For Immediate Release, Monday, October 18, 2010

By Affirmation Co-Spokesperson Tim Tennant-Jayne

Even though a federal judge has put a hold on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), this rule still remains in force due to a filibuster in the US Senate.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) United States military must continue to guard their identity or face explosion from the service.

No one will ever know how many or which US military service members were/are in fact LGBTQ.  We don’t know the particulars, but common sense tells us there have always been service members who are LGBTQ.

DADT theoretically means you can be lesbian or gay or bisexual and serve in the military – as long as you don’t tell anybody about this part of your life.  The Senate recently voted not to discuss repealing DADT.  Rather than support or revoke it, they decided to ignore it, thereby continuing this unethical law.

Likewise, The United Methodist Church continues to choose not to acknowledge the reality of our lives.  General Conference acts as though LGBTQ folk do not exist within the denomination.  They have declared us supposedly “incompatible” with Christian teaching and not to be ordained or appointed to positions with the denomination which require ordination.

Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns celebrates the many positive changes in America’s treatment of LGBTQ people.  God’s Spirit is indeed moving over the waters of humanity.  The long arc of time is bending toward God’s justice.  Yet, the US Senate and The United Methodist Church are willfully ignoring the action of justice.

However, the denomination’s attitude ignores the reality of God’s will.  God continues to call various LGBTQ folk for positions of church leadership.  This forces us deny large parts of our lives and to lie about whom we are.  Often even to ourselves.  The end results include clergy who are not serving God or the congregations with the clergyperson’s full gifts and abilities.  Results also include substance abuse, depression and other major health issues.

The most recent public opinion polls show a shift in how Americans view DADT.  More and more people of all ages, races, backgrounds and religious beliefs are coming to recognize the wrongness of this rule.  Most political observers predict that the government will soon repeal this law.  Affirmation: United Methodists pray that this happens very soon.  We also encourage our fellow United Methodists in the 2012 General Conference to repeal our denomination’s version of DADT, to recognize the power of God at work within our denomination, and to fully and joyfully embrace of her LGBTQ members.

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As an independent voice of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer people, Affirmation: United Methodists radically reclaims the compassionate and transforming gospel of Jesus Christ by relentlessly pursuing full inclusion in the Church as we journey with the Spirit in creating God’s beloved community.

Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns is an activist, all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization with no official ties to The United Methodist Church.

How to Contact Us:
umaffirmation_at_yahoo.com
http://www.umaffirm.org