- A protester addresses El Paso City Representative Beto O’Rourke outside City Hall on Tuesday. (EL PASO TIMES)
Opponents of the city’s plan to offer domestic partner benefits to municipal employees may seek a ballot measure to try to overturn the decision.
On Thursday, July 30, the El Paso City Council voted 6-1 to offer health benefits to the unmarried partners of employees, both gay and straight. El Paso would become the third city in Texas to offer DP benefits, joining Dallas and Austin.
But on Tuesday, Aug. 4, about 25 people reportedly attended a council meeting to protest the decision, which still must be finalized as part of the budget later this month.
“If our government starts passing laws that are against the guidelines in the Bible, it starts to contaminate the spiritual water of our people,” Barney Field of El Paso for Jesus told the council, according to ABC Channel 7. “What does God say about homosexuality? He says it is an abomination.”
According to The El Paso Times, Field compared offering DP benefits to “slapping God in the face.”
“Let this be a vote for God, not sin,” Field told the council.
After the protesters spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, with many of them quoting the Bible, one council member reportedly met with them outside and defended the decision to offer DP benefits.
“They have no more choice to be gay than I have in having brown hair or a funny nose,” City Rep. Beto O’Rourke told the protesters, according to The El Paso Times.
The Times reported that opponents of the plan to offer DP benefits could gather enough signatures to petition the council to overturn the decision. If the council were to reject the request, the opponents could then gather signatures to place the item on the ballot in the next general election.
The city’s budget director said about 45 of 6,100 employees would be eligible for the benefits, which would take effect in January and cost $128,000 to $287,000 annually, the Times reported last week. The only member of the City Council to vote against the measure, Rep. Carl L. Robinson, cited the bad economy.
To qualify for the benefits, couples must have lived together for at least six months and show proof of their relationship.
The decision by the City Council to offer DP benefits came on the heels of a controversial incident June 29 in which a group of five gay men claimed they were kicked out of Chico’s Tacos restaurant after two of them kissed.
The men claimed security guards at the restaurant used anti-gay slurs and El Paso police officers threatened to charge them under Texas’ sodomy statute, which was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003.
El Paso also has a city ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Once again, these people are seeking to punish us and our supporters by using the most powerful tool they know of as a weapon against us: the Bible. They are perverting it into a tool of oppression.
Mainline scholars question the appropriateness of citing the Bible in calling homosexuality a sin, given the historical and cultural background of the texts and our contemporary understanding of loving homosexual relations.
The story of Sodom in Genesis 19 is about offense against the sacred duty of hospitality. That is how Ezekiel 16:48-49 and Wisdom 9:13-14 interpret this text. The attempted male rape only heightens the atrocity of this offense.
Leviticus 18:22 does forbid male-to-male sex as an “abomination.” But the word simply means an impurity or a religious taboo — like eating pork. As in the case of Catholics who used to be forbidden under pain of mortal sin to eat meat on Friday, the offense was not in the act itself but in the betrayal of one’s religion. The ancient Jews were to avoid practices common among the unclean Gentiles.
Romans 1:27 mentions men having relations with men. But the terms used to describe them are “dishonorable” and “shameless.” These refer deliberately to social disapproval, not to ethical condemnation. Moreover, according to Paul’s usage, different from the prevalent Stoic philosophy of the day, para physin (“unnatural”) would best be translated “atypical” or “beyond the ordinary.” So it bears no reference to natural law. And it can imply no ethical condemnation because in Romans 11:24 God is said to act para physin. Paul sees gay sex as an impurity (see Rm. 1:24), just like uncircumcision or eating forbidden foods. He mentions it to make the main point of his letter, that purity requirements of the Jewish Law are not relevant in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:8-10 list “arsenokoitai” among those who will be excluded from the Reign of God. This obscure term has been translated “homosexuals” but its exact meaning is debated. It certainly does not include women but only some kind of male sexual offenders. If it does refer to men having sex with men — which is dubious — it must be interpreted in light of the abuse and licentiousness commonly associated with male-male sex in the Roman Empire.
Finally, Genesis 1-3 shows Adam and Eve created for mutual companionship and procreation. These accounts use the most standard of human relationships to teach a religious lesson. The point is the love and wisdom of God, who made all things good and wills us no evil. Nothing suggests the biblical authors intended a lesson on sexual orientation.
