Martyrs of Our People
Some days have passed since the funeral of Matthew Shepard, days in
which Americans everywhere have spent searching our souls. Matthew
Shepard was a Christian, his funeral conducted in the church where he
had once served as an acolyte. We, as Jews and Americans, also find
ourselves this week searching for answers and responsibility. As Gay
men, Lesbians, and rabbis, we have not found helpful the words of those
who would universalize this death, seeing in it an example of all
murders of innocent victims. We know only too well that Matthew Shepard
was singled out for this horrific murder because he was Gay.
When Jews gather to pray, we include a prayer of mourning: mourning for
those among our friends, family and community who have died recently
and, often, mourning for those we consider the martyrs of our people.
These were Jews who were killed simply because they were Jews, centuries
ago and in our own time. For Gay and Lesbian rabbis, leading our
communities in prayer this week, the phrase "martyrs of our people"
leapt off the page of our prayer books as we pondered Matthew Shepard's
death. For in the hearts of Gay and Lesbian Americans, Matthew Shepard
is surely a martyr of our people. His death calls to mind the too-many
other, less-publicized Gay men and Lesbians murdered just because they
were Gay or Lesbian: martyrs all. We respond with tears and outrage,
and search desperately for ways to respond.
Of course hate crimes legislation must be passed in states and at the
federal level. But laws against hate crimes respond to crimes already
committed. We urge responses that make it clear that it is unacceptable
to vilify Gay and Lesbian Americans in speech or print, responses that
embrace many ways of life and love. Therefore, we urge religious
organizations across the country to reconsider their stances toward Gay
members, Gay clergy and Gay marriage, and schools everywhere to include
literature for and about Gay men and Lesbians in their curricula. Where
else but in schools and houses of worship do children and adults absorb
information and values? They - we - must lead the way in declaring that
Gay men and Lesbians are first and foremost human beings to be respected
as are all human beings. Then only, will it become increasingly
difficult for anyone to imagine that harassing or beating or killing a
homosexual person is heroic, desirable or even excusable.
We pray that never again will we be leading prayers of mourning for
someone killed because of who he was or who she loved. We do not want
to have to mourn for Jews killed as Jews. Nor do we want to have to
mourn for people killed because of their religion, politics, race or
sexual orientation. Neither do we as Jews and homosexuals as well as
rabbis wish to be the next victims of such acts of terror. Few people
seek to become martyrs. Surely Matthew Shepard did not. If we can
imagine any good coming from his murder, let it be the good of change.
Submitted by the GLRN - Gay and Lesbian Rabbinic Network representing
over 30 Gay and Lesbian Rabbis throughout the United States including -
Rabbi Karen Bender
Rabbi Allen B. Bennett
Rabbi Leslie Bergson
Rabbi Marc S. Blumenthal
Rabbi Sandy Bogin
Rabbi Lisa Edwards
Rabbi Denise Eger
Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell
Rabbi Joan S. Friedman
Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Rabbi Greg Kanter
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
Rabbi Valerie Lieber
Rabbi Charles D. Lippman
Rabbi Ellen R. Lippman
Rabbi Jane Litman
Rabbi Eric Weiss
Rabbi Margaret Moers Wenig
Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
Web publication of this document provided by the
Interfaith Working Group Online