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Baháʼí views on homosexuality

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The issue of religion and sexual orientation has become a highly debated topic, involving religious morality, opinion of homosexuality, and questions of civil rights and social justice.

As with any human institution, there are complexities, controversies and contradictions between what is taken as authoritative by members. Some use such tensions as a means to exclude and proscribe behaviors they cannot tolerate. Others see a diversity of views as the foundation of social justice, which must first be found in the individual's heart and mind.

The Bahá'í Faith is considered by some to be very liberal and open-minded, which might indicate an acceptance and encouragement of homosexuality. Others consider it to be very traditional and conservative, which might indicate an anti-gay persona which is against gay rights. The Bahá'í teachings do not put it in either extreme. While homosexuality is clearly forbidden in the religion, Bahá'ís are left to apply the teachings at their own discretion, and are discouraged from singling out homosexuality over other transgressions, such as the consumption of alcohol. Membership in the Bahá'í community is therefore open to admittedly gay adherents.

There is a focus in the Bahá'í teachings on chastity and personal restraint. Any sexual activity outside of a married man and woman is considered a transgression of this ideal.

Summary of Views

For references, please review the letters in the last section of this page.

View of homosexuality

The Bahá'í Faith teaches that the only acceptable form of sexual expression is within a marriage between one man and one woman.

Therefore, homosexuality is seen as something an individual must reconcile with, one of the many conflicts between the "higher" and "lower" nature of a human being, which must be battled with and overcome.

Bahá'ís relate homosexuality and heterosexual promiscuity to chastity, stressing the importance of absolute chastity for any unmarried person, rather than the exclusive prohibition of homosexual relationships. The attitude is that the rules are the same for everyone. Bahá'í marriage is defined in the religion's texts as exclusively between a man and a woman.

Treatment of Homosexuals

Bahá'ís are taught not to treat homosexuals as condemned outcasts, and are told not to apply the Bahá'í teachings to people who have not accepted Bahá'u'lláh.

The Bahá'í writings teach people to treat everyone, including homosexuals, with love, respect, and dignity.

Gay Bahá'ís

Individuals who are openly homosexual are not prevented from entering the Faith and joining in community life. This acceptance is not an endorsement of their personal conduct, rather it is a recognition that becoming a Bahá'í is not conditional on their complete and strict compliance with all Bahá'í standards and laws. Homosexuality is seen as one of many tests and difficulties every individual must face, which can be discussed openly and sympathized with.

Homosexual Bahá'ís have been reprimanded for being flagrant in their presentation to the public. There are many examples of situations where an individual's administrative rights were taken away when their actions were decided by a Spiritual Assembly to be damaging to the image of the Bahá'í Faith. This response is also applied to alcoholism, heterosexual promiscuity, and anything that is considered flagrant immorality. As a general rule, the Spiritual Assemblies do not get involved in the private lives of believers, unless their actions are causing some harm to the community.

The Bahá'í Faith has received criticism in the gay community. The Bahá'í administration has reminded followers of the religion not to single out homosexuality over other transgressions of the religious code, and to be very tolerant of what is perceived to be immoral behaviour.

Curing Homosexuality

Bahá'ís believe that homosexuals must endeavor to use prayer, medical treatment, counselling and personal effort to overcome their condition. Anyone who is not able to have a heterosexual marriage must remain celibate, just like any person who does not marry.

The opinion that homosexuals can be cured is common to theories of homosexuality from the first half of the 20th century and earlier, but is in conflict with the modern scientific consensus on homosexuality and the experiences of most gay and lesbian people.

The Universal House of Justice responds to this by noting that this consensus ignores people who do think they have been cured at some point but do not go public, even with their close friends. Rather, this consensus was formed by people who were not cured or continue to suffer from the condition.

Basis from sacred texts

In one passage of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá'u'lláh writes "we shrink, for very shame, from treating the subject of boys." This wording suggests that it is child-molesting or pederasty that is being condemned. In other verses, sodomy is clearly forbidden.

Shoghi Effendi later made more direct statements on homosexuality, and most of the references to it come from him, and the Universal House of Justice.

See this thread

Letters from National Spiritual Assemblies

From the United Kingdom, 1996

The National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom distributed a statement [1] prepared for a London, UK, education group about the teaching about homosexuality within the school system. The Assembly stated that "the statement does not claim to be exhaustive, but it can be used with wisdom as part of a response to questions." Some excerpts from their statement are:

  • "...the sexual impulse is a God-given one... The appropriate circumstance for this is within marriage, the legally, socially, and spiritually sanctioned union of two adults of the opposite sex. Other expressions are neither valid nor to be encouraged."
  • "This is "taught by the world's great religions, and is part of the basis of a stable and civilized society."
  • "The moral and sexual education of children cannot be taken separately, and must be based upon heterosexuality, fidelity, and the family unit."
  • "...the sexual practice of homosexuality is no more an acceptable activity than is heterosexual activity outside marriage."
  • "We also abhor the introduction of loaded words such as 'homophobia' and 'heterosexism' to try to convey the idea that rejection of homosexuality is as prejudiced and discriminatory as racism, sexism, and other biases and intolerances..."

Letters from Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice

This letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States in 1995 specifically addressed the issue of homosexuality in detail. Another letter also addresses biological issues.