Christains have sunk to an all-time low.
Even for Christians.
They seem intent on proving daily that the only DECENT Christian died on the cross.
Religious CRAZIES! How christian of you to discriminate another human being. And have these people every heard of the 1st ammendment?
I am glad I am no longer a part of the Republican Nazi Party
That’s so Christian of those ignorant fools.
Christians need to realize this is not a religious issue. The Bible is not part of our constitution. We are seeking our civil rights and we wont stop till we get them.
Let’s hope that the EP City Council sticks to their guns. Kudos to Councilman O’Rourke! We love you in spite of your funny nose.
Barney Field is an idiot and needs to go sit in on a few middle school social studies classes, take a few courses in Latin and then slap himself in a face.
1.) There’s this little thing called separation of church and state that was put into the constitution to keep religious crazies from interpreting the Bible however they wanted and forcing those views and beliefs on others.
2.) Not everyone in America is Christian. This is supposed to be a country that is a safe haven for people of all cultures.
3.) Don’t go around telling people that “the Bible says…” unless you’ve learned Latin and translated an original copy. Religions have changed throughout the years depending on the fancies of the translators of the texts and cultural fads. You like shrimp? Sorry dude, but yerr goin’ to hell =)
As someone who’s Jewish, I say we claim copyright authority and revoke their right to (mis)use it.
Jon,
Nice try in attempting to “fix” the Bible. But The Christian Scriptures are very condemning of male homosexuality. I find it sad that we continue to defend this religion, in the face of its racist, sexist, xenophobic and homophobic background.
May the day soon arrive when people can free themselves of irrationality and embrace rational thought that treats all people as equal outside of outdated religious doctrines, that make little sense in the twenty-first century. Religion and faith are two of the worst ideas that humanity have ever come up with. The longer we try to justify them, prop them up, and white wash them, the longer we condemn others to live under the false pain that they cause, and allow them to condemn and hurt others.
Liberal Christianity is probably the most dangerous because they continue to support a false idea of a god, and try and dress him/her up as some sort of kindly being, who is either highly neglectful of the creation, or chooses only the special to care for and the rest of us can live a hell of an existence. It is dangerous because it tries to stretch a dead religion around a modern world that no longer needs such silly ideas.
Please quit trying to save Christianity from itself with these false interpretations of the Bible. God hates gays and that is that. It is like trying to say that the Bible doesn’t hate women — it does. Doesn’t approve of and legislate slavery — it does. Doesn’t promote genocide — it does. Throw the document where it belongs, in the trash and embrace real rationality based on provable and observable truths, and not some revealed truth from dead men.
Marlin – wonderful! You’ve gotten it exactly right! The essential problem and how to overcome. There’s an equal rights strategy for us. One that can work. Thank you, Marlin.
I’m quite a bit offended by these post begining with “Christian’s have sunk”, “how Christian of you”, “That’s so Christian”. These people are not Christians. They don’t know what Christianity is… where ever they’ve gotten thier beliefs from it is not from the teachings of Christ. You all are giving them more credit than what they truely are.
Billie,
You state that these people “don’t know what Christianity is.” That their beliefs are “not from the teachings of Christ” And finally, “These people are not Christians.”
It is interesting to me that you have decided to do the very thing that they are doing — judge. I fear that your Jesus is a very homogenized one that arises our of liberal Christianity. The Jesus of the Bible was very much like these people.
Listen to a few of his teachings:
“He who is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23)
“”Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” (Matthew 11:21) Cities like El Paso should be very wary — God has destroyed many cities of the past for being unrepentant and endorsing sin.
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.” (Matthew 18:7-8). I think that is pretty plain — you either get with the program — i.e. cut off your sinful body part or you will burn in eternal fire.
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33). While not talking about homosexuals here — Jesus does believe that certain groups are pretty bad and will be thrown into hell. Which he describes their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched,” (Mark 9:48).
Jesus pretty much condemns people for their thoughts including: Anger leading to be burned in hell (Matthew 5:22). Lust even if only in your heart will lead to hell (Matthew 5:27-30).
Finally he says as he depart the earth, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16). And of course my favorite: And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:31-32). So people like me — well we are lost forever in all ages.
