Hi there,

I am the owner of SarahMcCulloch.com. I run a segment on my blog called God Made the Rainbow, which promotes an inclusive spirituality, primarily through people stories of being a minority and religious in some way: I have published articles on being asexual and christian, queer and pagan, and my latest submission has been on sikhism and homosexuality. You can see my previous work at http://www.sarahmcculloch.com/godmadetherainbow .

I would really like to publish an article by someone on being LGBT and Baha'i. I personally am not very well up on baha'i culture or what it is like to be baha'i and I would be very interested in publishing a story explaining the general situation as well as your own personal story. You can be completely anonymous or I can link to any websites you wish, perhaps here. If anyone is interested please feel free to email me through the submission form here: http://www.sarahmcculloch.com/contact.html

Thanks,

Sarah

Hi Sarah -

Thanks for your interest. Perhaps someone who checks in here will respond to your request. The situation, briefly, with Baha'is regarding being gay and Baha'i, is that the official Baha'i stance is that treating gays with prejudice and disdain is prohibited (though in reality there is a lot of prejudicial behavior and thinking among Baha'is, which is not punished). Putting one's sexuality into practice, however, is criminalized for gays - it is against Baha'i law. When Baha'is discuss homosexuality, they often lump it together with arson, theft, murder - all of which are also against Baha'i law and have heavy penalties, including "burning" (for arson). Because there is as yet (thank God) no Baha'i State, with the ability to carry out extreme punishments, the current punishment for homosexual behavior (which is left up to the Universal House of Justice, the highest Baha'i governing body, whose membership is limited to males) consists of potential loss of administrative rights, or perhaps expulsion from the Faith. So it's a bit of a paradox. It is understandable that because homosexual behavior is criminalized, naturally Baha's tend to have prejudicial attitudes about it, despite being told by Baha'i authorities that they should not treat gays with prejudice or disdain. So it's the old hate the sin, not the sinner theme. Baha'is in general, in my experience, avoid discussing this topic. There are many Baha'is like myself who see the criminalization of homosexuality as contrary to the findings of science, and a strange violation of the Baha'i principle that science and religion must agree, and if they do not, then the religious position is superstition. Gay Baha'is who have chosen to make a life commitment to a same-sex partner and have married in a state or country where it is legal, have at least lost their Baha'i administrative rights - they cannot vote in Baha'i elections, attend Baha'i Feasts (the equivalent of Christian church - a regular devotional service for Baha'is, but where Baha'i business is also conducted), contribute to the Baha'i Fund, hold any office in the Faith, etc. Apologetic Baha'is will say that that is not discriminatory, because any Baha'i, gay or not, who is married without having a Baha'i marriage is subject to loss of administrative rights. Of course gays don't have the option of a Baha'i marriage (unless they marry a partner of the opposite sex)....and in my experience, straight Baha'is who marry without a Baha'i marriage are often not punished - they are just ignored.

Baha'i teaching considers homosexuality to be a distortion of human nature, and spiritually condemned. Some Baha'is are working to bring a more enlightened view regarding homosexuality to the Baha'i "powers-that-be." I would not hold my breath waiting for change any time soon, however. Baha'i authorities are quite adamant that their view regarding homosexuality will not change, cannot change.

If you read the stories on this website, you will begin to get an idea of the experience of some gay Baha'is. You may not, however, use any of these stories unless you have the express permission of the people who wrote them. It is their decision whether they wish to let you use their stories, and they will have to contact you themselves.

ADDENDUM: I forgot to mention that the official Baha'i position on homosexuality holds that with the help of a competent physician and prayer and effort, you can "pray the gay away."

Your project sounds interesting - good luck with it!

Barb

Sarah,

I am not much of a writer these days , but I can handle an interview of sorts , be it via phone , or by sending me a list of questions. I am a Third Generation Baha'i whose grandparents, parents , and sister support gay rights hands down , and have major issues with the Baha'i Law on Homosexuality. Myself being a gay Baha'i I am at constant odds with the mentality that I have faced in the Baha'i Community at Large. The way the Law is applied in various Baha'i Communities concerning Gays and Lesbians varies. The interpretation can be as strict as losing your Administrative Rights that Barb mentioned for being "flagrantly" gay (interpret as being openly gay). The more mature Communities just leave their Gay Members alone as long as they "keep it under the radar", renounce Gay Relationships and live lonely celibate lives, or go through therapy and become magically straight! Straight Baha'is are supposed to be celibate before marriage, but they can have healthy dating lives where their morals are never questioned as they jump from person to person. Another interesting fact is that Back Biting is considered an aweful offense like arson , theft, etc. , yet my entire Baha'i Life I never witnessed anyone losing their Administrative Rights over it, most of the Baha'i World would have to collectively loose thier Administrative Rights if we were going to be playing this game of "Scarlet Letter". Good luck with your article.

Hi Sean,

I have emailed Barb to thank her for her contribution to this article. I would like to contact you to have a chat and perhaps an interview, but you haven't left any contact details - would be ok to have your email address or some way of messaging you? I can be messaged privately via the contact form on my website: http://www.sarahmcculloch.com/contact.html

Sarah

Sarah,

I left my contact information (e-mail) at your website. Looking forward to sharing my perspective as a gay Baha'i.

fantastic Sean!

thanks Barb, this is a lovely place!

arohanui, Sonja

Hiya,

just wanted to update the communtiy here that my interview with Sean has now been published. Hope you like it. :)

http://www.sarahmcculloch.com/blog/2010/07/05/an-interview-on-bahai-and-homosexuality-part-1-my-parents-are-a-shining-example/

Peace,

Sarah

freelance writer