Hate words spark biblical search.

Byline: Jeff Wright The Register-Guard

A Scripture-quoting hate crime directed at gay and lesbian students at Lane Community College has spawned a series of forums beginning next week that will examine what the Bible has to say about sexual orientation and gender identity.

The clergy-led panel discussions are in response to an incident last May in which someone scrawled hateful words - and a citation from Leviticus - on a banner at the offices of the Queer Straight Alliance, an LCC student group, said Susan Matthews, the college's Multicultural Center director.

The act of vandalism "was very frightening, and stressed the students tremendously," Matthews said. "It also raised questions about the Bible."

In seeking an appropriate response, Matthews said she met several times over the summer with members of the Religious Response Network, a local interfaith group that originally formed in response to anti-gay rights measures in Oregon.

The best response, participants decided, would be a series of free forums in which local clergy and others explore different perspectives on how the Bible should be interpreted in regard to human rights and homo- sexuality.

At the first forum next week, for example, two ministers and a rabbi will explore such questions as the Bible's social context, whether it was "God-written or God-inspired," and arguments for and against literal interpretation.

Jim Garcia, LCC's diversity coordinator, said the forums are a legitimate avenue for educational outreach. Last spring's act of vandalism, he said, "is not the vision of diversity we want to promote here."

"People are using the Bible to dehumanize LGBTQ folks," said Garcia, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals. "The purpose of the forums is to bring an inclusive vision of what the Bible is stating."

Sally Sheklow, a Religious Response Network activist, said it can be very empowering for people to hear from religious scholars who don't view the Bible as condemning them on the basis of sexual orientation.

"There are people who've felt cast out of their faith tradition because of hateful interpretations," said Sheklow, a lesbian and Jew. "It's important to address things in biblical terms, because those are the weapons used against us."

Sheklow said the forums will include question-and-answer periods where a range of outlooks - including the view that the Bible condemns homosexuality - can be entertained.

"All perspectives are welcome, but we're making no bones about our human rights advocacy bent," she said.

In addition to the forums, the college as of today is showcasing a related photo exhibit called "What Does Family Look Like?"

The exhibit portrays a diversity of local families - multiracial, adoptive, interfaith, single-parent, custodial, gay and other. Volunteer photographers contributed to the exhibit of 22 families.

The traveling exhibit, at LCC through the month, is a project of Community Alliance of Lane County. The exhibit debuted in September 2004 in the midst of the campaign against Measure 36, the Oregon initiative banning gay marriage ultimately approved by voters.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND THE BIBLE

Local clergy speak out at three forums

"Origins: Biblical Text": Noon, Nov. 9, Building 19, Room 226, Lane Community College. The Rev. Greg Flint of First Congregational Church, the Rev. Tara Wilkins of Communities of Welcoming Congregations, Rabbi Maurice Harris of Temple Beth Israel

"The Journey: The Bible and How it is Read": Noon, Nov. 16, Building 19, Room 260, LCC. The Rev. Ann Bowersox of UO Koinonia Center; Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin of Temple Beth Israel; retired Presbyterian minister the Rev. Joan Pierson

"The Connection: The Bible and Human Rights": Noon, Nov. 30, Building 19, Room 226, LCC. LCC diversity coordinator Jim Garcia; Eugene civil rights attorney Gretchen Miller; Eugene city human rights analyst Greg Rikhoff

Photo exhibit: "What Does Family Look Like?", Community Alliance of Lane County's traveling photo exhibit of 22 nontraditional families, on display today through Nov. 30 in Building 19 hallway, LCC

Sponsors: LCC Multicultural Center, Religious Response Network, LCC diversity coordinator Jim Garcia. Call 463-3245 for more information.

CAPTION(S):

Megan Boyeas, an intern with the Community Alliance of Lane County, prepares images for the "What Does Family Look Like?" exhibit in Building 19 at Lane Community College. The photos portray the diversity of local families.