How well and how often do people in the straight community understand and sympathize with the lives of GLBTI people? Can we ever expect them to be supportive let alone actually advocate for our inclusion as valuable members of the larger community? The following is taken directly from the Congregational newsletter of the First Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY. I was one of the group of GLBTI people who spoke to their eighth graders about our lives. It was a group of about 25 kids, and they were very welcoming and asked sensitive and intelligent questions.

Jim Costich (G & I of the GLBTI Rainbow)

Church School Administrators R.E.port – February 2003

You may recall that the eighth grade Our Whole Lives students sponsored a bake sale last month in appreciation for the adults who spoke with them about sexual orientation and gender identity. After the sale, I sent a letter and check to the Open Door Mission. My letter explained that the students in our sexuality education program were making a donation to the Open Door Mission not only to sponsor its work, but also to honor former director Kaye Fox (who was denounced by the Open Door Mission following her gender change). I concluded by saying, "we send this gift in the spirit of open-mindedness and compassion, which we hope that you will embrace."

Last week, I received a reply from the Open Door Mission's board of directors. There letter reads, in part, "…. because of the sentiments of your letter regarding the honoring of the former executive director, we cannot accept your generous donation. The Open Door Mission is a Bible-believing rescue mission that promotes the love of our Savior…."

Well, we tried. Although we were disappointed by this response, it offered some valuable lessons. As one teacher succinctly put it, "We made a donation on principal, and they rejected it on principle." Despite this particular organizations position on this issue, the students understand that believing in the Bible and loving Jesus should not be equated with closed mindedness!

Bake sale proceeds will still help people in need; the students have chosen to split the $150 between St. Joseph's House of Hospitality and the Southeast Ecumenical Ministry.

Man... I am so disappointed to hear of this closed mindedness by a supposedly christian organization. But I am not surprised. Understanding and acceptance come very slowly for those with so entrenched belief systems. We have to have infinitely more patience and faith than has been extended towards us. After all, some of these people are the very ones who have decided we must fit into the 2 sex paradigm, ostensibly for our own good. My own parents have rejected my decisions and I am in exile from all family ties. They go to church every sunday and regardless of their treatment towards me, I have seen them as christian people, generous and giving to those charities they understand. I have a "Downs" syndrome nephew who is embraced by my family. He is loved and cared for with great compassion. And I am reminded that so recently as even 50 years ago, people with disablities such as "Downs" were quite often institutionalized in extremely primative and cruel conditions, often chained to their beds and isolated from love. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. So, there is hope for the future, so long as we are strong in our faith and love each other. Each passing day offers the chance that our message is getting through to the compassionate people of the world. People will learn to love and accept us eventually. - PJ

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Faith Manages - Cap