On My Way to Mexicali and Praying for SSA Individuals in the Muslim World

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So, as cool as it is that I am blogging this from 35,000 feet (wifi on my flight) It is with a heavy burden that I blog this following story.  From Wave of Homophobia Sweeps the Muslim World

In most Islamic countries, gay men and women are ostracized, persecuted and in some cases even murdered. Repressive regimes are often fanning the flames of hatred in a bid to outdo Islamists when it comes to spreading “moral panic.

”More than 30 Islamic countries have laws on the books that prohibit homosexuality and make it a criminal offense. In most cases punishment ranges from floggings to life imprisonment. In Mauritania, Bangladesh, Yemen, parts of Nigeria and Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iran convicted homosexuals can also be sentenced to death.

In those Muslim countries where homosexuality is not against the law gay men and women are nonetheless persecuted, arrested, and in some cases murdered. …

Read the whole article Wave of Homophobia Sweeps the Muslim World.

Earlier this year Exodus President Alan Chambers visited Malaysia.  I visited London in May and between the two of us we have visited Canada a couple of times.  Today  I am flying to Mexico for the Exodus Latin America Conference. The Lord has burdened us (Exodus North America) with a desire to do more across the world.  Our friends at EGA (Exodus Global Alliance) of course were created and exist for helping efforts around the world.  With their help we are prayerfully pursuing relationships, communication and opportunities to help our friends that stretch even further than the actual physical trips we have been able to make this year.

However, since being in leadership at the local and now national level, I have only heard from the Middle East and muslim world (Malaysia aside) twice.  Both times were heart breaking and full of fear.  Because there wasn’t ever any follow through after my initial response to them, I think of those two people every time I see the reports like the one above and I grieve for them for having to literally fear torture and death for simply being perceived as having same sex attractions.

Here in the US, as a whole, we may not have the most civil of dialog concerning homosexuality but at least one can determine for themselves how they want to steward that part of their lives.  Today, we still have lingering issues to be concerned with but it’s nothing compared to what happens to those dealing with homosexual struggles in the muslim world.

Would you pray with me for true homophobia to be replaced by the freedom of self-determination and an opportunity for people to come to know Christ?

That’s not just true for the muslim world.  While real homophobia is rare here in the states, and I believe as a whole we are a very tolerant nation (on this issue) it is still here too.  Some of my public policy friends to the right of me won’t like that admission but I am not talking about them. I am talking about the fact that in some parts of the country, I am still heckled and threatened because of my mannerisms.  I personally suffered a violent crime and had guns pulled on me twice (all three in seperate incidents) outside of gay bars as a gay identified adult (17+ years ago).  There are still isolated cases of homophobic violent crimes. I know this is true because I have seen it firsthand and still see reports of it across the blogs from time to time

Of course I don’t think passing bad public  policy is the way to deal with that but … that’s for another post another time … maybe.

We, whether you identify as gay or on a post-gay journey, in the US should be very grateful for where we have come from and while we still need to face tough longstanding issues (as opponents on some, potential agreement on others) …we should do so keeping our friends around the world in mind.  I think that broader perspective will help temper our dialog in a more civil manner.

Here in the US, let’s do what we gotta’ do with passion and conviction, but let’s do it with civility, sobriety and after a realistic assessment of the freedom and blessings we can be grateful for.

This year I walked away from London and Toronto with a clearer perspective of what they are dealing with and struggling through.  Alan’s report on Malaysia was eye-opening and compelling as well.  I am thrilled to get to see my Hispanic brothers and sisters in a few hours …

… But my heart wishes that the above article would stop being the only kind of report we hear from the middle East concerning homosexuality.  Just like in my own life, I want violent reports to be replaced with praise reports.