Texan Bishop Strickland calls Pride rainbow a 'sin'
Although there are always glimmers of hope that suggest the LGBTQ community and the church are coming closer together, it is statements like this one from Bishop Strickland that show how deep the chasm has become.
Joseph Edward Strickland (Bishop Strickland), a Texas bishop, has taken to Twitter and left no doubt about his views onpride. He has already drawn attention to himself in the past with homophobic posts.
Strickland's post in detail
Bishop Strickland describes the Pride rainbow on twitter as a sign that is directed against God. It is used as a rebellion against the commandments of God and is increasingly losing its original meaning, which would have been hope.
He asks his followers to pray for the world and the church. (Literally: "The rainbow has been co-opted as a sign of sinful pride & rebellion against God's commandments instead of a sign of hope. Let us pray for the world & the Church to reject the man made idols of our time & to once again bow humbly before almighty God. (...)".
Bishop Strickland shares homophobic content not for the first time
Anyone who has followed Bishop Strickland's tweets in the past knows that the above post is definitely not his first statement on the topic. A few years ago, for example, he advocated that queer content should no longer be taught to children in schools.
Moreover, he leaves no doubt that he believes homosexuality is equivalent to sin.
It also seems to be characteristic of his approach to the subject that the bishop advocates his issues not only within his own sphere of influence, but also across the board. Thus, he repeatedly tried to convey also to other dignitaries of the church that it was their task to equate homosexuality with sin.
Bishop Strickland under criticism - including for his stance on the Corona pandemic
Bishop Strickland drew attention not only for homophobic posts, but also for other questionable actions. For example, he signed an appeal that many scientists classify in the category of conspiracy myths.
The text is about the Corona pandemic being used as a pretext to restrict people's rights and about society being panicked by the coverage of the issue. Ultimately, the goal is to isolate individuals in order to manipulate and control them.
Accordingly, the character of Bishop Strickland is divisive in many ways.
What is the situation like for queer people in the U.S.?
Experience has shown that the queer community in the USA has a very hard time asserting itself, especially in regions where the church is particularly influential. This is mainly because the American church has very conservative opinions on same-sex marriage, rainbow families and the like.
Discussions about whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry, for example (or be given more rights in general), are usually conducted very openly and, accordingly, with a great deal of publicity.
The fronts are even more hardened in the U.S. than in other parts of the world, as the contrast between strict church and tolerant believers is very strong there. While many clergy threaten queer people with purgatory, citizens of the country are more queer-friendly in many parts - though not everywhere. For them, same-sex love and faith are often not mutually exclusive.
Thus, the state of the LGBTQ community - especially in the U.S. - depends primarily on the particular state and the role of the church in that region.
Dignitaries such as the Texas bishop Strickland are obviously largely unimpressed by arguments against his statements. Shockingly, he also has many followers who "like" his posts.
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