Latest news with #gaymarriage
Fox News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Why Andrew Sullivan says the gay rights movement has gone off the rails
There's a phrase I keep hearing these days: TAKE THE WIN. It can be applied to anyone – Donald Trump, Chuck Schumer, AOC – who notches a victory and then insists on demanding more, however unrealistic that might be. What brings this to mind is an extraordinary essay by Andrew Sullivan in the New York Times. It was Sullivan – a gay, British conservative Catholic running the New Republic – who first made the case for gay marriage back in 1989. "As it has become more acceptable for gay people to acknowledge their loves publicly, more and more have committed themselves to one another for life in full view of their families and their friends. A law institutionalizing gay marriage would merely reinforce a healthy social trend." The cover story was wildly unpopular and viewed as extremist. Despite his optimism, many gays remained closeted, including in the media, for fear of repercussions. Gays in the military, before Bill Clinton, were subject to discharge or court-martial. So Sullivan's dream was seen as a faraway fantasy. Christian conservative Gary Bauer, on "Crossfire," said "this is the loopiest idea ever to come down the pike. Why are we even discussing it?" In the spring of 1996, Andrew came to me and asked me to break the story that he had AIDS, and, in part, that's why he was resigning as the New Republic's editor. He said he'd known he had the disease for three years but was in good health. "It's an awful burden being lifted," he told me. "It's hard enough to battle the disease, but when there's a secret about it, you can't help but tap into feelings of shame and guilt that just destroy you." It was not until 2015, after 37 states had already acted (with some overturned), that the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage the law of the land. And when straight couples realized their own marriages were unaffected, it gradually faded as a hot political issue. Polls now show that seven in 10 Americans support gay marriage. Gays now serve openly in the Cabinet and in state houses. "As civil rights victories go," Sullivan, still in generally good health, writes in the Times, "it doesn't get more decisive or comprehensive than this." The issue is getting plenty of media play because it's the 10th anniversary of the SCOTUS ruling. But now comes the overreach. Rather than declare victory and close up shop, the movement lurched in a dangerous new direction. Sullivan says he always supported civil rights for transgender people. And I feel the same way. But gay rights groups, with money pouring in, tried to replace the distinction between men and women with "gender identity" – and that meant an embrace of gender-altering surgery for minors. That is an issue opposed by roughly 80 percent of the country. Along with an obsession with pronouns, the movement also backed letting trans women compete in women's sports, another issue that most people find unfair, viewing them as men. The new mantra, according to Sullivan: "TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN. TRANS MEN ARE MEN." President Trump has ordered trans military members booted from the service. Sullivan, no fan of the president, says some activists reflexively oppose whatever Trump supports. "Dissenters from gender ideology are routinely unfriended, shunned and shamed. Almost all of the gay men, trans people and lesbians who have confided in me [say] that they don't agree with this… "Leave children out of it. We knew very well that any overreach there could provoke the most ancient libel against us: that we groom and abuse kids." This is one man's opinion; Sullivan allows he may be "just another old fart." As if to underscore his point about intolerance, a poster on Reddit called the piece an "incoherent mishmash" and says Sullivan is "blaming trans and LGBTQ+ activists for conservative attacks on the trans community." This from "an aging gay man whose brain is soaked in prejudice and fear." Plenty of people may disagree with Andrew Sullivan's analysis; Republican support for same-sex unions falls below 50 percent. But as the first man to crusade for gay marriage 36 years ago, and openly discuss his battle with HIV, I'd say he's earned the right to be heard.
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Nation's largest Protestant denomination calls for overturning Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage
The Southern Baptist Convention adopted a lengthy resolution this week that, in part, calls for the overturning of the Supreme Court's 2015 gay marriage ruling. The text of the resolution, titled, "On Restoring Moral Clarity through God's Design for Gender, Marriage, and the Family," calls "for the overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family." The multifaceted and wide-ranging resolution calls "for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one woman, recognize the biological reality of male and female, protect children's innocence against sexual predation, affirm and strengthen parental rights in education and healthcare, incentivize family formation in life-affirming ways, and ensure safety and fairness in athletic competition." It also urges defunding Planned Parenthood and directing public funds toward "life-affirming healthcare providers." The 10-year anniversary of the high court's controversial landmark 5-4 gay marriage decision falls later this month. "The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex," the opinion asserted. Resolutions committee chair Dr. Andrew Walker, who described the SBC as the biggest Protestant denomination in the U.S., emphasized during a press conference that he recognizes the "headwinds." "There is very little desire, even on the conservative side, I think, to go to bat for marriage in this… culture," he said, explaining that the resolution aims to convey that "Southern Baptists are not going anywhere on this issue." He noted that he hopes "this is used as a mechanism for encouragement for other conservative-minded evangelicals."
