On April 13, 2011, I was given three minutes to give testimony before the Delaware House of Representatives’ Administrative Committee, at our state capitol, Dover, in support of Civil Union legislation. My representative, Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, came out of chambers after my testimony to say that I had impacted his vote. In the end, he abstained, resulting in a 4-1 vote, which allowed the bill to be released from committee and considered before the full House. The following day, the House approved SB 30, 26-15. For the first time in Delaware’s history, this bill gives same-sex couples the same protection under Delaware law afforded to heterosexual couples. Below is my testimony:
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With Passover right around the corner, the Bible states clearly,
"Avadim hayinu," we were slaves unto Pharaoh in Egypt, so when you come
into your own land, flowing with milk and honey, be sure to care for the
needs of "the Orphan, the Widow and the Stranger," in other words, those
most vulnerable in society. I know that is only by the Grace of God
that I live as a free Jewish citizen of the United States of America and not as a
Jew living in Nazi Germany. And if I were a Jew living in Nazi Germany,
than both I and my homosexual neighbor would be destined for
extermination in Hitler's Death Camps. Therefore I am compelled by the
Bible to speak up for my homosexual neighbor and their desire for equal
treatment under the law with this Civil Union Bill.
In Genesis 1:27, our sacred text teaches that we humans are made
in the image of God, b'tslem Elohim. What business do we have to judge
God's creation, black or white, Christian or Jewish, Gay or Straight?
By the State recognizing one type of union over another, and giving
rights to some and not to others, we stand in God's place judging
creation, and that is pure idolatry.
Finally, the text which every theologian has based their opinion
comes from Leviticus 18:22. Yet eating shell fish is also described as
an abomination, so biblically speaking, any of you legislators going out
for crab, oysters or shrimp cocktails after today's hearings are
committing the same level of Biblical transgression.
But most important, you do violence to the text itself if you read
Leviticus 18:22 out of context. Because in the verse right before,
Leviticus 18:21, reads: "Do not allow any of your offspring to be
offered up to Molech and do not profane the name of your God, I am the
Lord." So we can logically only understand the prohibition against male
homosexual behavior within the context of pagan worship. In fact all of
Leviticus Chapter 18 is prohibiting pagan practices both in Egypt, from
where we were leaving and Canaan, to where we were going. The Torah
text can not be successfully used to comment on same-sex unions between
consenting adults today. The text can only be used to prohibit male
homosexual behavior to glorify the pagan god Molech.
Thank goodness, particularly in this time of Middle East upheaval
directed against authoritarian regimes, we do not live in an idolatrous
or an oppressive theocratic society. Perhaps you might do us all a favor
by making Civil Union the law of the land for all, and allow each house
of worship to bless and sanctify these unions according to our own
unique faith tradition.
____________________________________
With Passover right around the corner, the Bible states clearly,
"Avadim hayinu," we were slaves unto Pharaoh in Egypt, so when you come
into your own land, flowing with milk and honey, be sure to care for the
needs of "the Orphan, the Widow and the Stranger," in other words, those
most vulnerable in society. I know that is only by the Grace of God
that I live as a free Jewish citizen of the United States of America and not as a
Jew living in Nazi Germany. And if I were a Jew living in Nazi Germany,
than both I and my homosexual neighbor would be destined for
extermination in Hitler's Death Camps. Therefore I am compelled by the
Bible to speak up for my homosexual neighbor and their desire for equal
treatment under the law with this Civil Union Bill.
In Genesis 1:27, our sacred text teaches that we humans are made
in the image of God, b'tslem Elohim. What business do we have to judge
God's creation, black or white, Christian or Jewish, Gay or Straight?
By the State recognizing one type of union over another, and giving
rights to some and not to others, we stand in God's place judging
creation, and that is pure idolatry.
Finally, the text which every theologian has based their opinion
comes from Leviticus 18:22. Yet eating shell fish is also described as
an abomination, so biblically speaking, any of you legislators going out
for crab, oysters or shrimp cocktails after today's hearings are
committing the same level of Biblical transgression.
But most important, you do violence to the text itself if you read
Leviticus 18:22 out of context. Because in the verse right before,
Leviticus 18:21, reads: "Do not allow any of your offspring to be
offered up to Molech and do not profane the name of your God, I am the
Lord." So we can logically only understand the prohibition against male
homosexual behavior within the context of pagan worship. In fact all of
Leviticus Chapter 18 is prohibiting pagan practices both in Egypt, from
where we were leaving and Canaan, to where we were going. The Torah
text can not be successfully used to comment on same-sex unions between
consenting adults today. The text can only be used to prohibit male
homosexual behavior to glorify the pagan god Molech.
Thank goodness, particularly in this time of Middle East upheaval
directed against authoritarian regimes, we do not live in an idolatrous
or an oppressive theocratic society. Perhaps you might do us all a favor
by making Civil Union the law of the land for all, and allow each house
of worship to bless and sanctify these unions according to our own
unique faith tradition.
Powerful words. There's not enough people in the world who believe things the same way, or if they do they are letting the opinions of their congregation guide them instead of following their own opinions.
ReplyDeleteThe more words like these are that are spoken and shared, the more likely that future generations will be more willing to share and help the orphans, the widows, and the strangers.