So I think these people who you don’t think are Christians are acting very much in within the teaching of Christ. They have a right to fear that God will bring their city to the ground by accepting and endorsing what the Bible truly teaches is a sin.
In related news, the American Psychological Association declared yesterday that mental health professionals should not tell their gay clients that they can become straight through therapy or other treatments. In a resolution adopted by the group’s governing council, and in an accompanying report, the association issued its most comprehensive repudiation of “reparative therapy,” according to the Associated Press.
No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution, and some research suggests that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.
All of which begs the question: does God make junk?
Jon Garinn said, “All of which begs the question: does God make junk?”
What does “God” have to do with the APA? Although they call for the respect of the client’s religious views, they pretty much say that people are gay and you can’t change that. Their best advice is to help people find another faith that is more accepting. For example leave the Roman Catholic church that calls you disordered and at least embrace a liberal Christian religion like the United Church of Christ.
Although they are trying to help people respect their religious faith, I wish they would go a step further and call upon their clients to truly examine the rationality of their faith. One’s belief in God is an act of faith that as the writer of Hebrews reminds us means believing in the unbelievable.
God did not make junk, because God did not make anything. We are the result of billions of years of evolution, not the magic wand waving of a deity.
I say we take these outspoken christians, ‘watch them closely’ and I can guarantee we can find many, MANY so-called (and archaic) “sins” and fire it back at them publicly.
Now, let’s go and find Barney Field. Onward to the secret, found-deep-in-the-alley bookstore gloryhole! If not, the craigslist ad that reads: CLOSETED CHRISTIAN SEEKING DADDY TO YELL AND HIT ME WITH BIBLE LIKE THE MOM IN THE MOVIE CARRIE.
israel luna
What a pity these folks have hijacked the word “Christian”. What they really are is Christianists, strict, non-thinking fundamentalists who view the world through a Jacobean lens. Unfortunately, these modern day Pharisees are what people think of when the term Christian is tossed out.
Maybe I will have to start calling myself a “follower of Jesus”, or a “neo-hebrew” from now on?
look, gays, you where not born gay, there is no gay gene, there is no predisposition to homosexuality, HUMANS ARE CREATURES OF HABIT! we learn from watching, sexual curiosity, bu in the case of homosexuals the curiosity turns into the norm, i have seen cases where a man or woman, simply because they thought themselves unworthy , unfit or inatractive to the oposite sex, saw solace in the arms of another kindred spirit, so you see?
You are all just very confused individuals, the plumbing is all wrong for your extracurricular activities, and what civil rights? you canot be taxed like a normal couple, you dont procreate like a normal couple creating more normal tax payers, you are all an afront to every religion in the WHOLE!! PLANET!!, homosexuality breeds decease, discontent, and if there where no gays, no one would hate them, you have no business Judging heterosexual, shows or pageants, and because of your biast and twisted points of view, your desitions cannot be trusted, YOU ARE NOT NORMAL, SEEK HELP!, whn people have mental disorders they go to psychologists, you should 2,
Marlin Bynum wow you are wrong to the 3rd power! you do not take some one who has been taught that god thinks a certain way,and tell him/her to just change.
heck the whole country was funded in a roman catholic, family values society,
tell some one to just change their belief system?, go to a church that is more to YOUR liking? excuse me, but just who in the hell, do you think you are to tell any one to change anything to suit your life style
, your husband may adjust to fit your needs, but that is because HE! loves you, the issue here is that this is a CHRISTIAN country, WE allow and respect other forms of religion and protect their rights. GAYS! have appeared and are now trying to bother the bee hive! to change our perseption of what normal IS!
if you dont get it then here is something i WANT you to do, I want YOU! to stop nagging at your husband… FOR EVER!, and i also want you to change your church and go attend the religious service of your local black church, (as in gospel) im sorry you dont like those choices? then shut up until you have something actually constructive to say and do, like educate children to be straight and normal so they dont suffer ridicule in school, teach them other languages so when abroad or around tourists coming here, they actually feel that we are not a society of ignorants, teach them the value of hard work and responsability so they row up to be productive, good and honest, to have faith, because if you dont believe in something you will fall for anything, like no giving you grandchildren because your grand SON’S boyfriend Steve has no vagina to bare you one with, idiot!
