Opening Doors taps a common ideological vein

E-mails and phone calls from around the country have been bombarding the coordinators of Opening Doors, a symposium on homosexuality and Christianity that will hold discussions and events every Tuesday and Thursday of this month. Unexpectedly, this controversial pairing of issues has been mostly well-received.

"The feedback from students and faculty has been surprisingly positive," Michael Lundberg, BK '00, logistics coordinator for Opening Doors, said. "Even groups on campus that may not hold the same views as we do are encouraged that a dialogue has been started. Of course, that is one of the major goals of Opening Doors—that people with diverse opinions can begin to communicate with one another."

COURTESY OPENING DOORS A variety of approaches were considered for the sensitive goal of Opening Doors.

Sarah Loose, ES '01, became concerned about the lack of constructive dialogue at Yale regarding sexual orientation when black triangles were posted around campus following last year's Gay Pride Week. She brought up the issue in an Action for Reconciling Ministry in Society (ARMS) meeting.

"I posed the question that many of the loudest, most hateful voices condemning lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgendered (LGBT) persons are coming from right-wing Christians in the name of God," Loose said. "As a community of faith committed to social justice and welcoming people of all sexual orientations, how might we respond to something which seems to be so contrary to the heart of our faith?" She received a Kunston grant—a fund created last spring in memory of a homosexual clergyman who died of AIDS—and, along with other students of different faiths and sexual orientation, began brainstorming about the best way to catalyze the kind of discussion "essential to achieving understanding and respect."

The organization's goal is simple, according to Abbi Coursolle, MC '02, who coordinates speakers for the group. "We want to present a counterpoint to the view, all too often presented, that homosexuality is a sin," she said. "We want to show people that there is a moderate view out there. There are ways to be inclusive." The symposium's format is designed to foster in-depth discussion between academics, religious leaders and students. This weekend, speakers like Troy Perry, founder of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, as well as Steven Charleston, President and Dean of Episcopal Divinity School, will lead panel discussions and small groups alongside Yale professors and New Haven clergy. This weekend's topic is entitled "Prejudices and Stereotypes among Christian and LGBT Communities."

The coordinators of Opening Doors received much support from the Yale community in planning the symposium. The Yale University Chaplain's Office advised Loose and Co-Coordinator Chong-Hao Fu, MC '01, on issues from speaker selection to publicity. Assistant Chaplain Cynthia Terry was careful to consider all approaches to the organization of Opening Doors with Loose and Fu, because "there is so much controversy. It is necessary to be as clear about everything as possible." Terry counseled Opening Doors to steer the program away from a debate format. "I don't think that it is right or good to debate someone's personhood," she said. "It's not a matter of right or wrong, good or bad. There's no debate about it." The official position of the Chaplain's Office is to be open and accepting. "It's both practical and theological. Practical, because the University has a non-discriminatory clause. Theologically, we do not believe that a person's sexual orientation can be wrong; it's not a matter of choice."

Bringing speakers on board has been surprisingly free of difficulties, according to Publicity Coordinator Elizabeth Edmondson, TD '01. The group originally made a wish list of guests, and although some inevitably could not attend, most were very agreeable. "We've been very pleased at the response from the speakers. We wanted speakers from a variety of backgrounds who could speak to different aspects of the larger issue—theological, legal and personal." Future speakers include Rich Tafel, founder and president of the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation's largest gay and lesbian Republican organization, and Jimmy Creech, a Methodist minister removed from office for conducting same-sex marriages.

While the coordinators of Opening Doors initially wanted to extend the discussion to all religions, Terry and others warned against being too ambitious in the beginning stages. Although the symposium concentrates on Christianity's relationship with sexual orientation, Opening Doors ultimately strives to attract people from all faiths and affiliations. "The feedback from non-Christian students has been very positive," Lundberg explained. "I have friends who are Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish who will be coming, so that they can be a part of the conversation."

"In the initial stages, there seemed to be a bit of a fear that the covert purpose of Opening Doors was to convert all homosexuals to Christianity," Loose declared. "This is certainly not the case, and we invite all people of all and any faith, conviction, creed or lack thereof, to engage in what we believe is a relevant discussion of all people."

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