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Coming Out… in
the name of God
Throughout history, many individuals
who identify themselves as part of the LGBTQ+ community have been facing
discrimination, hatred, and bigotry. In the 1950-60s, as an example, some
therapists focused on malicious
practices to “cure” male homosexuality, such as forcing patients to see pictures
of naked men while giving them electric shocks or drugs until they vomit, to
then making them go on a date with a young female nurse. In the same way in
1968, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) listed homosexuality as a mental
disorder, and it was not until 1987 that this concept was removed from
APA’s Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Being part of the LGBTQ+
community is ‘one thing,’ but being a religious person and ‘gay’ would bring even more disapprovals and hate to the table.
Some people not only have an ‘issue’ with these community but also with the
[heterosexual] religious
leaders who preach love regardless sexual orientation. Although our first
amendment states that we all have the right to freedom of religion and
speech, it seems like this not necessarily applies to gays or any other gender
aside from heterosexual. But, what are the values of a person who chooses to come out in the name of God?
Community
Psychologists and LGBTQ+
Psychologists Nelson and
Prilleltensky (2010) claim that the three ‘core values’ for community
psychologists are: values for personal, relational, and collective well-being.
The authors of Community Psychology: In
Pursuit of Liberation and Well-Being promote a series of values such as
caring and compassion, respect for diversity, and social justice, as well as
questions that community psychologists should ask to themselves to better aid communities,
including the LGBTQ+ one. Nelson and Prilleltensky (2010) state that, “When
collective factors such as social justice and access to valued resources
combine with a sense of community and personal empowerment, chances are that
psychological and political well-being will ensure” (2010, p. 65). In the “Report
of the American Psychological Association Task Force: Appropriate Therapeutic
Responses to Sexual Orientation,” the APA reports
that although some religious values, beliefs and practices have
changed over time, “reflecting evolving scientific and civil rights
perspectives on homosexuality and sexual orientation… [some other religious
groups including some religious-based
colleges] perceive their religion and their sexual orientation as
incompatible, because in some faiths homosexuality is perceived as sinful and immoral”
(American Psychological Association 2009, p. 20).
As community psychologists, it is
our responsibility to continue aiding and defending disadvantaged people and
promoting social justice. It is equally important to recognize that the
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual, Questioning/Queer, Intersex,
and so forth also form part of these groups who have been so marginalized and
oppressed throughout history and across the world. Working towards inclusion
and providing a sense of community, are some of the values and principles that
community psychologist should keep on mind to address the LGBTQ+ community;
particularly, to keep on deconstructing the idea that a person cannot describe
him/herself as gay and religious because it is widely considerate as a
contradiction to many religious people’s beliefs. Why is so difficult to show respect and being ethical towards a person
whose chose to follow God’s amendment of loving our neighbors like ourselves
(Mark 12:31)?
References:
Geoffrey Nelson, Isaac
Prilleltensky. (2010). Community Pasychology: In Pursuit of Liberation and
Well-Being (2nd ed.). New York: Palgrave MacMillian.
American Psychological Association. (2009). Report of the American Psychological
Association Task Force: Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation.
Washington, DC.
#UML #CommPsych
