Comments on: Looking at North American Friends and theological hotspots

By: Robin Mohr

Robin Mohr — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:52:25 +0000

Let me repeat that I'm just wondering. And that I know that Hispanic does not equal homophobic, any more than white equals homophobic, or Christian equals homophobic, except of course that there are individuals who are each of these. And of course that all of us participate in a racist and homophobic, etc. system. I'm frankly offended by the implication that I don't know this. It's not been tried, but then there isn't another Quaker group in this area to try it with. I appreciate Jeanne's example of your yearly meeting, because I had heard that there had been difficulties in both directions. Also, I don't think I've been to a meeting for business in SF that didn't have gay, lesbian and/or bisexual members present. (Not all of them would identify as queer, and not all of them would choose to speak for the whole community, but that's another discussion.)

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:46:13 +0000

Robin, Allison is right for asking "How can anyone know until it is tried?" In Northern Yearly Meeting, we're "sister" Yearly Meeting to El Salvador Yearly Meeting. One time when representatives visited our annual sessions, two women stayed in the group dorm with Liz and I. We'd put our beds together, and the women didn't seem to mind, or even notice. What *did* happen was that one NYM Friend asked us not to do that, and to not be demonstrative. Mind you, the most "demonstrative" Liz and I are is to hold hands, hug when we've been apart (but no more than friends might). Perhaps a peck on the cheek or lips. When the El Salvadoran Friends were asked about this concern, they said they believed homosexuality to be wrong, but offered Jesus's love to everyone equally. They didn't mind being in the dorm with us, with our beds together. And El Salvador Yearly Meeting continues sending visitors to our Yearly Meeting and we continue to send visitors to theirs. While I certainly can see how it might be good for allies to ask the questions you ask, you do need to ask it of the groups you invite. I would also suggest specifically inviting the queer community to the Meeting for Worship for Business when the community discusses any invitation so that you're sure their Light is added to the discernment. Another thing that's happened is there's been some homophobia on the part of the NYM El Salvador visitation planning committee in terms of committee membership; for a while they had a 'policy' of not letting queer people travel. Again, I think that was because of homophobia inside of NYM rather than in ESYM. I would love to share a Meeting House with Hispanic Friends because I agree that serious theological wrestling, as well as a very healthy (and healthy as in appropriate, not robust) dose of diversity, are good for any spiritual community. Jeanne

By: Allison

Allison — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:01:04 +0000

Hi Robin,
I think it’s understandable to be frightened of anti-queer theology and practice, because I certainly am. But is it fear of evangelical Friends or fear of Hispanic Friends? Do the two always go together? And is there possibly some misunderstanding here that says Hispanic Friends don’t like queer people? How can anyone know until it is tried? Because I’d venture to say that Friends process should be able to peacefully handle these differences among themselves… otherwise, how can Friends expect the rest of the world to handle its conflicts?

By: Robin Mohr

Robin Mohr — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:38:54 +0000

Okay - here's one possible response to Margaret Fraser's question. In our meetinghouse, we regularly rent to other groups. I think we would be delighted to host another Quaker group if there was one in SF. However, I don't think we would rent our space to a group that officially excluded LGBT people. Many of the Hispanic Friends are coming from evangelical yearly meetings that openly or quietly discriminate against homosexual people. Would they be willing to rent in our building that from time to time has a sign out front expressing our thirty plus years of support for same-sex marriage? I don't know. I'm sure that Hispanic Friends are not a monolithic entity any more than any other kind of Friends. But I've thought about this before and I wonder.