Jon Garinn WOW <—–this bud is for you
right on all accounts, very good use of researching and facts gathering, but as in terms, not just the bible condemn homosexual activity, the Koran as well, the children of Islam to condemn homosexuality of an act of impurity a step to directly defy THE CREATOR AND HIS WISDOM, so why in hell would any one want to be known as an impure as a dishonest, aberrant, one who would bring shame to himself and in so doing dishonor his house and family?
This old books of wisdom where designed by wiser men than us, with life lessons that transcend time, and history, there is a reason why this where accepted as truths, and taught for generations, not just a story and a record of the history of, but also as a guide, for humans to thrive, the first book made onto the millions for the masses was the bible on the first printing press, this was because when he saw that his printing press could make it so that every home could have the same publication he had an epiphany, people could learn to read and write, spread the word of a loving deity with a basic set of suggestions for living, why?, because it works., homosexuality is a cancer, it eats at sosiety breeding disease , discontent, and governments dont even know how to tax them nor include them, i will never vote for a homosexual, because i have been taught by many of the apostles 2 testaments, visual confirmation and 3 religious systems, that homosexuality is an abomination, an aberration, something shamefull and dishonest to creation, and SCIENCE reminds me every day every time, homosexuality does not work, it is not normal, it is not safe.
Dear John,
Feel free to email me your rough drafts anytime. There is nothing wrong with asking for help when it comes to spelling and grammatical errors.
and to all an end, who are any of you gays to tell this people that they have to raise their children and expose them to your lifestyle, you have no right to enter thier homes, and tell them to just accept your way, what next a gay beauty pageant? i wanna see a guy trying to fit into a 2 piece bikini and tell me how he loves walks on the beach and puppies, all the while his junk is hanging half out of his thong, and when his hand is larger than the hand of the guy who is putting the crown on him,
discusting yes?
the fundamental problem with this country is, we have all gotten sensored against saying what is in our minds, so since we have adopted a live and let live, the gays have seized this oportunity for the sake of political correctness and launched their independance campain.
you want to be out of the norm so bad? i say you gays buy an island and move out to it, and farm and construct, and build your own utopian sossiety, i dont know any gay who would want to have to brake nails and work with dirt, but it is a good start right?
like i said , it does not work, the gay lifestyle has no balance, it does not equate. you fall so far our of any circle, you dont even fit near one another.
Tisha — I was thinking the same thing. He has some interesting points to make — but they get lost in the presentation.
and about my spelling,
you neat picky chick!,
do you look at a donkey, covered in poop! but all you care is that the hair is not trimmed? why is that, you have no argument, But you try to make me seem ignorant by bashing the fact that i care 2 shitts about you enough to spell properly?
U must be blond, bright eyed, and never left the country to see what others live like, never left your circle of safety, where every one tells you , its ok honey, the world does not mind that you will not give birth to the next president , or that your children will have to answer questions like, which one of the 2 is your mommy? and the kid does no know how to answer, its fine honey, you can put your girlfriend as head of household on you tax documents, it only puts you in paper as the weaker party, next year you will be the head of household, sorry honey we cant go seek salvation for our souls, because you offend the diety of every religious denomination known to humans, i know we will make a whole world just for you, we will even invent you a religion, you can ?pseudo/clone invitro children, we will call them human… HUMAN!!!
OK, I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m willing to take the fallout. It’s time to speak Truth to Stupid. Some of these people are utterly incapable of a coherent thought. And I’m talking about both “john” and “Marlin.” I’ve grown tired of stupid, extremist people hijacking the conversation, making it impossible for serious, thoughtful people to simply engage in a civil debate. Does anyone out there feel the same way?
I’m very glad to see el paso pass such progressive messures. I was born in el paso and love my city very much. I have not lived there for over 10 years, but my family and I are moving back this year. I myself am a 30 year old married man with two wonderfull little children. As I see it, we should not teach “tolerance”, as it puts the gay and lesbian community in view as an unruly child. We must teach and show acceptance as they are valued members of our country and community. Let put this in prespective for every one out there. If a gay man or woman can join the military, pick up the flag and defend our freedom abroad. the at the very minimum we can afforde him the the right to seek the most basic of human rights at home. I stand behinde and honor all of you.