Gay Boomers and nursing attitudes

czyja, MSN, RN · Oct 31, 2007

However, removing homophobia from the pulpits would certainly be a good start.

Absolutely. The pulpit is one of those institutions that manages to reflect and lead society at the same time.

What has always struck me as odd is the weird obsession that many evangelical christians seem to have with homosexuality. Could the people yelling at you as you went to watch a movie think of no better way to express their faith than shout hurtful words at you? I mean, is there nobody in you community that might need a blanket, a hot meal, a conversation, or a hug? People shouting at film festivals give christians a bad image IMHO- they are good reason to join any religion but theirs. In a way it is more sad than anything - sad that their spiritual leaders are so empty that they lead their flocks to such useless nonsense.

czyja, MSN, RN · Oct 31, 2007

I presented the topic of gay elderly in efforts to reach out to our senior nursing class so that they may be at the very least aware, and at best culturally competent, to provide care to gay elderly. We will all grow old some day.
Could you please tell me, regarding your comment, what state was that hospital in? Was it Connecticut or in the United States at all? It is one of the questions that came up in class. Please advise if you can. Thanking you in advance.

Good job. The article that spark woody's original post was in the NY Times some weeks ago. It looked at several LTC facilities across the country.

fronkey bean · Oct 31, 2007

Absolutely. The pulpit is one of those institutions that manages to reflect and lead society at the same time.
What has always struck me as odd is the weird obsession that many evangelical christians seem to have with homosexuality. Could the people yelling at you as you went to watch a movie think of no better way to express their faith than shout hurtful words at you? I mean, is there nobody in you community that might need a blanket, a hot meal, a conversation, or a hug? People shouting at film festivals give christians a bad image IMHO- they are good reason to join any religion but theirs. In a way it is more sad than anything - sad that their spiritual leaders are so empty that they lead their flocks to such useless nonsense.

I think it stems from the belief that the rampant, in-your-face sexuality found in extremes of the gay and hetro communities is contrary to God's word ( fornication and adultry). Thay are a little louder about homosexuality b/c it is esier to point to as an obvious sin. Adultry and hetro sexual sin is closer to home so it is a little more uncomfortable to talk about.

jstbg1s · Oct 31, 2007

I don't know about all the nurses out there, but when I went through nursing school we were taught to see only the illness. We had cultural training to be respectful to ones culture, don't get me wrong. But, we were to see the illness and treat A PATIENT. No one should pass judgement on their patients nor should they assume the worst about someone. Even the drunk that keeps showing up at the ER. Its easy to call him a bum, but do you even know how he got there. Sexual orientation is no different than any other identifier. Its sad to see the ones that say gays are so bad are the ones that hold God's word as their witness and yet seem to be the most evil and hateful people.

SO...I say to all nurses......treat your patients as you will have them treat you when you are in the hospital.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2007

Absolutely. The pulpit is one of those institutions that manages to reflect and lead society at the same time.
What has always struck me as odd is the weird obsession that many evangelical christians seem to have with homosexuality. Could the people yelling at you as you went to watch a movie think of no better way to express their faith than shout hurtful words at you? I mean, is there nobody in you community that might need a blanket, a hot meal, a conversation, or a hug? People shouting at film festivals give christians a bad image IMHO- they are good reason to join any religion but theirs. In a way it is more sad than anything - sad that their spiritual leaders are so empty that they lead their flocks to such useless nonsense.

I agree. If I was Christian, I would be embarrassed by these people. They drove from GA down to harrass us, so at least the locals aren't that bad. Their obsession bothers me tremendously and I'm baffled.

I would bet if a surveyor were to go house to house in my neighborhood and ask "what is the greatest threat to your family?" They would answer "my husband is an alcoholic, my child is on drugs, we fight about money often because there isn't enough, my daughter is in Iraq, my kid is on drugs, the crime in the neighborhood is going up, the property taxes are out of site, the hurricaine and flood insurance is breaking me, my mom needs to go to a nursing home."

I would venture to say not one of them is going to say "the homosexuals down the block" (myslef, my neighbors, and two doors down are all gay househoolds on this street). It bafflems me that someone drives down from GA, with a bullhorn and signs and yells at me that I'm a threat. It baffles me that it's such a priority with the Pat Robertsons, etc. of the world when famlies are challenged by other real problems. Real problems that many of us homosexuals share, can relate to and would be united with Christians to help solve were we not outcasts.

Sigh..............

fronkey bean · Nov 1, 2007

I agree. If I was Christian, I would be embarrassed by these people. They drove from GA down to harrass us, so at least the locals aren't that bad. Their obsession bothers me tremendously and I'm baffled.
I would bet if a surveyor were to go house to house in my neighborhood and ask "what is the greatest threat to your family?" They would answer "my husband is an alcoholic, my child is on drugs, we fight about money often because there isn't enough, my daughter is in Iraq, my kid is on drugs, the crime in the neighborhood is going up, the property taxes are out of site, the hurricaine and flood insurance is breaking me, my mom needs to go to a nursing home."
I would venture to say not one of them is going to say "the homosexuals down the block" (myslef, my neighbors, and two doors down are all gay househoolds on this street). It bafflems me that someone drives down from GA, with a bullhorn and signs and yells at me that I'm a threat. It baffles me that it's such a priority with the Pat Robertsons, etc. of the world when famlies are challenged by other real problems. Real problems that many of us homosexuals share, can relate to and would be united with Christians to help solve were we not outcasts.
Sigh..............

