Homosexuality

Homosexuality is sexual attraction between people of the same sex. The Bahá’í Faith forbids any sexual acts outside of marriage and a Bahá’í marriage must be between people of different sexes. While laws on marriage and sexual conduct are applicable to Bahá’ís the Bahá’í Faith does not advocate any stance in regards to those who are not Bahá’ís.

Regarding the general attitude of the community the Universal House of Justice has written the following guidance:

Bahá’ís must also be on their guard lest condemnatory attitudes stemming from the public debate take root in their communities. Backbiting and gossip, prejudice and estrangement, have no place. All recognize the need to transform themselves in accordance with Bahá’u’lláh's Teachings, all struggle in different ways to live a Bahá’í life, and there is no reason that the challenge of being attracted to persons of the same sex should be singled out and treated differently from other challenges. The Guardian made it clear that Bahá’ís with a homosexual orientation should not withdraw from the community and should receive its support and encouragement. The House of Justice sympathizes deeply with those individuals, and their families, who strive in this respect to understand and hold fast to the Teachings while buffeted by the controversy unfolding within their societies.

Authoritative Stance

Regarding homosexuality the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice quotes the following extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh in the context of homosexuality:

We shrink for very shame, from treating of the subject of boys. Fear ye the Merciful, O peoples of the world! Commit not that which if forbidden you in Our Holy Tablet, and be not of those who rove distractedly in the wilderness of their desires.

Ye are forbidden to commit adultery, sodomy and lechery. Avoid them, O concourse of the faithful. By the righteousness of God! Ye have been called into being to purge the world from the defilement of evil passions. This is what the Lord of all mankind hath enjoined upon you, could ye but perceive it. He who relateth himself to the All-Merciful and committeth satanic deeds, verily he is not of Me. Unto this beareth witness every atom, pebble, tree and fruit, and beyond them this ever-proclaiming, truthful and trustworthy Tongue.

Shoghi Effendi, who as Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith is the authoritative interpreter of Bahá’í scripture, wrote the following:

No matter how devoted and fine the love may be between people of the same sex, to let it find expression in sexual acts is wrong.

A letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice which was accompanied by several extracts from the Bahá’í writings makes the following summary of the Bahá’í stance on homosexuality:

1. Homosexuality is strongly condemned by Bahá'u'lláh

2. The Bahá'í Writings do not point to the causes of homosexuality, although they do state that

3. Homosexuality is an "aberration", and is "against nature"

4. Homosexuality can be overcome, and

5. The individual is expected to make an effort to overcome the affliction.

In another letter the Universal House of Justice has written the following:

. . . the Faith does not recognize homosexuality as a "natural" or permanent phenomenon. Rather, it sees this as an aberration subject to treatment, however intractable exclusive homosexuality may now seem to be. To the question of alteration of homosexual bents, much study must be given, and doubtless in the future clear principles of prevention and treatment will emerge.

Regarding the Bahá’í attitude towards those who are not Bahá’ís in a 2014 letter the Universal House of Justice stated:

While Bahá’ís hold specific beliefs about human identity, sexuality, personal morality, and individual and social transformation, they also believe that individuals must be free to investigate truth and should not be coerced. They are, therefore, enjoined to be tolerant of those whose views differ from their own, not to judge others according to their own standards, and not to attempt to impose these standards on society. To regard a person who has a homosexual orientation with prejudice or disdain is entirely against the spirit of the Faith. And where occasion demands, it would be appropriate to speak out or act against unjust or oppressive measures directed towards homosexuals.

In regards to the conduct of Bahá’ís in relation to activism on the behalf on non Bahá’ís the Universal House of Justice has conveyed the following:

. . . Bahá’ís must inevitably distinguish between those dimensions of public issues that are in keeping with the Bahá’í Teachings, which they can actively support, and those that are not, which they would neither promote nor necessarily oppose. In connection with issues of concern to homosexuals, the former would be freedom from discrimination and the latter the opportunity for civil marriage. Such distinctions are unavoidable when addressing any social issue.

Procedures

In a 2005 letter the Universal House of Justice conveyed the following guidance on the conduct of individuals towards homosexuals:

As you are aware from your reading, the Bahá’í attitude towards the condition of homosexuality differs from its attitude towards those who engage in homosexual practices. To regard homosexuals with prejudice and disdain would be entirely inappropriate for a Bahá’í. The House of Justice urges you to avoid dwelling on any conflicted thoughts or emotions which you may experience and to continue to demonstrate wholehearted love and acceptance toward your daughter. Such an attitude does not in any way imply agreement with her actions. As a parent, the main thing is that you strive to deal with these challenges in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Cause of God, which is neither harsh and maledictory nor excessively liberal and forbearing.

In regards to general discourse the Universal House of Justice conveyed the following in 2014:

The House of Justice feels it would be ill-advised to engage in discussions intended to convince those who do not accept the station of Bahá’u’lláh that their views are erroneous; such an effort would ultimately prove fruitless. Shoghi Effendi counseled the friends "to have neither concern for, nor involvement in, the controversies of politicians, the wranglings of theologians or any of the ailing social theories current amongst men." The response of the Bahá’í community to the challenges facing humanity lies not in combating specific issues one by one but rather in making efforts to uplift the vision of their compatriots and to work with them for the betterment of the world. In their involvement in society at all levels, the friends should distinguish between those discourses associated with forces of disintegration, such as those which overemphasize sexuality, where involvement would be unproductive, and those associated with forces of integration, whose aim is unity and the collaborative resolution of social ills, to which they can constructively contribute.

In a 1956 letter written on his behalf Shoghi Effendi provided the following guidance regarding institutional conduct:

Regarding the question you asked him about one of the believers who seems to be flagrantly homosexual -- although to a certain extent we must be forbearing in the matter of people's moral conduct because of the terrible deterioration in society in general, this does not mean that we can put up indefinitely with conduct which is disgracing the Cause. The person should have it brought to his attention that such acts are condemned by Bahá'u'lláh, and that he must mend his ways, if necessary consult doctors, and make every effort to overcome this affliction, which is corruptive for him and bad for the Cause. If after a period of probation you do not see an improvement, he should have his voting rights taken away. The Guardian does not think, however, that a Bahá'í body should take it upon itself to denounce him to the Authorities unless his conduct borders on insanity.

Further reading

• Undated - The Baha’i Teachings and Homosexuality, posted to the official website of of the United States Bahá’í community.
• 1973 - Obeying the Law of God in One’s Personal Life, message from the Universal House of Justice.
• 1988 - Lights of Guidance - Second Edition, Section XXIX - J: Homosexuality, excerpts from Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice compiled by Helen Hornby.
• 1992 - Responding to Homosexuality , from the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice.
• 1993 - Homosexuality, compilation by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.
• 1993 - Is Homosexuality Biological, or a Learned Behavior?, memorandum by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice.
• 1995 - Bahá’í Teachings on Homosexual Practices, letter from the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice.
• 2011 - Homosexuality and Civil Rights, letter from the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice.
• 2013 - 22 April 2013 Letter, from the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice.
• 2014 - 5 September 2014 Letter, from the Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice.

External links

• www.bnasaa.org, the website of the Bahá’í Network on AIDS, Sexuality, Addictions, and Abuse, which includes several pages on homosexuality.
• Sexuality, Self and the Shape of Society by Holly Hanson.