CNN
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Southern Baptists overwhelmingly call for a ban on gay marriage
Southern Baptists overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on gay marriage — including a call for a reversal of the US Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing. The votes came at the gathering of more than 10,000 church representatives at the annual meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination. A proposed resolution says legislators have a duty to 'pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family' and to oppose laws contradicting 'what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.' A wide-ranging resolution calls for the 'overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family.' A reversal of Obergefell wouldn't in and of itself be a ban. The resolution calls 'for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one women.' There was no debate on the marriage resolution. The two-day annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention began Tuesday morning with praise sessions and optimistic reports about growing numbers of baptisms. But casting a pall over the gathering is the recent death of one of the most high-profile whistleblowers in the Southern Baptists' scandal of sexual abuse. Jennifer Lyell, a onetime denominational publishing executive who went public in 2019 with allegations that she had been sexually abused by a seminary professor while a student, died Saturday at 47. She 'suffered catastrophic strokes,' a friend and fellow advocate, Rachael Denhollander, posted Sunday on X. Friends reported that the backlash Lyell received after going public with her report took a devastating toll on her. Several abuse survivors and advocates for reform, who previously had a prominent presence in recent SBC meetings, are skipping this year's gathering, citing lack of progress by the convention. Two people sought to fill that void, standing vigil outside of the meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas as attendees walked by. The pair held up signs with photos of Lyell and of Gareld Duane Rollins, who died earlier this spring and who was among those who accused longtime SBC power broker Paul Pressler of sexual abuse. 'It's not a healthy thing for them (survivors) to be here,' said Johnna Harris, host of a podcast on abuse in evangelical ministries. 'I felt like it was important for someone to show up. I want people to know there are people who care.' The SBC Executive Committee, in a 2022 apology, acknowledged 'its failure to adequately listen, protect, and care for Jennifer Lyell when she came forward to share her story.' It also acknowledged the denomination's official news agency had not accurately reported the situation as 'sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary.' SBC officials issued statements this week lamenting Lyell's death, but her fellow advocates have denounced what they say is a failure to implement reforms. The SBC's 2022 meeting voted overwhelmingly to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse. That came shortly after the release of a blockbuster report by an outside consultant, which said Southern Baptist leaders mishandled abuse cases and stonewalled victims for years. But the denomination's Executive Committee president, Jeff Iorg, said earlier this year that creating a database is not a focus and that the committee instead plans to refer churches to existing databases of sex offenders and focus on education about abuse prevention. The committee administers the denomination's day-to-day business. Advocates for reform don't see those approaches as adequate. It is the latest instance of 'officials trailing out hollow words, impotent task forces and phony dog-and-pony shows of reform,' abuse survivor and longtime advocate Christa Brown wrote on Baptist News Global, which is not SBC-affiliated. In a related action, the Executive Committee will also be seeking $3 million in convention funding for ongoing legal expenses related to abuse cases.
CNN
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Southern Baptists overwhelmingly call for a ban on gay marriage
Southern Baptists overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on gay marriage — including a call for a reversal of the US Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing. The votes came at the gathering of more than 10,000 church representatives at the annual meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination. A proposed resolution says legislators have a duty to 'pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family' and to oppose laws contradicting 'what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.' A wide-ranging resolution calls for the 'overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family.' A reversal of Obergefell wouldn't in and of itself be a ban. The resolution calls 'for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one women.' There was no debate on the marriage resolution. The two-day annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention began Tuesday morning with praise sessions and optimistic reports about growing numbers of baptisms. But casting a pall over the gathering is the recent death of one of the most high-profile whistleblowers in the Southern Baptists' scandal of sexual abuse. Jennifer Lyell, a onetime denominational publishing executive who went public in 2019 with allegations that she had been sexually abused by a seminary professor while a student, died Saturday at 47. She 'suffered catastrophic strokes,' a friend and fellow advocate, Rachael Denhollander, posted Sunday on X. Friends reported that the backlash Lyell received after going public with her report took a devastating toll on her. Several abuse survivors and advocates for reform, who previously had a prominent presence in recent SBC meetings, are skipping this year's gathering, citing lack of progress by the convention. Two people sought to fill that void, standing vigil outside of the meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas as attendees walked by. The pair held up signs with photos of Lyell and of Gareld Duane Rollins, who died earlier this spring and who was among those who accused longtime SBC power broker Paul Pressler of sexual abuse. 'It's not a healthy thing for them (survivors) to be here,' said Johnna Harris, host of a podcast on abuse in evangelical ministries. 'I felt like it was important for someone to show up. I want people to know there are people who care.' The SBC Executive Committee, in a 2022 apology, acknowledged 'its failure to adequately listen, protect, and care for Jennifer Lyell when she came forward to share her story.' It also acknowledged the denomination's official news agency had not accurately reported the situation as 'sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary.' SBC officials issued statements this week lamenting Lyell's death, but her fellow advocates have denounced what they say is a failure to implement reforms. The SBC's 2022 meeting voted overwhelmingly to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse. That came shortly after the release of a blockbuster report by an outside consultant, which said Southern Baptist leaders mishandled abuse cases and stonewalled victims for years. But the denomination's Executive Committee president, Jeff Iorg, said earlier this year that creating a database is not a focus and that the committee instead plans to refer churches to existing databases of sex offenders and focus on education about abuse prevention. The committee administers the denomination's day-to-day business. Advocates for reform don't see those approaches as adequate. It is the latest instance of 'officials trailing out hollow words, impotent task forces and phony dog-and-pony shows of reform,' abuse survivor and longtime advocate Christa Brown wrote on Baptist News Global, which is not SBC-affiliated. In a related action, the Executive Committee will also be seeking $3 million in convention funding for ongoing legal expenses related to abuse cases.
