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Conservative Bishops Still Mad at Pope; Oligarch Launches Orthodox Network; Yoga Won’t Change Sexuality; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…o promote dialogue with the Islamic world, has published an interview with South African Imam Muhsin Hendricks, in which Hendricks discusses his struggles to reconcile his faith and sexuality and his approach to interpreting the Koran. Italy: Rome Mayor May Take Marriage to European Court We have previously reported on efforts by the national government to shut down actions taken by several mayors to register the marriages of same-sex couples who…

Thanksgivukkah, With a Side of Christmas Envy

By Jodi Eichler-Levine

…ic piety, and Norman Rockwell-ian family celebrations. Long ago, it seems, South Park featured the young Jewish character Kyle Broslowski singing “It’s hard to be a Jew on Christmas.” Though he ultimate reconciles himself to his Jewishness, he also bemoans his social position. “I can’t sing christmas songs or decorate a christmas tree, or leave water out for rudolph ’cause there’s something wrong with me! My people don’t believe in Jesus Christ’s…

International Protest of Anti-Gay Persecution in Chechnya Grows; more in Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…the legislative elections in June, arguing for traditional family values. South Korea: Army reportedly targeting gay soldiers Army investigators, reportedly under orders from the Army chief of staff who also heads a Christian military organization, have been using gay dating apps to identify gay soldiers, according to a story in Quartz by Jeyup S. Kwaak and Isabella Steger: Army investigators have been trying to dox suspected homosexual soldiers…

The Politics of Anti-Gay Persecution: Gambia, Egypt, Jamaica, Russia, with a Helping Hand from US Religious Conservatives; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…hurch does not permit clergy to perform or enter into a same-sex marriage. South Korea: Protesters occupy city hall after nondiscrimination charter dropped LGBT protesters occupied City Hall in Seoul this week after the government dropped plans to enact a human rights charter that would have banned anti-gay discrimination. According to Pink News, the charter was to have been enacted on Human Rights Day – December 10 – but “after it picked up flack…

Broadcast Officials in China Censor Gay TV Characters

By Peter Montgomery

…y LGBTQ faith-based organization in the region. It works primarily in Anglophone countries but has plans to expand further in Africa, with additional focus on Francophone regions. There is no group or organization in the region that addresses the needs of LGBTQ and MSM Muslims. Mambaonline.com published an interview this week with a lesbian couple whose marriage in December generated media coverage that led to both positive and negative responses,…

Latest “Religious Freedom” Bills Reveal a New Strategy

By Sunnivie Brydum

…or agencies, effectively gutting existing LGBT protections in those areas. South Dakota led the way, followed by Alabama, and Texas’ SB 156. The avalanche of anti-LGBT legislation already passing necessitates a sobering reminder: It’s only March. “Several state legislatures have filed religious refusal laws this year, claiming that their goal is to curb ‘government discrimination’ against religious people or organizations,” said Ashe McGovern, the…

Scientology: All-American or Aging Hoax?

By Gordon Haber

…y has been digging for dirt on Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, for satirizing the church in the 2005 episode “Trapped in the Closet.” The church allegedly hired investigators to go through their trash and to collect information about their staff. (Meanwhile, the most offensive thing about the episode was that it wasn’t all that funny.) While there is something undeniably disturbing about The Church of Scientology, there’s…

A Comedy Writer Confronts ‘Mind-Shredding Evil’ in Uganda

By Frederick Clarkson

…e because he always knows exactly when the Ugandan Army is coming, in what numbers, and what kinds of weapons they are carrying. Indeed. The occasional skirmish not withstanding, Kony has apparently enjoyed high-level assistance in sustaining his lifestyle while evading Ugandan troops ostensibly tasked with stopping him. Back in 1996, according to a document reprinted by Bussmann, the Ugandan and Sudanese governments knew exactly where Catholic sc…

Book of Mormon Musical Creators Do Owe Mormonism a Big Thank You

By Joanna Brooks

The godless, potty-mouthed creators of South Park publicly thanked Mormonism’s founder Joseph Smith Jr. Sunday night, as they took home nine Tony Awards—including Best Musical. “You did it, Joseph,” Trey Parker gleefully declared, “You got the Tony!” And they should thank Joseph Smith. And all of the other famous and regular Mormon people who together have created the most rich and compelling new religion in the modern world. There would be no Bo…

Apoplectic about Abortion: One Woman’s Emotional Roller Coaster

By Donna Schaper

…o even bring up the possibility (just raised, and thankfully dismissed, in South Dakota) of encouraging people to murder doctors who do abortions is to move beyond apoplectic, where even rage doesn’t protect our souls. I am now praying for my mental health as a mature woman. I am praying to learn what Jesus could do, which is to love my enemy and be good to those who hurt me. As an adult, and a woman, I know my rage is hurting me as much as it i…