From: "WILLIAM COLLINS" <COLLINS1@MAIL.LOC.GOV>
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Subject: Non-discrimination against homosexuals
Date: 8 Dec 92 08:50:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.47230

In article <1fiq6oINNhjr@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, the following appeared: 
  
>There IS room perhaps for a sect or two (one that doesn't 
>discriminate against homosexuality, perhaps, etc.) 
  
Leaving aside the question of how the Covenant of Baha'u'llah has 
maintained the unity of the Baha'i community, I am perplexed by the 
imputation that the Baha'i Faith has somehow targeted homosexuality 
and homosexuals for "discrimination".  It is true that Baha'u'llah and 
Shoghi Effendi made clear, in unambiguous language, that the 
appropriate expression of the sexual instinct is between a married man 
and woman; sexual acts between members of the same sex is stated by  
Baha'u'llah and Shoghi Effendi to be 
wrong.  This law does not mean, however, that the Baha'i community 
discriminates against or otherwise harrasses homosexual members.  The 
laws of Baha'u'llah are applied in the context of community life by 
Spiritual Assemblies and the Universal House of Justice; only where a 
person's behavior is so flagrantly immoral as to bring the community 
into disrepute do the institutions apply sanctions, and then only 
after lovingly counselling the person to modify his/her ways.  The 
duty of individual Baha'is is to show love, forbearance, kindness and 
compassion to all human beings, whatever their sexual orientation. 
Having said that, we should also remember that individuals are each at 
different stages of development.  Some people can easily deal with 
issues that others find very upsetting.  Baha'u'llah came to heal 
all, not to make us all feel good about where we are.  Humans 
individually and collectively are in a never-ending process of 
development; Baha'u'llah's teachings and His community exist as a 
laboratory for healing and growth. 
  
Baha'is cannot change Baha'i teachings that homosexual acts are wrong. 
Homosexuals should not expect that everyone will be accepting  
of homosexuality or homosexuals, or even be able to discuss or 
consider the topic.  Those who have unreasoning fear of homosexuals 
should recognize that the Baha'i community has the power to enlighten 
and endow them with compassion.  We already have a Baha'i community in 
which all are to be welcomed with the light of oneness, and then 
patiently helped to know themselves and to live by the laws of 
Baha'u'llah - laws which He calls "the choice wine."  If the Baha'i 
community is not able to unify all of these people into one community, 
homosexual and heterosexual, obedient and rebellious, poor and rich, 
then how can it do what the House of Justice called for in its message 
to the World Congress: have "a deep encounter" with the forces now 
harrowing the planet with such ferocity? 
  
I believe that no "sect" is needed for the deep encounter of God with 
his loved ones - gay or straight.  All will come to know and choose to 
live by His laws because anything less will deprive us of the unity 
and joy which His covenant has created.  Baha'u'llah wrote of Himself: 
"Fix your gaze upon Him Who is the Temple of God amongst men.  He, in 
truth, hath offered up His life as a ransom for the redemption of the 
world."  If we face Him and Him alone, the false dichotomy of 
heterosexual and homosexual ceases to be of significance. Only His 
Will remains.  Out of love, we obey it. 
  
Bill Collins, collins1@mail.loc.gov