Equality Camp

Equality Camp SF 2009 – 179

Originally uploaded by chrisheuer

We were in the midst of Equality Camp when Tara noticed 3 tall African-American men who had come into the room, but then left. She chased them down the street in her high heels and persuaded them to return. We offered them lunch and then they began talking with us.

The tallest man, the one who wears a collar, said is name was Slim. Everyone was affable and you could tell we all wanted to be nice to each other. But we just simply don’t see the world the same way.

I’ve had many religious Christians and Mormons tell me that being attracted to people of the same-sex is a choice. Another familiar refrain is that moral decisions aren’t up to the individual, they’re up to God. That’s what Slim is talking about in this photo here. (I have the earlier part of our group convo on tape and will post it late tonight or tomorrow).

While it’s something you can chat about over lunch, that’s not a conversation for a courtroom in a democracy. It’s already failed there.

Unlike many Christians I’ve met who want to give me these arguments, Slim doesn’t seem to feel like gay people are going to stop having relationships with each other. When I asked him if he believed that my wife and I love each other he said “Yes.” He hoped he could change our minds, but also acknowledged he didn’t believe it would happen. He said they committed to go to any event focussed on overturning Prop 8 to dialogue.

I much prefer direct contact. And it was very nice to meet. But I’m not sure I’d call it dialogue. At heart our world and reality views are so completely separate that it’s more like views being laid down side by side, rather than an exchange occurring.