is for some so horrendous a thing to do. The only place where I see this kind of mentality is among the far right wing Christian evangelicals. Oh and I guess now Bahais too.
Since you asked, Linda, no "famous Baha'is" are listed here as gay/lesbian, unless their sexuality is already a matter of public record, in one way or another. There are other Baha'is, well-known, who are not listed here as LGBT, even though they were or are, because it is not already a matter of public record and might be considered an intrusion of privacy by themselves or their families/friends. So - we're not outing anyone here - the ones listed are already well known in non-Baha'i circles to be gay - that's why there are so few of them. Baha'i secrecy regarding the subject of homosexuality ensures that there are not many who are publicly known - for the most part they remain hidden. I have purposely refrained from listing others simply because their sexuality is not already well-known.
It is helpful, I believe, for LGBT Baha'is to know of the ones who already are known publicly, as they often feel they are the only ones, or that they are unworthy to serve the faith, etc. - they need to know about other Baha'is who have served the Faith well and have been homosexual. It's a pity that others cannot be revealed, but I do not agree with outing people who are not open to that, or who have been very well known but have passed on without their homosexuality being public knowledge.
June 19, 2012
Dear Linda,
While I am not going to answer for Barb & the others in terms of 'outing' or exposing Baha'i leaders and others I think that it's important to note that this faith, in concert with the other Abrahamic based faiths, has suffered for quite a number of years from an almost institutional hypocrisy.
No where has then been more evident that in the last 20 years in the United States where there have been numerous examples of the so-called christian right's leaders/pastors/spokespersons who have spewed vitriol about the LGBTQ community only to find themselves engulfed in a same-sex scandal that ultimately "outs" their sexuality or at the very least points to their blatant hypocrisy.
What is very important to note is that Barb & company are offering a safe refuge and community for those LGBTQ Baha'i who are struggling with their sexual or gender orientation and their faith.
As such, honesty is almost always the best policy and quite frankly, it really is time for persons who hold strategic positions in any faith to stop demonising the LGBTQ community, particularly if they themselves may be lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning.
Just my two cents worth.
Sincerely,
Brody Levesque
Washington Bureau Chief
LGBTQNation Magazine * LGBTQNation.com
(202) 556 0877
It is helpful, I believe, for LGBT Baha'is to know of the ones who already are known publicly, as they often feel they are the only ones, or that they are unworthy to serve the faith, etc. - they need to know about other Baha'is who have served the Faith well and have been homosexual. It's a pity that others cannot be revealed, but I do not agree with outing people who are not open to that, or who have been very well known but have passed on without their homosexuality being public knowledge.
Blessings to you, to all of you, who are patient, and who understand those, who do not yet understand, you. Linda
Daniel