A manifesto from a group of evangelical leaders is causing controversy for its anti-LGBTQ content.
The “Nashville Statement,” a manifesto from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW), outlines the group’s views on sexuality and gender in order to act as a guide of sorts for churches.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the results aren’t favourable towards LGBTQ people.
Comprising 14 articles, it opens with the declaration that “God has designed marriage to be a…union of one man and one woman, as husband and wife.” It adds, “We deny that God has designed marriage to be a homosexual, polygamous or polyamorous relationship.”
“We deny that adopting a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God’s holy purposes,” the statement continues, adding, “We deny that sexual attraction for the same sex is part of the natural goodness of God’s original creation.”
The statement also notes that transgender individuals should embrace religion to “forsake transgender self-conceptions” and accept the “God-ordained link” between sex and gender identity.
And there’s no hope for those who support the LGBTQ community, as the evangelical leaders consider it “sinful to approve of homosexual immorality or transgenderism.”
“The spirit of our age does not delight in God’s good design of male and female. Consequently, confusion reigns over some of the most basic questions of our humanity,” Council President Denny Burk said in a statement. “The aim of The Nashville Statement is to shine a light into the darkness — to declare the goodness of God’s design in our sexuality and in creating us as male and female.”
However, the use of Nashville in the name — due to a conference of the leaders in the city — has drawn fire from Nashville’s Democractic Mayor Megan Barry, who tweeted: “The [CBMW’s] so-called ‘Nashville Statement’ is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city and people of Nashville.”
And elsewhere on social media, users rallied against the views expressed in the manifesto. Comedian Kumail Nanjiani, who has spoken out against transphobic jokes, didn’t hold back in expressing his thoughts:
Fuck the #NashvilleStatement. Fuck the evil shit that people justify using religion.
MAGA congresswomen Lauren Boebert (Co.) and Nancy Mace (S.C.) were left with egg on their faces after being duped by a rumor that a "guy" was using the women's bathroom in the U.S. Capitol.
The self-appointed MAGA bathroom monitors reportedly rushed to the bathroom over the belief that it was their colleague, U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first transgender member of Congress, using the restroom.
McBride -- along with all other transgender staffers and visitors to the U.S. Capitol -- is banned from using the women's bathroom and other sex-specific facilities in the Capitol complex.
Donald Trump signed an executive order rescinding a Biden administration policy that allows transgender individuals to serve openly in the U.S. military.
The order paves the way for Trump to revive the ban on transgender service members he instituted during his first term as president.
The reversal of Biden's 2021 executive order was included in a list of various reforms and policies adopted by the Biden administration covering topics ranging from immigration and energy policy to health care and workplace safety. Trump claimed these needed to be rescinded to "repair our institutions and our economy."
Pete Buttigieg is reportedly “taking a serious look” at running for one of Michigan’s U.S. Senate seats in 2026.
“Pete is exploring all of his options on how he can be helpful and continue to serve,” a person close to the former Transportation Secretary told Axios. “He’s honored to be mentioned for this and he’s taking a serious look.”
The seat is currently held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, who was first elected to the upper chamber in 2014 after serving three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Peters announced his intention to retire at the end of his term on January 28, taking some political observers by surprise.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
You must be logged in to post a comment.