It is important to have two thoughts in your head at the same time. While one cannot criticize entire religions or groups of believers for various violent and terrorist attacks, one must be aware that the vast majority of today’s hatred of LGBT people has a religious origin. Today, this is about, among other things, that queers are sinful, live contrary to God’s word, should burn in hell and that God punishes even those who support homosexuality. It is also not possible to ignore religious beliefs as one of the reasons why hundreds of young TikTok users supported the weekend’s terrorist attack in Oslo. Gay-friendly religion But religion is by no means unequivocally negative towards queers. Millions of believers of all kinds and some of the world’s largest denominations are fully accepting – as the Church of Norway again showed in the mourning service on Sunday. There is also diversity in Islam, with millions of both queers and allies. In several countries, there are mosques that fully accept gays, and in Norway there are many prominent LGBT-accepting Muslims, as well as Salam, a separate group for gay Muslims. If you look at it historically, you will find a similar diversity. There has been widespread acceptance of same-sex sexuality in large parts of Islam, since the ban on sex between men in sharia required four witnesses and was often ignored. The Ottoman Empire just as well abolished the entire ban as early as 1858, while European gay men fled to North Africa and the Middle East to live in more accepting societies until well into the 20th century. Trans expressions have also been recognized in many Muslim communities. In parts of Buddhism, sex between men could even be sacred – and even more often seen as at least better than heterosex. In Hinduism, same-sex sex is traditionally of little importance, while transgender people play a unique religious role. In the Jewish Bible (Old Testament) there is only a ban on anal sex between men, while sex between women is not mentioned, and David and Jonathan appear as the most romantic couple in the holy book. In Christianity, sex between women was largely ignored, while sex between men was alternately condemned or more tacitly accepted. The religious motivation If queer was really the target of the Muslim terrorist who shouted “God is great” as he shot at the guests at Per at the Corner and the London Pub, it is impossible to see this regardless of the widespread LGBT hatred in parts of Islam . This can otherwise be expressed in strong condemnation, so-called honor killings, in some countries the death penalty and bans in even more. Similarly, Christian LGBT hatred is still the basis for bans in a number of other countries, and also for systematic discrimination and calls for the death penalty. The Russian Orthodox Church has also used this to defend Russia’s war crimes against Ukraine. One must remember that Christianity was the very reason for Norway’s ban on sex between men, which was removed fifty years ago. Unpleasant connection Although many believers do not like to be pointed out, there is a real connection between the pure hatred of queers and the religious denial of same-sex sexuality and transgender people that is still found in many denominations. The notion that it is not in accordance with God’s command to be crooked is often the very starting point for hatred. As I point out in my new book “Religion and Human Rights”, religious freedom nevertheless protects such anti-LGBT practices within any religious community, just as they protect religious practices that are discriminatory elsewhere in society, regardless of gender, function, cast, skin color or other conditions. Coercion is the difference Religious communities that still do not accept queers in their community, but at the same time are appalled that queers are harassed and persecuted, should perhaps be extra careful with how they express themselves in this field. If they really want to emphasize this distinction, they probably can not say often enough that even if one or the other is not in accordance with their exact beliefs, one must accept that others choose to live differently. As when the Islamic Council Norway in the wake of this weekend’s terrorist attacks stated that they “strongly dissociate themselves from homophobia” and have “great empathy with the queer society.” The big difference is precisely whether religious communities accept coercion. It is up to each denomination to decide whether to allow members who are LGBT – or anything else. We saw this, among other things, when the Supreme Court earlier this year approved the right of Jehovah’s Witnesses to expel a member for heterosexual heterosexuality. But no church or mosque can force queer people to live differently from what they want, or accept that their families carry out such coercion. Freedom of religion also protects everyone from being forced to live according to the beliefs of others. For the same reason, no religious actor can prevail if they demand that the state force all citizens to live according to certain beliefs – something that unfortunately still happens in a number of countries. A true diversity Religion is and will be multifaceted. One of the most important things is to accept just this. Not least those of the religious who cling to beliefs that are discriminatory elsewhere in society. They are never the only representatives of their respective religions. It is crucial that both Christians, Muslims and everyone else are constantly reminded of the religious diversity out there. Both in school and in the public debate. Just as it is entirely possible to be a queer Christian, one can also be a queer Muslim. This has always been the case. Even though the state cannot demand that every church or mosque open its doors to those with whom it disagrees, it is to be hoped that more and more both conservative Muslims and Christians recognize their queer siblings as just what they are. That they accept that everyone who calls themselves a Muslim and a Christian actually is. Just a little different than themselves.
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Homophobia and religious diversity – Expression
