Openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson addressed a crowd of about 300 people on the topic "Justice and Compassion in an Age of Discrimination" at Elmhurst College's Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel Oct. 4, his second stop in Chicagoland in two days..
In 2003, Robinson became the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican/Episcopal communion and is the ninth bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire.
S. Alan Ray, president of Elmhurst College, noted that in the year since Elmhurst College became the first institution of high learning to add the LGBT question to its student application that more colleges and universities have followed suit.
The Rev. H. Scott Matheney, the college's chaplain, talked about the special relationship that the college has had with the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Elmhurst; however, Elmhurst College is affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC), not the Episcopal church.
Then the Rev. Stephen Martz, rector at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Elmhurst, made note of the ways in which the Episcopal church is moving to become more open and affirming of the LGBT community.
Robinson said, "We are in the middle of one of the great civil-rights movements in history." Taking the audience through the history of the LGBT-rights movement, Robinson remarked that 20 years ago most people couldn't identify anyone that they know who was LGBT. "Now 20 years later is there anybody left who doesn't know someone who is an LGBT person?" said Robinson.
Mentioning Harvey Milk's statement that coming out is the most political thing you can do, Robinson said the LGBT movement will never go backwards since more and more people are coming out. Also, Robinson noted that LGBT issues are an organic part of our national conversation and "the church is struggling to catch up to the culture."
Making note of how people interpret the bible, Robinson explained what the Bible really says and doesn't say about LGBT people. Robinson remarked that the Bible makes no mention of lesbians or lesbian relationships and anti-LGBT clergy have used their own interpretation of the Bible to disseminate inaccurate information about LGBT people. "The Bible is the word of God, not the words of God," said Robinson, echoing what he said the previous night at an event in Chicago.
Robinson went on to say that most of what was written in the Bible needs to be looked at in an historical context. People's understanding of the world, including LGBT issues, has evolved over the years, Robinson noted.
With the culture moving forward, Robinson said that the LGBT community shouldn't accept tolerance and should demand acceptance. He noted that similar to people who espouse racism and sexism and use that to deny people of color and women equality throughout United States history, the proper word that should be used for people who want to deny LGBT people full equality is heterosexism not homophobia.
The question that Robinson posed is "How do we change things?" He also remarked that there is a lot of debate about LGBT issues and not a lot of dialogue and no one has all the answers.
Laughter and applause dotted Robinson's remarks throughout the evening and he received a standing ovation at the end of his talk and the Q & A session. Then Ashley Schmit, president of EQUAL (Elmhust Queers and Allies) presented Robinson with a gift from the college.
Lastly, Robinson signed copies of his book, God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage.
See public.elmhurst.edu/about/lgbt for more information.
Also see Bishop Gene Robinson on the sanctity of same-sex unions by Sally Parsons, Windy City Times, 2012-09-26, http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Bishop-Gene-Robinson-on-the-sanctity-of-same-sex-unions/39685.html
and
Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson talks Bible, homosexuality, by Kate Sosin, Windy City Times, 2012-10-04, www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Episcopal-Bishop-Gene-Robinson-talks-Bible-homosexuality/39831.html
