Religion and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
"Being Catholic is an intrinsic part of my being -- much the same as being Mexican and being a gay man. It has provided me with comfort in difficult periods of my life, and it has served as an anchor that has provided stability in an otherwise shifting world. Of course, it has also made it more difficult to accept my sexuality.… But I have never doubted that God loves me or that Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, [Our Lady of Guadalupe] with her benevolent eyes, sees right through me, and knows that even though I am gay, I am still a good human being. "
- Rogelio Z. Zepeda, activista gay Mexicano
Seventy percent of Latina/o Americans are Roman Catholic, according to a Pew Hispanic Center/Kaiser Family Foundation survey conducted in 2002. The Catholic Church's position on homosexuality is based on a distinction between being gay or lesbian and acting on it, accepting the former while at the same time considering the latter to be wrong and sinful.
Often, however, that distinction becomes blurred and the message that many Catholics hear is that merely being gay is sinful. This results in condemnation of GLBT Latinas/os in communities of faith and has led some to remain closeted when involved in religious activities.
"A lot of gay and lesbian Latinas and Latinos are out in English but not in their Spanish-speaking church," says Marianne Duddy, executive director of Dignity/USA , the largest national lay movement of GLBT Catholics, their families and friends. And while living an out and open life is powerful and important for GLBT people, there are some individuals who choose to be only partially out.
Other Latinas/os find their own path to spirituality that involves the Catholic faith but not necessarily all elements of it.
"I was raised as Catholic and both my parents are very Catholic," says Marisa Demeo, an out lesbian who is a lawyer with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
"The main thing I had to do was to separate the institution from what I really believed the teachings really were. I am dedicated to my own faith without feeling I needed to follow some of the more conservative teachings of the Catholic Church," says Demeo. "You have to work out your relationship with religion. I feel comfortable with my religious beliefs and I feel they are compatible with my life as a member of the GLBT community."
There are also many priests, nuns and other religious leaders who work to reconcile the relationship between GLBT Catholics and their families and the church. Members of a congregation, gay and straight, can also play an important role in educating the rest of the church and advocating for the acceptance of GLBT Latinas/os.
"For ages, people have found a way to use religion and the Bible as an excuse to hate, ostracize and attack homosexuals," says Rogelio Z. Zepeda, a Mexican gay activist, formerly of The Wall - Las Memorias Project in Los Angeles. "I take that as a challenge to change misconceptions about gays and lesbians; a challenge to confront those who do not practice Christ's teachings to love one another -- and a challenge to be true to myself and accept the love that God gives me."
Among the Catholic organizations and parishes that reach out to the GLBT community are:
Dignity/USA, which offers liturgies and social events for GLBT Catholics at nearly 60 chapters across the country, hosts a number of events in Spanish and English. Dignity/USA also offers resources in Spanish.
National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries website , in Severn, Md., lists gay-friendly parishes across the nation.
"The appeal and seeming infallibility of the pope and official church pronouncements seems to be heightened for Latino and Latina Catholics," says Duddy of Dignity/USA. "This means that official pronouncements from the pope and church officials can be the turning point for Latino/Latina families dealing with sexual orientation issues."
Another important document, the 1986 Letter to the Catholic Bishops on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, states: "The teachings of the church make it clear that the fundamental human rights of homosexual persons must be defended and that all of us must strive to eliminate any forms of injustice, oppression, or violence against them."
GLBT Latinas/os are able to use this message to help others realize the need for understanding and support. The letter, which was approved by Pope John Paul II, also states: "Respect for the God-given dignity of all persons means the recognition of human rights and responsibilities." While this document does not directly address Catholics who are Latina/o, it is an important message for those who are trying to reconcile their sexuality, their religion and their culture.
Of course, some GLBT Latinas/os also opt for less conservative faiths. Gay-affirming churches, such as the United Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, are appealing because many congregations purposely strive to be ethnically and racially inclusive.
