Noah Berlatsky - Homosexuality

Christine Nasso, Publisher
Elizabeth Des Chenes, Managing Editor

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Homosexuality / Noah Berlatsky, book editor. p. cm. -- (Global viewpoints)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-7377-5191-8 (hbk.) -- ISBN 978-0-7377-5192-5 (pbk.)
1. Homosexuality--Juvenile literature. I. Berlatsky, Noah.
HQ76.25.H67393 2011
306.76'6--dc22

2010032976

Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 15 14 13 12 11

1. Thai Buddhism Has No Clear Teachings on Homosexuality
   Hakan Jakob Kosar
   Thai Buddhism does not have a clear position on homosexuality. In some cases, it may be equated with sexual misconduct, in others it may not.

2. In Israel, Orthodox Rabbis May Allow Some Options for Homosexual Men
   Anshel Pfeffer
   Orthodox rabbis in Israel have stated that a gay man may have an open, nonsexual relationship with another man as long as he marries a woman and has children. This is a change, since traditionally Orthodox rabbis would neither discuss nor acknowledge homosexuality.

3. In Israel and the United States, Conservative Synagogues Are Split over Gay Rabbis
   Beth Schwartzapfel
   In the United States, Conservative Jewish rabbinical schools have opened their doors to gay students; Israeli Conservative schools have not. Nonetheless, gay American students studying in Israel have promoted understanding.

4. Islam Is Morally Conflicted About Homosexuality
   TheReligionofPeace.com
   Islamic teaching strongly opposes homosexuality. At the same time, there are many passages in the Quran and other Islamic holy texts that present homosexuality in a neutral or positive light. Thus, Islams attitude toward homosexuality is conflicted.

5. The Russian Orthodox Church Is Opposed to Homosexuality
   Spiegel in an interview with Metropolitan Kyrill
   The Russian Orthodox Church believes that homosexuality is a sin. Gay people should not be persecuted, but homosexuality should not be promoted; otherwise, morality becomes relative, which is disastrous.

6. Catholic Spirituality Can Embrace Homosexuality
   Sebastian Moore
   The Catholic Church has a tradition of same-sex friendships and an understanding of sexual love, which can be of spiritual help to homosexuals as the taboo against same-sex relationships dissolves.

7. The Catholic Church Rejects Homosexuality
   Courage
   The Catholic Church condemns homosexual acts as damaging and sinful but has no prejudice against those who commit them. Abandoning the homosexual life for Catholicism and chastity can bring peace and happiness.

8. In Nigeria, Anglicans Support Imprisonment for Homosexuality
   Faith J.H. McDonnell
   The archbishop of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Peter J. Akinola, supports the biblical view of homosexuality as a sin and encourages legislation that provides imprisonment as a penalty for those convicted rather the death penalty proposed by Nigerian Muslims.

1. Homophobia Is Worsening in Malaysia
   Walter L. Williams
   In Malaysia persecution of homosexuals has worsened.The international community should impose boycottsand should offer asylum to those gays and lesbians whoseek to escape the country.

2. In India, Homosexuality Is Treatedwith Benign Neglect
   Sudhir Kakar
   In India homosexual acts have traditionally been toleratedas long as traditional family structures and procreationwere not threatened. Thus, male homosexuality haslargely been tolerated as long as it remains invisible,while female homosexuality has been punished moreharshly.

3. Depictions of Gay Men in Japanese Comicsfor Women Are Not Homophobic
   Wim Lunsing
   BLB and yaoi mangaJapanese comics by women forwomen that depict gay male relationshipsare oftencriticized as homophobic. However, close attention to thegenre shows that it does not promote harmful attitudestoward gay men.

4. IWestern Evangelicals Have EncouragedHomophobia in Uganda
   John Moore
   Three Evangelical Christians have spoken in Ugandaagainst homosexuality. Their mix of pseudoscience andbigotry has helped to promote antigay legislation inUganda. Christians should condemn this action.

5. In Latin America, Homophobia HindersAnti-AIDS Campaigns
   UNAIDS
   Latin American laws do not prosecute homosexuals, butgays still face persecution and violence. This is especiallydangerous since HIV is prevalent among homosexualmen in the region, and homophobia makes it more difficultfor these men to access health services, contributingto the spread of the disease.

1. A Strong Law Against HomosexualityIs Being Proposed in Uganda
   Agnes Asiimwe
   Christian and Muslim Ugandans support a new bill thatwould bolster the protection of the traditional Africanheterosexual marriage and provide the death penalty forthose convicted of homosexual sex with a minor or whilebeing HIV positive. Several Western governments, humanrights groups, and gay activists oppose the bill.

2. In Nigerias Laws Against HomosexualityViolate Human Rights
   Human Rights Watch
   A proposed Nigerian law banning same-sex marriagewould allow draconian invasion of privacy, threateningall Nigerians. It violates international human rights standardsand should not be passed