Not Gay Enough

For there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.  1 Corinthians 11:19

An engraving from ancient pre-Christian Rome tells us that the Iobacchi, the cult of Dionysus/Bacchus, had similar problems with factions among their members.

These bits of history came to mind when I spoke today with a guy marching in the San Francisco Pride Parade, also called San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. He carried a sign saying “Not Gay Enough.” I asked what it meant. He explained that his softball team, D2, had two years ago been stripped of 2nd-place title in the Gay Softball World Series because it was not gay enough. D2 included some bisexual members, and according to the guy I spoke with, after winning a game in the series they were challenged by the Atlanta Mudcats on their gayness. D2′s members were individually interrogated by league authorities who asked intrusive questions about their sexual behavior, after which they were thrown out of the series. A lawsuit now rages between the  National Center for Lesbian Rights and the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance.

Now despite the fact that both sides feel wronged and that politics of sorts has again scarred the solemnity of baseball, this issue seems to be a mark of success that the affected community could take pride in.

Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 1 Corinthians 6:1

A small community under attack or condemnation doesn’t breed internecine warfare. That is the product of a group that has grown in strength to the point where the dangers of external foes have diminished. The epistle to the Corinthians makes it clear that factions existed in early Christianity and that Paul, or whatever school may have authored the book, just wanted everyone to get along like they did in the old days. This point is nailed home in the New Testament by comparison of similar statements in the gospels. The writer of Mark, certainly the oldest of the four gospels, has Jesus say that whoever is not against us is with us (9:40) but Matthew, no doubt written decades later (feel free to challenge me on this – smile) has Jesus make a bolder claim: “He who is not with me is against me.” George Bush preferred that latter version.

In any case I doubt that 40 years ago, when the first Gay Pride Parade was held in San Francisco, any gay sports team would have even considered challenging a bisexual team on such a matter. That’s progress. 

Not gay enough was a thought that nagged me as I watched this parade. Partly because I felt a bit for the members of D2, but also for another reason. The success of the movement that gave rise to pride also attracts the commercial concerns that latch onto to any cause they see as an economic opportunity. It’s a minor complaint but it just seemed there were far too many peripheral politicians, martial arts groups and businesses straining terribly to associate themselves with the cause. I suppose that’s what parades have always been about, but at moments the thing, festive as it was, just seemed like it wasn’t gay enough.

Bet you thought I was going somewhere else with those New Testament quotes.