Called to be Gay: God’s Gift to the World
by Denis Moore, Senior Pastor of MCC San Jose from 1986 to 2002
Many cultures around the world have acknowledged the spiritual gifts of lesbian, gay and transgender people in their midst. In Hawaii, for instance, being mahu was to be a treasured person in the family – someone who provided fun and entertainment and joy – and yes, spirituality! Many cultures have regarded lesbians as powerful women who had special gifts of healing and knowledge. Native American tribes often had positions of special honor for gay people, who were often regarded as shamans and as people of spiritual power, and they had room for gender variations in a way that treated such gender diversity with respect.