Lesbian March on Santiago

Each day I receive a Google Alert with news items from Chile. This keeps me abreast on Chilean culture and government issues. One article that caught my eye was "Lesbians take on Santiago, Chile". In the last few years that has been a growing movement in Chile for more tolerance and anti-discrimination towards alternative lifestyles. This is definitely a concern for missionaries and national churches in Chile who are preaching the Gospel.

I would encourage you to read the above article (click on the title of the article) so that you will know how to pray for us as we are entering into this culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some of the highlights (or should I say "lowlights") from the article:

-Feminist lesbians from 18 different countries in Latin America took to the streets of Santiago this weekend to protest against the institutionalized homophobia that still exists in many parts of the continent. About 200 lesbian activists had been participating in the Seventh Latin American and Caribbean Lesbian feminist Conference, the first to take place in Chile.

-“Chile’s openness towards lesbianism has advanced,” said Montesinos. “But there is still discrimination taking place, and attacks against lesbian women.”

-An estimated 150 women took part in the march, which processed through Santiago’s main streets to the Plaza de Armas in the center. While men were not officially allowed on the march, some gay men couldn’t resist joining in the singing and chants, led by Argentine group Lesbian Banda. Many of the chants were unprintable, but perhaps the most effective slogan was one of the simplest: “Lesbians: we’re bad, but we could be worse!”

-In Plaza de Armas, activists took part in a mass kissathon, and set fire to lesbian symbols painted on the ground. Others threw their bras in the air in time-honored feminist fashion.

-There are already some 150 groups in Chile that support anti-discrimination legislation.

Some Ministry Implications for our family working with Homosexuals in Chile:
(taken from the notes I took at Dr. R. Al Mohler Jr's session at the 2005 Desiring God National Conference.)

1. We, as Christians, must be the people who cannot start a conversation about homosexual marriage by talking about homosexual marriage. We must start at the need for Salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

2. We must be the people who cannot ever talk about sex without talking about Biblical marriage in the same sentence.

3. We must be the people who cannot talk about anything of significance without acknowledging our absolute dependence upon God's revelation - The Bible.


4. We must be the people with a theology adequate to explain the deadly deception of sexual sin.

5. We must be the people with a theology adequate to explain Christ's victory over sin.

6. We must be the people who love homosexuals more than homosexuals love homosexuality.

7. We must be the people who tell the truth about homosexual marriage and thus refuse to accept even its possibility because we love and seek the glory of God for all.