Gay Christian International

By Jacob Combs

*SB 1172 (“Ant Ex gay Therapy Bill”) was a bill I had lobbied for in February and March. -Ian

By a 5-2 vote, the California General Assembly’s Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protection approved a proposed bill that would ban the use of “reparative therapy,” a counseling method designed to ‘cure’ gay kids, on minors.  The bill passed the California Senate in late May with a 23-13 vote, and will now head to the full Assembly.

Writing about the bill’s passage in the Senate, San Diego Gay & Lesbian News notedthat the California legislation is the first of its kind in the nation:

If approved by the Assembly and signed by the Governor, Senate Bill 1172, authored by Senator Ted Lieu and co-sponsored by Equality California, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Mental Health America of Northern California, Gaylesta, and Lambda Legal, would make California the first state in the nation to ban licensed mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts of any kind for a minor patient, regardless of a parent’s willingness or desire to authorize participation in such programs.

“Being lesbian or gay or bisexual is not a disease or mental disorder for the same reason that being a heterosexual is not a disease or a mental disorder,” Lieu said. “The medical community is unanimous in stating that homosexuality is not a medical condition.”

As Joe.My.God. reports, right wingers are sounding the alarm:

“A licensed clinical social worker, a psychologist, a psychiatrist—no one who’s licensed to perform counseling would be permitted, by law if this bill passes, to help a child decrease their same-sex attraction issue,” said Ron Prentice, executive director of the California Family Council.

That’s why six major professional groups oppose the bill.

“One (reason) would be religious liberty. Another would be self-determination of a client,” he said. “And there is absolutely no research which suggests that same-sex attraction is either genetic or that it is fixed and can’t be changed.”

When the California Assembly considers the bill, we’ll be sure to have coverage of the outcome here at P8TT!

If you have same-sex attractions, don’t get down on yourself. The Bible does not condemn you or normal, loving same-sex relationships..

Click the link to read the packet I wrote to better understand Homosexuality and what the Bible says about it.

Please reblog, you never know who it might help.

-Ian

chroniclingmontax:

Seriously, Printing this interview out. 

What an encouraging and enlightening post!

Everyone here should check out GCN! It’s much more moderate than GCI (we are by nature strictly Side-A writers), but it’s still a really good resource and very professional.

-Ian

booincorporated:

If you’re of voting age and happen to be in favor of marriage equality, here is our PSA about Referendum (R) 74 and Initiative (I) 1192.

R-74 is a referendum focused on putting gay marriage as a popular vote. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? It almost sounds like it’s in favor of marriage…

For Washington State Residents, read this to understand and receive clarification regarding R-74!

Please Reblog.

-Ian

ishachan:

According to Rev. Dr. Patrick S. Cheng, a gay theologian and member of the MCC theologies team who had been assistant pastor when Ngeo was struggling to come out, queer theology has developed since the 1950s. In his new book, “Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology,” Cheng argues that radical love, “a love so extreme that it dissolves our existing boundaries,” including “gay” vs. “straight,” “male” vs. “female,” lies at the heart of queer theology.

“Given that theology literally means “God talk,” Cheng explained, referring to its Greek etymology, “queer theology can be defined as queer (that is, lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) people talking about God.”

“It is presumed that we have nothing to say about Christianity and/or the Christian tradition is opposed to our very existence,” he added in an email.

Queer theology has increasingly appeared within the curricula of U.S. divinity schools, including the Chicago Theological Seminary, Episcopal Divinity School where Cheng taught a course this summer, and Harvard Divinity School, which is expected to offer a course next year. Durham University and the University of Birmingham in the UK also offer such courses.

(Source: authorlauralee)