The following are selections from Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice on homosexuality. These comments are considered authoritative to Bahá'ís, and are not presented in any particular order.

"Bahá'í law restricts permissible sexual intercourse to that between a man and the woman to whom he is married."
(From a letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; cited in Lights of Guidance, pp. 365, #1225) [2]
"...according to the Bahá'í Teachings no sexual act can be considered lawful unless performed between lawfully married persons. Outside of marital life there can be no lawful or healthy use of the sex impulse."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; cited in Lights of Guidance, pp. 364, #1220) [3]
"...it is clear from the teaching of Bahá’u’lláh that homosexuality is not a condition to which a person should be reconciled, but is a distortion of his or her nature which should be controlled or overcome. This may require a hard struggle, but so also can be the struggle of a heterosexual person to control his or her desires."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 12 January 1973; Lights of Guidance, p. 366, #1222) [4]
"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. To say that it is ideal is no excuse. Immorality of every sort is really forbidden by Bahá'u'lláh, and homosexual relationships He looks upon as such, besides being against nature."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 26 March, 1950; cited in Lights of Guidance, p. 365, #1223) [5]
"Briefly stated, the Bahá'í conception of sex is based on the belief that chastity should be strictly practiced by both sexes, not only because it is in itself highly commendable ethically, but also due to its being the only way to a happy and successful marital life. Sex relationships of any form, outside marriage, are not permissible therefore, and whoso violates this rule will not only be responsible to God, but will incur the necessary punishment from society."
(On behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, 5 September 1938, cited in The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. I, p. 56)
"They (homosexuals) should be treated just like any other people seeking admittance to the Faith, and be accepted on the same basis. Our teachings, as outlined in “The Advent of Divine Justice” on the subject of living a chaste life, should be emphasized to them just as to every other applicant, but certainly no ruling whatsoever should be laid down in this matter. The Bahá'ís have certainly not yet reached that stage of moral perfection where they are in a position to too harshly scrutinize the private lives of other souls, and each individual should be accepted on the basis of his faith, and sincere willingness to try to live up to the Divine standards"
(Compiled by Universal House of Justice Research Department, Homosexuality, p. 3) [6]
"Bahá'u'lláh has spoken very strongly against this shameful sexual aberration, as He has against adultery and immoral conduct in general."
(Compiled by Universal House of Justice Research Department, Homosexuality, p. 3) [7]
"Amongst the many other evils afflicting society in this spiritual low water mark in history is the question of immorality, and over-emphasis of sex. Homosexuality, according to the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, is spiritually condemned. This does not mean that people so afflicted must not be helped and advised and sympathized with."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 21 May 1954; Lights of Guidance, p. 365, #1221) [8]
"Homosexuality is forbidden in the Bahá'í Faith by Bahá'u'lláh; so, for that matter, is immorality and adultery. If one is going to start imposing heavy sanctions on people who are the victims of this abnormality, however repulsive it may be to others, then it is only fair to impose equally heavy sanctions on any Bahá'ís who step beyond the moral limits defined by Bahá'u'lláh. Obviously at the present time this would create an impossible and ridiculous situation."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a National Spiritual Assembly, 20 August 1955; Lights of Guidance, pp. 368-369, #1230) [9]
"While recognizing the divine origin and force of the sex impulse in man, religion teaches that it must be controlled, and Bahá'u'lláh's law confines its expression to the marriage relationship. The unmarried homosexual is therefore in the same position as anyone else who does not marry. The Law of God requires them to practice chastity."
(Compiled by Universal House of Justice Research Department, Homosexuality, p. 5) [10]
"As for the responsibility of Assemblies and of individual Bahá’ís, certainly all are called upon to be understanding, supportive and helpful to any individual who carries the burden of homosexuality."
(Compiled by Universal House of Justice Research Department, Homosexuality, p. 7) [11]
"In studying these principles, it should be noted that in most areas of human behaviour there are acts which are clearly contrary to the law of God and others which are clearly approved or permissible; between these there is often a grey area where it is not immediately apparent what should be done. It has been a human tendency to wish to eliminate these grey areas so that every aspect of life is clearly prescribed."
(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual, 5 June 1988) [12]
"However, the doors are open for all of humanity to enter the Cause of God, irrespective of their present circumstance; this invitation applies to homosexuals as well as to any others who are engaged in practices contrary to the Bahá’í teachings.
"One could have concluded that homosexuals could well establish stable relationships with one another for mutual support, similar to the marital relationship of a heterosexual couple who cannot have children. This, indeed, is the conclusion that some churches and governments have come to. But Bahá’u’lláh, having divine knowledge of human nature, shows that such a relationship is not a permissible or beneficial solution to a homosexual’s condition. If a homosexual cannot so overcome his or her condition to the extent of being able to have a heterosexual marriage, he or she must remain single, and abstain from sexual relations. These are the same requirements as for a heterosexual person who does not marry.
"This law is no reason for Bahá’ís to consider homosexuals as outcasts. If they are not Bahá’ís there is also no reason to expect them to obey the Bahá’í law in this respect any more than we would expect a non-Bahá’í to abstain from drinking alcohol."
(Compiled by Universal House of Justice Research Department, Homosexuality, p. 11) [13]

See also

References

  • Bahá'u'lláh (1992) [1873]. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0853989990.
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