READING ROOM

Opinions and Articles

Top Pentagon Brass Call for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal

Admiral Mike Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, along with former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and Colin Powell, in repealing the law which prohibits openly gay and lesbian soldiers from serving in the military.

Proposition 8 Trial Spotlights Culture Split

As both sides prepare for closing arguments in the case for overturning Proposition 8, both sides are highlighting the historic role that a victory for either party could have.

Uganda debates capital pubishment for gays and lesbians

In a startling act the parliament of Uganda is proposing legislation that would criminalize being gay, and in certain cases call for the death penalty.

Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese elects Lesbian Bishop

The Rev. Cannon Mary D. Glasspool is poised to become the Episcopal Church's second openly gay bishop.

D.C. Council's Vote on Marrage Highlights Debate over Gay Rights

As the District of Columbia City Council overwhelmingly passed a marriage equality law, debate continues among those who consider gay rights a part of the civil rights movement.

Retired Military Chaplains Support Letting Gays Openly Serve

As Congress begins the process of repealing the militarys 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, a group of military chaplains have stepped forward to back efforts for change.

Same-Sex Marriage: Exploring the Racial Divide

As the D.C. government prepares to legalize same-sex marriage, some supporters fret that the issue could divide the city along racial lines. Robert Cartney addresses this notion of why many African Americans in the District oppose same-sex marriage and how this won’t affect the passage of same-sex marriage legislation. 

Celibacy Ban Lifted for Lutheran Clergy
Leaders of the 4.6 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church of America gave local congregations the authority to choose ministers or lay leaders who may be in "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships." This follows the lead of the Episcopal Church, which lifted a similar ban in July.

Gay Rights Dominate Debate Among Mainline Protestants
"Proponents [of inclusiveness] cite an overarching charitable spirit of the Bible they say welcomes gay believers, even non-celibate ones, who want to participate in church life in all ways that heterosexual Christians can."
Protestant sects are at a crossroads in deciding how to approach gay membership in the 21st century.

Conservatives Shift in Favor of Openly Gay Service Members
This Gallup poll shows dramatic increases in support for the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy among conservatives.

Knowing Someone Gay/Lesbian Affects Views of Gay Issues
This Gallup poll illustrates that Americans who personally know a gay or lesbian person are far more likely to support equality for gay Americans than those who do not.

Episcopal Church Ends Gay Bishops Ban
In a brave step towards equality, the U.S. Episcopal Church formally approved the ordination of gay bishops.

Gay Conservatives Must Come Out
Former LEF President Patrick Guerriero writes about the importance of having gay and lesbian conservatives come out of the closet. “Now is the time for closeted gay conservatives to find the courage and personal strength to stand up and be counted. Now is the time we can really make a difference. If every gay conservative came out of the closet today, the journey to full equality would be over in years instead of decades.”

What’s Their Problem with Gay Marriage (It’s the Gay Part)
This article from The New York Times Magazine takes a fascinating look at the radical right. It examines the motives of those activists working to prohibit civil marriage equality.

What Makes People Gay
The Boston Globe Magazine ran a lengthy article examining the origins of sexual orientation. The magazine highlights some of the mounting evidence that people don’t choose their sexual orientation. “This accumulating biological evidence, combined with the prospect of more on the horizon, is having an effect. Last month, the Rev. Rob Schenck, a prominent Washington, D.C., evangelical leader, told a large gathering of young evangelicals that he believes homosexuality is not a choice but rather a predisposition, something ‘deeply rooted’ in people. Schenck told me that his conversion came about after he'd spoken extensively with genetic researchers and psychologists. He argues that evangelicals should continue to oppose homosexual behavior, but that ‘many evangelicals are living in a sort of state of denial about the advance of this conversation.’ His message: ‘If it's inevitable that this scientific evidence is coming, we have to be prepared with a loving response. If we don't have one, we won't have any credibility.’”

The New Plague - An Epidemic Swallowing Gay America
Kevin Ivers highlights the crystal meth epidemic that is ravaging some gay and lesbian people. “It is a different killer with a four-letter name – ‘Tina.’ And without a doubt, this epidemic is a slow version of mass suicide that we can see coming a mile away and yet no one seems to be speaking out.”