I don't get it...what about all the gay Catholics out there? Or all the Catholics and Churches in general who are homosexual friendly? I thought this website was against hate...
Mods, is this pic really still up? I thought you would have taken it down by now. There are plenty of churches, and loving Christians and Catholics out there who couldn't care less if you are gay, straight, bi, transexual, intersexed, whatever. Just because someone offers to pray for you doesn't mean they are praying for you to change. Maybe they are just praying that you will be happy, or be strong when you face persecution, or know where to find people you can turn to?
We've considered this image also and have decided to leave it up as we see the message as relevant to This Is Oz. We interpret the message as (this person's) comment on the church's control of women's bodies, their reproduction or even their sexuality. We see it as a claim for women's self determination as well as a comment on lesbian women who choose to have children through artificial or other means.
We also agree with the last comment here that the church or Christians are often very supportive of diversity of sexuality and gender - indeed there are many gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Christians who may well feel they belong in their church and feel supported. However we see this image as a comment perhaps on doctrine rather than individuals within the church.
As the person in this photo, I decided to use that phrase as a way to reflect my personal experiences with religion. In no way was I intending on making generalisations about or attacking Catholics, Christians or any other religion. I had thought the purpose of this project was for individuals to express their personal interpretations of what homophobia is to them. This is Oz is supposed to be about speaking up and encouraging speaking out about discrimination, about individual perceptions and expressions of how homophobia affects them personally. I am surprised that in speaking up, my photo has been asked to be pulled off because it is deemed by some to be pushing the boundaries. I thank the moderators for seeing and interpreting the message the way I had intended. It is about the religious doctrine, not about individuals. Furthermore, it has everything to do with my personal experiences and my personal way of speaking up about one of the ways homophobia affects me. Nevertheless, I apologise for any offence caused, as that was not my intention, but I do not apologise for making my voice heard.
An International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) initiative in partnership with:
ACON (NSW's leading GLBT health promotion agency), Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project, City of Sydney, NSW Police Force, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Anti-Violence Project of Victoria, NSW Young Lawyers Human Rights Committee (Same-Sex and Anti-Discrimination Working Groups), Amnesty International Australia NSW LGBTQ Network, Diversity Council Australia, Twenty10, NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, National LGBT Health Alliance, Metropolitan Community Church Sydney, The Gender Centre, Highschoolers Against Homophobia and others.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 10:47AM
Reader Comments (6)
Hahaha. Awesome. A direct hit against the biggest hate mongerer of all! I love it.
I don't get it...what about all the gay Catholics out there? Or all the Catholics and Churches in general who are homosexual friendly?
I thought this website was against hate...
Well I agree, but um, isn't this site about homophobia, not abortion rights? Cute phrase and all but it's misplaced.
Mods, is this pic really still up? I thought you would have taken it down by now.
There are plenty of churches, and loving Christians and Catholics out there who couldn't care less if you are gay, straight, bi, transexual, intersexed, whatever. Just because someone offers to pray for you doesn't mean they are praying for you to change. Maybe they are just praying that you will be happy, or be strong when you face persecution, or know where to find people you can turn to?
Please mods, get rid of this pic...
Thanks for your comments on this image.
We've considered this image also and have decided to leave it up as we see the message as relevant to This Is Oz. We interpret the message as (this person's) comment on the church's control of women's bodies, their reproduction or even their sexuality. We see it as a claim for women's self determination as well as a comment on lesbian women who choose to have children through artificial or other means.
We also agree with the last comment here that the church or Christians are often very supportive of diversity of sexuality and gender - indeed there are many gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Christians who may well feel they belong in their church and feel supported. However we see this image as a comment perhaps on doctrine rather than individuals within the church.
As the person in this photo, I decided to use that phrase as a way to reflect my personal experiences with religion. In no way was I intending on making generalisations about or attacking Catholics, Christians or any other religion. I had thought the purpose of this project was for individuals to express their personal interpretations of what homophobia is to them.
This is Oz is supposed to be about speaking up and encouraging speaking out about discrimination, about individual perceptions and expressions of how homophobia affects them personally. I am surprised that in speaking up, my photo has been asked to be pulled off because it is deemed by some to be pushing the boundaries.
I thank the moderators for seeing and interpreting the message the way I had intended. It is about the religious doctrine, not about individuals. Furthermore, it has everything to do with my personal experiences and my personal way of speaking up about one of the ways homophobia affects me.
Nevertheless, I apologise for any offence caused, as that was not my intention, but I do not apologise for making my voice heard.