By Natalie Wendt |


Debates about same-sex marriage often center on a question of religion. But the rhetoric opposing gay marriage comes from only a handful of religious people and does not represent all religious communities. Christian viewpoints alone run from vehement opposition to activism on behalf of gay couples. But rarely do we hear what other religions say about gay marriage. Let’s take a look at the religious perspectives you may not know.


Baha’i

The Baha’i Faith is one of peace and acceptance. It surprises many that, while taking no official stance on same-sex civil marriage, it does not recognize gay marriage. Sexual relationships are only permissible in the context of heterosexual marriage, and those who violate this religious law may face sanctions, including being cut off from community gathering. Some within the Faith now advocate for a re-examination of this practice.

Buddhism

Whether or not a Buddhist group supports gay marriage depends primarily on how that Buddhist community interprets homosexuality. Unlike many religions, Buddhism has no central book of religious law. Instead, the historical Buddha laid down precepts for his followers to adopt voluntarily, with the first five precepts being the most important. The third precept is “to avoid sexual misconduct.” Buddha’s original teachings do not directly reference sexual orientation and don’t define “sexual misconduct.” Some Buddhist cultures consider gay sexuality to violate the third precept, though there are no clear scriptural sources for this attitude. Other Buddhist communities are highly accepting of GLBTQ members. Bhikkshuni Thubten Chodron, founder of Sravasti Abbey in Newport, Washington and Buddhism nun for more than thirty years, explains the third precept as “using sexuality wisely and kindly.” She affirms that there is no conflict between this and consensual adult same-sex relationships.

Buddhist monk Mettanando Bhikkhu explains in the Bangkok Post that Buddhism doesn’t regard gender as inherent. Since gender is not a reflection of a divine plan, there’s no spiritual obstacle to same-gender marriage. (Buddhism also generally has no problem with transgender individuals, who are allowed to ordain as monks and nuns). Lay Buddhist teachers in all traditions perform same-sex weddings. Interestingly, monks and nuns do not perform weddings at all because of their celibacy-focused vows, although they may perform blessings for the couple, including same-sex couples.

Western Buddhist groups usually see no conflict between Buddhism and same-sex relationships. Many American Buddhist leaders object to discrimination as a violation of the central Buddhist principle of compassion. Some have declared gay marriage bans to conflict with their religious beliefs because of this. Buddhist teachers, including Zen teacher Robert Aitken of Honolulu Diamond Sangha, have testified and publicly advocated for the legalization of gay marriage.

Hinduism

Rooted in thousands of years of tradition, Hinduism is as diverse as a religion can be. Like Buddhism, there is no central Hindu authority. Not surprisingly, religious opinions on gay marriage run the gamut. The American Hindu Foundation notes that there is no fundamental spiritual opposition to queerness within Hinduism. Some Hindu communities hold anti-LGBT attitudes, often reflecting sentiments from nations that colonized the Indian subcontinent, such as the British Empire. Hindus may also oppose same-sex marriage on the grounds that, according to some interpretations of the Dharma Shastras, a purpose of marriage is procreation and this excludes same-sex relationships. Other Hindus interpret the Dharma Shastras differently and affirm the inclusion of same-sex couples, or acknowledge that these texts are guides and not a binding set of rules.

Some Hindu priests conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies. Hindu master Swami Bodhananda Saraswati encourages his students to accept same-sex unions, explaining, “We always look at everyone as spirit…people’s karma brings them together.” While not reflective of religious beliefs, a Pew Research Center survey released in June 2023 found that 53% of adults in India supported the legalization of gay marriage.

Islam

Drawing from the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, as well as the Qur’an, Islam forbids homosexuality. However, there is no central governing body in Islam, so attitudes vary across its over one billion followers. In many Islamic republics, homosexual sex is illegal, and in some cases punishable by death. Yet others within Islam advocate for gay rights, and some imams perform same-sex weddings. Progressive Islam and other liberal Muslim groups have called for reinterpretations of marriage and revaluations scriptural passages used to condemn gay relationships. Some Progressive Muslim communities have openly gay members and advocate for gay marriage.

Judaism

The Leviticus passage often cited to condemn homosexuality comes, of course, from the Hebrew Bible. Yet many branches of Judaism perform weddings ceremonies for same-sex couples. The Reconstructionist and Renewal movements endorse efforts to legalize same-sex marriage. Most Reconstructionist rabbis perform Jewish same-sex weddings and the Reconstruction Rabbi’s Manual includes gay Jewish wedding ceremonies. Renewal rabbis also perform same-sex weddings. Reform Judaism does not issue rulings and only puts out guidelines. Current Reform guidelines support the legalization of gay secular marriage and allow rabbis to perform gay Jewish weddings or commitment ceremonies at the discretion of the individual rabbis. Many Reform rabbis do, and there are even explicitly GLBT Reform synagogues, most notably Congregation Sha’ar Zahav in San Francisco.

Other Jewish groups believe religious law is binding and literal, but even these communities have diverse opinions on same-sex relationships. Conservative Judaism holds that Torah law must be followed and cannot be changed. For this reason, Conservative Jews generally keep kosher and observe Shabbat, and Conservative rabbis do not perform weddings for interfaith couples. Yet in 2006, Conservative Judaism began allowing rabbis to perform commitment ceremonies for same-sex Jewish couples, according to the discretion of the officiating rabbi. The panel of rabbis who made the decision did not endorse gay marriage and no rabbi is required to perform commitment ceremonies. Orthodox Judaism believes both the Torah and oral law, such as the Talmud, to be binding. Not surprisingly, the Union of Orthodox Congregations of America publically rejects both civil and religious same-sex marriage. Still, there are a small number of Orthodox groups calling for greater inclusion of gays and lesbians.

Native American

Native American religions vary on gay marriage, which is legal under tribal law in many Native communities but forbidden under Navajo law. Some tribes traditionally accepted “Two Spirits” and same-sex relationships, although that is no longer the case for many tribes today, largely because of
missionary influence.

Wicca

In 2008 Covenant of the Goddess, a national organization for Wiccan congregations and practitioners, released a statement in support of same-sex marriage. The press release stated, “Covenant of the Goddess has, since its inception in 1975, had clergy willing to celebrate the religious if not the legal joining of two members of the same gender.” It went on to explain that the earliest same-sex marriages were Pagan unions in ancient Greece and Rome.
Not all Wiccans are completely accepting of gay relationships. Since balance of polarity is important, some see a male/ female union as necessary. However, O’Gaea, the senior Corresponding Priestess of the Neo-Pagan group Mother Earth Ministries (MEM), explains that male and female energy are present in everyone and balance does require opposite sex partnership. O’Gaea describes homosexuality as “a perfectly natural variation of human sexuality.” In an introductory booklet to Wicca, O’Gaea and MEM president Carol Garr write, “In Wicca, sexuality is an affirmation of life, and therefore sacred.” Since there is no problem with sexuality, including GLB sexuality, affirming it in marriage is welcome.

Simply, there is no singular “religious” position on same-sex marriage. Religions are made up of individuals with diverse opinions and ways of understanding and living their faith. Many find no conflict between their beliefs and the marriage of loving couples.


Natalie Wendt is a busy queer mom who sometimes writes. She graduated from College of Santa Fe with a Bachelor’s degree in education, and San Francisco State University with a Master of Arts - MA Special Education and Teaching. She has worked as a special education teacher and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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