I sincerely hope (and I really believe) that the crowd w/ the bull horns and signs don't represent the "average" evangelical. I had not even heard of these protests and I live 1.5 hours from Atlanta. Also, Pat Robertson has done a couple of good things in his career, but no one I know takes him too seriously these days. I have never heard his name mentioned at my church.

To be perfectly honest, most evangelical churches will view homosexuality as a sin. There are verses in the Bible that would seem to indicate that it is not viewed favorably by God and when I read those verses I can't say honestly that they arebeing misinterpreted. That being said, there is also a verse in the Bible that says "God hates divorce", and yet here I am a divorced woman who has stolen, lied and at times treated my body more like a chemical waste dump than a temple. I have no right to pass judgement on any other child of God, no matter what I believe.

In a totally unrelated note, I find it a little odd that a group from GA drove to Florida when Atlanta is (according to a gay friend of mine) the San Francisco of the south. I guess they didn't want to stir up anything in their own back yard.

czyja, MSN, RN · Nov 1, 2007

. Also, Pat Robertson has done a couple of good things in his career, but no one I know takes him too seriously these days. I have never heard his name mentioned at my church.

There is an interesting article in this weeks NY Times magazine about the declining influence of Pat Robertson and the "old guard" on the evangelical movement. The author suggests that a younger generation of prominent leaders in the evangelical movement is pushing their agenda away from abortion, homosexuality etc and towards environmentalism, health care equity, and peace. The article quotes leaders that are interested in preaching what evangelicals stand "for" rather than "against." This strikes me (an orthodox Christian) as a positive development. I think there are a large number of Americans that can find common ground on these issues. Who knows, this may portend the onset of a new civility in our national discourse.

The article may be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/magazine/28Evangelicals-t.html

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2007

I sincerely hope (and I really believe) that the crowd w/ the bull horns and signs don't represent the "average" evangelical. I had not even heard of these protests and I live 1.5 hours from Atlanta. Also, Pat Robertson has done a couple of good things in his career, but no one I know takes him too seriously these days. I have never heard his name mentioned at my church.
To be perfectly honest, most evangelical churches will view homosexuality as a sin. There are verses in the Bible that would seem to indicate that it is not viewed favorably by God and when I read those verses I can't say honestly that they arebeing misinterpreted. That being said, there is also a verse in the Bible that says "God hates divorce", and yet here I am a divorced woman who has stolen, lied and at times treated my body more like a chemical waste dump than a temple. I have no right to pass judgement on any other child of God, no matter what I believe.
In a totally unrelated note, I find it a little odd that a group from GA drove to Florida when Atlanta is (according to a gay friend of mine) the San Francisco of the south. I guess they didn't want to stir up anything in their own back yard.

Atlanta is indeed the gay mecca of the South attracking gay refugees from small town southern town in droves. I myself lived there in the late 70's and early 90's escaping the opressiveness of the small southern town I was in. I'm sure Atlanta pride has it's fair share of protesters, perhaps they don't give much press. The protesters here were mentioned in the press, but didn't get a lot of attention, but were mentioned because a couple got arrested for going outside their designated areas and for throwing a drink in someone's face. I think they are from a small border town which makes driving to Florida as quick as to Atlanta. While they may not represent the "average", they do say out loud what others think but won't say, which in a way might be good in the long run. Here's a pic I snapped of them.

We're going off topic here, so I'll stop.

gentle · Nov 3, 2007

Dearest Tweety,

This thread has been off topic for a while now. What difference does it really make if a few more posts are a bit off topic?

That said . . . .

gentle · Nov 3, 2007

Hi everyone,

I haven't been around for a while. As such I thought I would drop in and catch up on what has been said so far, which has turned out to be more than I anticipated.

Tweety,

My God sent me people who showed me to love those who are gay. Not harm them. Heck this was back in the early 90s. God made sure my mentors taught me that all people were to be respected and treated kindly. My mentor's spouse left her for his other spouse. She my mentor, took care of her ex-husband while he was dying in the hospital. She invited his other spouse to help her. He was floored to say the least. Here was this woman who would not deny him access to his spouse/his love, her ex-husband. I guess it always stuck with me.

I'm grieved when ignorant people hide behind their signs for 2-3 days, criticize other peoples lives, and then go home to neglect the neighbor down the street who needed help. Alas, I have lived on all sides of that sad equation. I don't believe God likes that. I'm sorry that happened to you and your friends.

I gotta go. I'm exhausted and this post probably sounds cryptic by now.

Take care everyone. Thanks for your posts fronkeybean and tweety and everyone else. Thank you op for starting this thread. BTW, i still get mad and say not-so-nice things when people aren't handled well based on some predjudice. If I can't handle a patient/family due to personal internal conflict, I try to trade patients. I