Harris Poll
Seven Out Of Ten Heterosexuals Today Know Someone Gay
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1099
The part of this poll that I found most interesting is the number of GLBT people who are out at church. Most GLBT people are out to parents (78%), Siblings (73%) and especially close friends (92%).
The bottom of the list of who GLBT people are out too is their fellow Church/Synagogue members. Of Gays & Lesbians who attend worship regularly only 31% of gays and 21% of lesbians are out at their place of worship. When Bi's and Transgenders are added to the poll numbers it drops to 19%.
This makes me really ponder the state of welcoming in our churches and the impression we give those who are different. This means that 2/3 of the gays in the pews are in the cloest to other church members. So, chances are that someone sitting next to you in the pew is gay and not letting you know.
Another thing that could be discerned from this poll is that women feel less safe coming out at church. I suspect this is especially true in denominations that do not allow female clergy. That only 1/5th of lesbians are out at church may indicate that even though our churches are mainly filled with women, a lot of those women are not comfortable being themselves in their own house of worship.
I hope that no matter how people of faith believe concerning homosexuality, that they will be welcoming to their neighbor.
Seven Out Of Ten Heterosexuals Today Know Someone Gay
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1099
The part of this poll that I found most interesting is the number of GLBT people who are out at church. Most GLBT people are out to parents (78%), Siblings (73%) and especially close friends (92%).
The bottom of the list of who GLBT people are out too is their fellow Church/Synagogue members. Of Gays & Lesbians who attend worship regularly only 31% of gays and 21% of lesbians are out at their place of worship. When Bi's and Transgenders are added to the poll numbers it drops to 19%.
This makes me really ponder the state of welcoming in our churches and the impression we give those who are different. This means that 2/3 of the gays in the pews are in the cloest to other church members. So, chances are that someone sitting next to you in the pew is gay and not letting you know.
Another thing that could be discerned from this poll is that women feel less safe coming out at church. I suspect this is especially true in denominations that do not allow female clergy. That only 1/5th of lesbians are out at church may indicate that even though our churches are mainly filled with women, a lot of those women are not comfortable being themselves in their own house of worship.
I hope that no matter how people of faith believe concerning homosexuality, that they will be welcoming to their neighbor.
posted by Conrad at 11:58 AM
1 Comments:
I don't know anyone gay right now. Well, at least that I know of. But it was informative for me to work closely with a gay man a few years ago.
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