from Theological Issues

Christian de la Huerta, a gay spirituality author and member of the NGLTF's National Religious Leadership Roundtable, says that he is celebrating Gay Pride in June as a way of "pressing back of cultural boundaries by a people uniquely qualified for spiritual exploration."

According to De la Huerta, throughout history in various cultures, gays and transgenders have been valued as "healers, teachers, shamans, keepers of beauty, mediators and peacekeepers." Being gay, says De la Huerta, is a "gift, blessing and a privilege."

De la Huerta notes that the Dagara tribe in Africa believes that gays and transgenders are suited to be the "gatekeepers" or the guardians of the doorways into other worlds and realities. The Dagara believe that much of the pain and "woundedness" in the world can be "traced to a lack of respect for these spiritual gatekeepers," says De la Huerta.

He also points out that the Two Spirit movement among Native Americans is regaining "their place of honor" after "being annihilated or forced to go underground during the European invasion."

For those who ridicule the excesses of Gay Pride festivals, he observes: "These are the outsiders, the spiritual warriors, the scouts of consciousness who are integrating spirit and sexuality for much of the rest of society. We owe these modern-day shamans the latitude they need and the respect they deserve to do this crucial work."

De la Huerta views being gay as a spiritual calling and says this is what he will be celebrating during the month of June.