Historical Background

Homosexuality as a term was first used in the United States in 1892, but originated in European medical literature much earlier.¹⁰  Originally known as one of a number of "sexual inversions," homosexuality was a descriptive term to denote a sexual illness (typically as an addiction).  Following an "illness model," homosexuality has been much debated over the past 100 years in medical and social circles.  Homosexuality has been a part of the human experience for centuries.  In some Native American cultures, homosexuals were recognized for their special talents and occupied special roles (known as berdache) in society.¹¹  In Christian societies, homosexuals have had varying degrees of acceptance.  While maligning bigoted stereotypes of gays and lesbians persist, the homosexual minority community has a rich, proud, and creative legacy.  As gay men and lesbian women are able to reclaim some of their own heritage and birthright, individuals like Katherine Bates (she wrote "America the Beautiful"), Leonard Bernstein, Willa Cather, Candace Gingrich (sister of Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives), Benjamin Britten, John Williams (his music compositions include the movie soundtrack of "Schindler's List"), Marsha Stevens (her Christian music compositions include "For Those Tears I Died") and Aaron Copland, among many others, are/were recognizably gay/lesbian.¹¹  Within Adventist church circles, there are gay/lesbian members of many well-known American Adventist families.¹²