LGBT-affirming religious groups

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) affirming religious groups (also called gay-affirming) are religious groups that welcome LGBT members and do not consider homosexuality to be a sin. They include entire religious denominations, as well as individual churches and synagogues. Some are composed mainly of non-LGBT members and also have specific programs to welcome LGBT people, while others are composed mainly of LGBT members.

Abrahamic religions
See also: LGBT-affirming denominations in Judaism and List of Christian denominations affirming LGBT

The Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have traditionally forbidden non-heterosexual and non-vaginal sexual intercourse (both of which have been variously labeled as sodomy), believing and teaching that such behavior is sinful and derived from the behavior of the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah.[1][2] Today, several denominations within Christianity and Judaism accept gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members and permit the ordination of openly LGBT candidates for ministry. Examples are the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements in Judaism, the United Church of Christ, United Church of Canada, Episcopal Church in the United States, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), Community of Christ, and the Metropolitan Community Church. Some of these traditions have made provision for same-sex unions or marriage. In Europe, a number of Lutheran, Reformed, United and Old Catholic churches have adopted increasingly accepting policies towards LGBT members.

A number of Christian ministries seek to create officially sanctioned "Safe-spaces" in a similar vein as gay-straight alliances in various schools. LGBT ministries differ from lay-lead movements for the inclusion of LGBT parishioners in that most lay movements do not receive open and official support from clergy. They also differ from LGBT-oriented congregations (such as those of the Metropolitan Community Church) formed explicitly for LGBT parishioners in that the clergy of such congregations are not historically motivated toward opposition to LGBT dignity and equality upon establishment of the denomination.

Chinese folk religion
Main article: Chinese folk religion

Tu'er Shen, also known as the Rabbit God, is gay Chinese deity. In 2006, Lu Wei-ming founded a temple for Tu'er Shen in Yonghe District in the New Taipei City in Taiwan.[3] About 9,000 pilgrims visits the temple each year praying for a suitable (same-sex) partner.[4] The Wei-ming temple also performs love ceremony for gay couples.[5] It is the world's only religious shrine for homosexuals.[6]

Epicureanism

Homosexuality was generally seen as normal in Ancient Greece and is today accepted in Epicureanism, as in other forms of secular humanism.

Raëlians

The Raëlian Movement looks positively on sexuality including homosexuality. Raël recognised same-sex marriage, and a Raëlian press release said that sexual orientation is genetic and likened discrimination against gays to racism.[7] Some Raëlian leaders have performed licensed same-sex marriages.[8]

Satanism

LaVeyan Satanism is critical of Abrahamic sexual mores, considering them narrow, restrictive and hypocritical. Satanists are pluralists, accepting bisexuals, lesbians, gays, transgender people, BDSM, and polyamorists. Sex is viewed as an indulgence, but one that should only be freely entered into with consent. The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth only give two instructions regarding sex: "Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal" and "Do not harm little children", though the latter is much broader and encompasses physical and other abuse. This has been a consistent part of Church of Satan policy since its inception in 1966.

In a 2004 essay supporting same sex marriage:

The Church of Satan is the first church to fully accept members regardless of sexual orientation and so we champion weddings/civil unions between adult partners whether they be of opposite or the same sex. So long as love is present and the partners wish to commit to a relationship, we support their desire for a legally recognized partnership, and the rights and privileges which come from such a union.

— Magister Peter H. Gilmore[9]

Theistic Satanists also oppose homophobia.[10]

Unitarian Universalism
Main article: Unitarian Universalism and LGBT people

Unitarians and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) have a long-standing tradition of welcoming LGBTQ+ people.

Vodou
Main article: Haitian Vodou and sexual orientation

Homosexuality is religiously acceptable in Haitian Vodou.[11]

Wicca
Main article: Modern Pagan views on LGBT people

Many Wiccans are generally welcoming of LGBTQ+ people. Wiccans tend to view sex in a positive light without guilt.[12] Some strands of Wicca go beyond welcoming gays and actively celebrate gay relationships.[13]

gollark: No, it would just sit on a table for convenience and *aim* the lasers into your eyes.
gollark: This is unlegal.
gollark: Point them at your eyes, very precisely.
gollark: Well, you know lasers?
gollark: Idea: osmarksvr™, which just fires lasers directly into your eyes.

See also

References
  1. Bishop Soto tells NACDLGM: 'Homosexuality is Sinful' Archived 30 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine catholic.org, accessed 29 September 2008
  2. Help topics Assemblies of God (USA), accessed 6 July 2009
  3. GOLD, MICHAEL (26 January 2015). "Praying for a soul mate at Rabbit Temple". The Star Online. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  4. "Why Taiwan's 'Rabbit' Temple Is Almost Exclusively Gay". HuffPost. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  5. Alexander Stevenson 1/22/2015. "Thousands of Gay Pilgrims Trek To Taiwan To Pray For Love At "Rabbit" Temple". LOGO News. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  6. "Taiwan's gays pray for soul mates at 'Rabbit' temple". Reuters. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  7. A modern nation is a nation where gays and lesbians are free retrieved 4 August 2013
  8. A Raelian official licensed to perform legal marriages for same-sex couples in Hawaii retrieved 4 August 2013
  9. "Founding Family: 'Morality' versus Same-Sex Marriage" 2004 March 9.
  10. Promoting religious tolerance - Defending a humanistic ethic: The example of opposing homophobia retrieved 9 July 2013
  11. Homosexuality And Voodoo retrieved 9 July 2013
  12. Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practice, Thea Sabin - 2006
  13. Women's spirituality, women's lives — p. 127, Judith Ochshorn, Ellen Cole - 1995
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