More on the Gay Liberation Front, MCC, and The Well

The last few days at The Well have been exciting and eventful days. First we had the wonderful experience of meeting the friendly and very special people of She Planet.

A few days ago we had just finished an HIV support group get-together where we discussed the 10 essential elements of a personal plan for wellness when living with HIV, and more excitement was in store.

It was followed by a support group for problems with homophobia, stigma, and coming out. It was an emotional and moving time of talking with a young professional accountant who had never discussed his gayness with anyone who was positive and affirming with him.

He was extremely fearful of coming out, but he did not want to continue a double life. He had had several traumatic experiences with people meaningful to him who quoted the Bible and described his ultimate and eternal doom if he chose a gay lifestyle.

Flashback: I remember that was just where I was in 1971 when I discovered the Gay Liberation Front.

Just like the accountant, I had been wandering in a confused life of great love for my family and church on the one hand, and an emerging reality of my sexuality (which in those days had absolutely no recognition in society in TV or movies or anything). The only thing that was loud and clear was the dictated, imposed sexuality approved by the church and its scornful denunciation of what we would call same-sex love today.

While we were in the support group with the accountant that flashback reminded me that after 42 years the battle is not over. It is still going on for people pulled way and pulled apart from their God-given self by doctrines. It comes up in all the support groups of The Well.

When I joined the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in 1971, Fr. Paul Breton (who consistently sends us LGBT news of the world) was already serving in MCC. But at that point in time GLF was a bright light for me, an alternative to the vacuum every place else in my world. For the first time I saw it spelled out. There is an alternative to the rejection and damnation. GLF pointed out that human nature does include people with same-sex love and these people do have human rights.

For me, though, there was something missing. Where is God is this puzzle of life?

Troy Perry had filled in that part of the mystery of life already since 1968, at least a year before Stonewall and the Gay Liberation Front.

In response to my observations about GLF the other day, Fr. Paul, who has been there, done that, and knows everything, emailed me his memories of GLF. I include them below. But first let me complete the story of my own journey away from wilderness and ignorance and self rejection along with church and society rejection.

Fortunately, at the same time I was meeting with some gay Lutheran pastors and other gay and lesbian Christians. We discovered Rev. Troy Perry and the Metropolitan Community Church. And eventually that same year brought MCC to Detroit.

From Troy I learned  how to round out the picture GLF had begun to reveal. It filled in the essential part about God’s unconditional love and the whole theology of creation and the goodness of all God’s creation. Now there are five MCC parishes in the Philippines: Makati, Marikina, Quezon City, Olongapo, and Baguio. And Fr. Regen Luna in the Church of God of the Catholic Diocese of One Spirit in Dasmarinas, Cavite bringing that saving message to God’s beloved people who are LGBTIQ.

I want to share Fr. Paul’s observations and comments about GLF to show how GLF was a backdrop and introductory stage for me to make the transition to the full answer of liberation and truth which was presented prophetically by the Rev. Troy Perry.

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from: Paul Breton
to: Richard R. Mickley, CDOS, OSAe, PhD
date: 13 August 2013 02:16
subject: Re: From Gay Liberation Front 1971 to MCC Manila 1991

The GLF was a movement which grew out of the enthusiasm of Stonewall. The movement presented itself as open and inclusive. Most of the young people who joined the movement (there was no actual method of membership) were concerned about the Gay issues. Underlying the movement was the politics of the movement, which were clearly and definitely Marxist. Early political leaders encouraged people to go and spend time in Cuba to help with the sugar harvest. Then stories started coming out about how gays were persecuted in Cuba. The GLF was thoroughly disorganized - much more so than the Democratic Party. Little was being accomplished by the movement. Some of the early members started the Gay Activist Alliance or the Gay People's Alliance. Each became an organization which was more focused, more directed. The Gay Activist Alliance of Washington DC still exists and owns property in the city. The early GLF had virtually no tolerance for religion, in spite of the fact that they often found meeting space in Episcopal or Unitarian churches. The Marxists actually promoted antireligious propaganda. But it was a necessary development. Across the US, the GLF was assisted greatly by reporting by the "free press" and inexpensive classified advertising in the same.