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Southern Baptists overwhelmingly call for a ban on gay marriage
Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley gives the President's Address during the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez) DALLAS — Southern Baptists overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on gay marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing. The votes came at the gathering of more than 10,000 church representatives at the annual meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination. A proposed resolution says legislators have a duty to 'pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family' and to oppose laws contradicting 'what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.' A wide-ranging resolution calls for the 'overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family.' A reversal of Obergefell wouldn't in and of itself be a ban. The resolution calls 'for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one women.' There was no debate on the marriage resolution. The two-day annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention began Tuesday morning with praise sessions and optimistic reports about growing numbers of baptisms. But casting a pall over the gathering is the recent death of one of the most high-profile whistleblowers in the Southern Baptists' scandal of sexual abuse. Jennifer Lyell, a onetime denominational publishing executive who went public in 2019 with allegations that she had been sexually abused by a seminary professor while a student, died Saturday at 47. She 'suffered catastrophic strokes,' a friend and fellow advocate, Rachael Denhollander, posted Sunday on X. Friends reported that the backlash Lyell received after going public with her report took a devastating toll on her. Several abuse survivors and advocates for reform, who previously had a prominent presence in recent SBC meetings, are skipping this year's gathering, citing lack of progress by the convention. Two people sought to fill that void, standing vigil outside of the meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas as attendees walked by. The pair held up signs with photos of Lyell and of Gareld Duane Rollins, who died earlier this spring and who was among those who accused longtime SBC power broker Paul Pressler of sexual abuse. 'It's not a healthy thing for them (survivors) to be here,' said Johnna Harris, host of a podcast on abuse in evangelical ministries. 'I felt like it was important for someone to show up. I want people to know there are people who care.' Past attempts at reforms in the SBC The SBC Executive Committee, in a 2022 apology, acknowledged 'its failure to adequately listen, protect, and care for Jennifer Lyell when she came forward to share her story.' It also acknowledged the denomination's official news agency had not accurately reported the situation as 'sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary.' SBC officials issued statements this week lamenting Lyell's death, but her fellow advocates have denounced what they say is a failure to implement reforms. The SBC's 2022 meeting voted overwhelmingly to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse. That came shortly after the release of a blockbuster report by an outside consultant, which said Southern Baptist leaders mishandled abuse cases and stonewalled victims for years. But the denomination's Executive Committee president, Jeff Iorg, said earlier this year that creating a database is not a focus and that the committee instead plans to refer churches to existing databases of sex offenders and focus on education about abuse prevention. The committee administers the denomination's day-to-day business. Advocates for reform don't see those approaches as adequate. It is the latest instance of 'officials trailing out hollow words, impotent task forces and phony dog-and-pony shows of reform,' abuse survivor and longtime advocate Christa Brown wrote on Baptist News Global, which is not SBC-affiliated. In a related action, the Executive Committee will also be seeking US$3 million in convention funding for ongoing legal expenses related to abuse cases. What is on the agenda? As of Tuesday afternoon, attendance was at 10,456 church representatives (known as messengers). That is less than a quarter of the total that thronged the SBC's annual meeting 40 years ago this month in a Dallas showdown that marked the height of battles over control of the convention, ultimately won by the more conservative-fundamentalist side led by Pressler and his allies. That conservative consensus remains in the convention. This year's convention will be asked to approve resolutions lamenting 'willful childlessness' and calling for bans on same-sex marriage and pornography and restrictions on sports betting. Messengers will also debate whether to institute a constitutional ban on churches with women pastors and to abolish its public-policy arm, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission — which is staunchly conservative, but according to critics, not enough so. Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, said Tuesday he would address the 'turbulence' during his scheduled remarks Wednesday but was confident in the messengers' support. 'I think the majority of Southern Baptists are going to say once again, like they always have, 'We need an entity that is dedicated to taking a distinctively Baptist voice and speaking in the public square,' ' Leatherwood said. Peter Smith, The Associated Press
