Words are Stronger Than Closets
Dateline: 06/13/97
Just last year the Dalai Lama published a book called "Beyond Dogma" which explained that oral, anal, manual and forced sexual acts are considered "sexual misconduct." This dismayed gays and lesbians who had embraced Buddhism for its open and welcoming philosophy by virtue of its stances on ordaining openly gay people, not considering homosexuality a sin and no explicit proscriptions against homosexuality.
Earlier this week (Wednesday, June 11) during a world-wide gathering of gay and lesbian Buddhists in San Francisco, a group of those gays and lesbians sought a private audience with the Dalai Lama.
The meeting was a success in that after the meeting the Dalai Lama released a statement that he "opposes violence and discrimination against gay and lesbian people" and that he anticipated "further study and discussion on human sexuality." He explained that the "misconduct" rules were generic as to all Buddhists, but that there was no prohibition, and in fact he seemed to approve of, same gender relationships.
He made a clear statement opposing homophobia as well, "We should not create any impression [ that ] they do not belong in the community or society. I think this is very, very harmful."
And what did it take to obtain this public support? Conversation. Talking. A group of seven people sitting with a man who had made an invalidating statement, and showing enough of themselves that beyond merely retracting his words (which he didn't, but that's an entirely different subject regarding religious prohibitions and their place in today's society that we'll broach at another time) he made positive, affirming, validating statements.
Of course, it doesn't always work out that way. In President Clinton's radio speech last Saturday (June 7), he spoke out against all forms of bigotry and intolerance. Making a special note of hate crimes against gays and lesbians.
Yet, since that speech, while he has repeated the theme, his spoken distaste for hate crimes against gays and lesbians has not been repeated.
While it hasn't been reported, my guess is that a group of people, sat with a man, and explained that they believed that the majority of people don't care about those kinds of hate crimes, and he'd be better off concentrating on church burnings and urban violence. Yes, those issues are important, no violence should be ignored. But, once again, we get shoved back into the closet.
What is the lesson in this?
Obvious, I would hope. We must not be silent. We must let people know who we are. Every person you touch who likes you, who sees you as a person, is going to think twice before denying YOU rights.
Every person you touch, who likes you, who sees you as a person in a loving relationship is going to think twice before denying you the right to marry.
And every person you touch, who likes you, who sees you as a person is going to think twice the next time somebody says something to them that is potentially harmful to you, their friend.
Think about it - and let me know what you think.In Pride,
Deborah
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