The Unitarian Universalist Congregation I belong to recently made the decision to works towards becoming an official Welcoming Congregation. This is a good and necessary step for us. When the decision was made, I agreed to become a member of the task force that will lead our congregation through the process, which involves a lots of training and workshops for the entire congregation, etc.
The other night, I wrote a short article about it for our church newsletter and had keep retyping GLBTQ (what I am used to) to replace it with (BGLT). I certainly do not claim to be an expert in modern language use or acronyms describing people of various sexual persuasions or gender identities, but It did strike me as strange. I have never seen the B placed in front prior to this new experience, the emphasis, as I have usually seen it, is on the G (Gay) and L (Lesbian) with B (Bisexual) and T (Transgender), and sometimes Q (Queer or Questioning) added on as the "movement" adapted to "modern" times. (I cannot help but put the quotations in because to me the concept of homosexuality or various sexual preferences as modern is absurd, sorry to those of you irritated by superfluous use of quotation marks).
This piqued my interest in a way, and to be honest, a little cynical and perhaps critical of the UUA, although I am aware that the issue is a small one. The book I was using for the article is The Welcoming Congregation Handbook; Resources for affirming Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and/or Transgender People put out by the UUA. Is it totally paranoid to think that they moved the B to the front because bisexuals are the least threatening category to heterosexuals? I am sure that I am reading into this too much, as I do most things. The UUA is eons ahead of other religions in its acceptance and inclusion of individuals who are BGLT (or GLBTQ) into its congregations and clergy, but even so, I think sometimes a little too reticent about some things.
I don't know. Just a thought. I know I am goofy.
In further news, I am heading out of town for a whole week! No internet at all, not even a computer in sight. I'll bring my phone, but i am hoping not to use it. No DVDs or Sesame Street. There is a TV in the cottage we are renting, but I am banking on keeping it off.
What will we do instead? Pool. Beach. Hiking. Civil War sites. Bison. Boating. Reading. Relaxing. Drinking wine with my dh on a nice deck by the lake when the kids are asleep. ahhh. Did I mention my 6th wedding anniversary is next Saturday?
Have fun, be good while I am gone. Leave me a comment so I feel like I was missed while I was gone. please?
8 comments:
the reason the GLBTQ has been rearranged lately to BGLTQ is because that is the alphabetical order.
It is still tough for me too, but back in the day when Pride movements frist started (in the 40s and 50s) it was always Gay rights groups and Lesbian rights groups and they where seperate. And then Gays and Lesbians got togather and reluctantly added Bisexuals, and eventually even more reluctantly added Transgenders.
The Queer movement is not very well understood even within the community which is why it is often droped.
Sorry for the long comment, but one further thing. I actually believe the Bisexuality is the most threatening to many straight people and gay and lesbian people alike.
interesting about the alpahabetical order. It makes sense I guess.
and you know, as I typed that out- I had the same thought about bisexuality perhaps being the most threatening. I would say you are probably dead on with that.
Thanks for commenting; I'll have to check out your blog :)
I'm not sure about threatening but bisexuality is the least understandable by heterosexuals.
Where are you going? I am so jealous, I would LOVE a family vacation. Have a blast.
Enjoy your vacation, Shannon!
I miss you, my friend. Hope you're having a wonderful time!
I hope you had a fabulous time---it sounds like a piece of heaven!
Happy belated anniversary!
i think bisexuality is the most misunderstood by both sides. i admit i didn't get it until i made some bi friends. i learned even more from my t friends. my favorite word is queer. i feel is is all encompassing and i love reclaiming it and taking the power away.
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