[Islam-Online- Society]

Last week, ABC's Nightline focused on a booklet being distributed to school administrators that sets the facts straight about homosexuality. According to this pamphlet, endorsed by a range of well-known organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Education Association (NEA), gay and lesbian behavior is unequivocally normal, healthy and not in need of a cure. Nearly 14,000 schools will be flooded with this booklet, entitled, Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel.

As the century comes to a close, it may seem that homosexuality is much more accepted in society. At least Hollywood would have us believe that to be true. While actual references to TV shows and movies depicting homosexuality would do nothing to enrich this article, suffice it to say that they are out there. But American society is not a monolith. There are those in American society opposed to homosexuality and those who consider it a sin. And of course there is the view supported by the new pamphlet, which is that homosexuality is OK.

If this new pamphlet was being endorsed only by academic and scientific organizations, one might not give as much credence to it. Why? After all, only a few decades ago, those same types of organizations thought homosexuality was a disease that needed a cure. That was the decision and there was to be no debate. Today, only a few decades later, there has been a turnabout in the view towards homosexuality. How can one expect any more predictable behavior from people ascribing to man-made theories and definitions of normal and abnormal behavior? Surely, one would find more certainty if worldviews were defined by God. So where are the Christian, Jewish and Muslim voices?

They are present under the banner of the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, one of the organizations endorsing the booklet. The key word here is 'interfaith.' Its use implies that various faiths belong to this alliance and they accept homosexuality as normal. This is a gross misrepresentation. Why? Because the Bible, the Torah, and the Quran are explicit on this point: homosexuality is a sin. And it has been so as long as those three scriptures have been known to humanity. Sadly, even the religious scriptures are cast by the left-leaning interfaith groups as being overly conservative and traditional religious beliefs. So the best way to oppose the "conservative" or "traditional religious" viewpoint is to brand them. In this case, supporters of homosexuality immediately label the opposition as "gay-bashers" or "right-wingers."

Interfaith coalitions around the country have been heralded for their pioneering efforts to bring about awareness and concern for hate talk and hate crimes. Recently however, the talk has turned from hate crimes against ethnic and religious minorities to include crimes against gays and lesbians. A little while back, the Interfaith Alliance and nearly 100 other non-conservative organizations organized "Stop the Hate Day" parades. The parades were held on the first anniversary of the murder of Mathew Shepard, a gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. Of course the murder of Shepard, like the murder of any human being, is inexcusable.

Throughout American history, schools and religious institutions have been major sources of socialization. But what exactly is the state of American society when the two important groups, those who are educating our children and those who are fostering alliances among religious institutions, are convinced that homosexuality is normal? The pamphlet is clear: "The idea that homosexuality is a mental disorder has no support among health and mental health professional organizations." Ok, so homosexuality is not a mental disorder. But, does their conclusion supersede the word of God, which states that it is a sin? Expressing opposition to homosexuality, once a reflection of God's word, means something else today. One cannot express such sentiments today without being branded as a perpetrator of hate talk. In the 21st century God's words may end up landing one in the middle of a hate crime investigation.

So what should school personnel do if a student is openly gay or lesbian? According to the pamphlet, NOTHING. Why? The expert organizations that endorsed the pamphlet agree: "Efforts to change young people's sexual orientation through therapy have raised serious concerns about its potential to do harm." Like what? Experts in the field cite the unusually high number of attempted suicides among gay and lesbian youth. A threat to the life of any human being, gay or not, is equally important. Suicide attempts are a result from alienation, a lack of acceptance, and most of all confusion. However, just as important is the developmental crises faced by youth whose religion clearly states that homosexuality is a sin. How hypocritical will the "interfaith" community look when children are told that despite God's condemnation of homosexual behavior as abnormal, "professionals" have determined that it is normal, healthy and needs no cure?

And what about interfaith dialogue? One cannot help but ask the question, where is the dialogue headed? In the wake of the "Stop the Hate Day" parades and other such activities, it is imperative that Muslims be uncompromising and clear in their stance. Islamic scholars can engage in a dialogue with the interfaith community. They can explain Islamic beliefs. Hear about other faiths.

But most of all, Muslim organizations and individuals must not compromise the message of Islam in the process of carrying out an interfaith dialogue. There will be tremendous support for Islam and Muslims when it is politically expedient for non-Muslims to accept them. However, the true test of dialogue will be whether or not the Muslim participants can state the views of the Quran and the Sunnah without apology or compromise. The best of speech is the book of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and the best of guidance is the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam). If the book of Allah and the guidance of His messenger constitute hate speech, then shouldn't we ask the question: Just where is the dialogue headed?

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