The Gospel According to Harry Potter

A sermon delivered at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the New River Valley, March 28, 2004, by Frank Benedetti, UU Fellowship of Winston-Salem

This is my re-telling of the Harry Potter birth narrative:

And, it came to pass, that there was a day that was unlike any other for those folks living in the English town of Surrey, near Kent. Swarms of owls were seen scurrying over the sky during daylight. Strange looking people dressed in colorful cloaks were seen exchanging spirited greetings. The night sky was full of shooting stars. What could these strange omens mean? Then, out of a midnight clear sky, carried on a magical chariot, wrapped in swaddling clothes, was a baby with the strange marking of a lightening bolt on his forehead. His descension in front of 4 Privet Drive brought three magical wizards who had come from different directions to be with this special child. They were Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Head Mistress Minerva McGonagall, and a gentle giant named Rubeus Hagrid - all from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

They were carrying a recently orphaned child to his only living relatives - his uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. So begins the first Harry Potter book — The Sorcerer’s Stone.

This might sound like a strange beginning to our service, but I hope you will bear with me and see what lessons we can learn from J.K. Rowling’s novel, which according to the American Library Association, is the most censored book in America.

While living with his relatives during the first ten years of his life, Harry’s existence seemed closer to a male version of Cinderella, than to the beginnings of the most famous wizard of all time. He was secretly kept in a closet, under the stairs, made to wear hand-me-down old clothes, and was tormented by his older and much larger cousin.

He was made to do household chores which included cleaning and cooking. Examples of birthday gifts given to him were a hanger and a pair of his uncle’s old socks.

The author of the book calls non-magic folks “Muggles” who seem to come in three varieties: allies, enemies, and those who haven’t a clue.

As you read further, you discover that his family was determined to keep Harry’s true self hidden. They were fearful of what the neighbors might think. He was viewed as abnormal and as an object of shame. The family motto was “Don’t Ask Questions.”

[Is all this starting to sound familiar to some of you?]

When he was offered a chance to go to Hogwarts, instead of Stonewall High, (yes — Stonewall), the family panicked and fled to a barren island where he was kept hidden until rescued by the gentle giant Hagrid who asks him; “Don’t you know what you are?”

At first, Harry is in denial, but relents when reminded of past magical events. He is then carried off to London to shop for school supplies, and after some adventures, he arrives at the school.

This is Harry’s coming out from living in a closet, under the stairs, where he was forced to deny what he really is, into an environment full of people like him, along with many adults who are caring and understanding.

Like others coming out into a new world, he had to learn which accepted clothing to wear, undergo new rituals, learn the meaning of new expressions, find books about his new life, discover the hidden history of his people, and get what might best be called accessories or relevant paraphernalia.

Again, these activities might sound familiar to some of you.

Once at Hogwarts, Harry who is finally allowed to be himself starts to flourish.

As an orphan, and one who was always chosen last, he links up with three friends, or disciples, who are among the least popular at school. There is Hermonie who has no other friends because she is too smart, Ron who has no money and comes from the wrong side of the tracks, and Neville who has no confidence and is the butt of jokes because he is clumsy and accident-prone. Opposing them, and a source of conflict, is a prissy, wealthy bully with an abundance of attitude named Malvoy.

The book then goes on to cover the adventures of Harry and his friends as they seek out the Sorcerer’s Stone and come up against the epitome of evil — Voldemort, or as he was called by the others — “he whose name dare not be spoken.”

I think that there is much in this book that resonates with people who are perceived as “different” from the majority community.

Many of us can relate to Harry’s difficulties with his confidence and self-esteem. When you don’t see others like yourself at home, at work, in the movies, on television, in books, in your church, in your government; then it’s hard to feel that you belong. It is even worse when people in power are openly hostile towards you. It is especially hurtful when they try to exclude you from their groups, their clubs, their parties, their teams, and their lives.

One of the major characteristics of Hogwarts was its diversity and acceptance. Its student body was made up of all the ethnic, economic, and racial groups.

The book also emphasizes the value and healing power of friendship. For, only when working together, can the four friends overcome the obstacles put before them.

As always, I think back to our religion. Are we living up to our principles? How often do we go out of our way to meet and become friends with those different from us? Do we invite them into our homes for dinner and conversation? Do we defend them when unkind remarks are made against them? Or, do we just pay lip service to our principles, and then go back to excluding anyone who is different from our lives? And, consider the bravery demonstrated by Harry as he faces his fears and risks his life to save others. How brave are we when we look the other way at injustice? How brave are we when we laugh at sexist, racist or homophobic remarks?

How brave are we when we don’t speak out; when we don’t write letters to our newspaper, to our organizations, or to companies who discriminate? How brave are we when we fail to contact our legislators to give them our opinion?

How brave are we when we just remain comfortably silent? Specifically, do we speak out against the myths that surround gay people? For example, that we recruit because we can’t reproduce. Right! Who could resist wanting to join our despised minority? Who wouldn’t want to experience the rejection of your family, your friends, and your church? Why not put your job at risk? And, best of all, endure the ability of strangers to bash you with a baseball bat for simply holding your loved one’s hand.

Another is that we “convert” people. They must be confusing us with Mormons! Not even one of Harry’s spells can change one’s sexual orientation. And, we can and have reproduced - though the ability to do so does not make a person heterosexual. Yet, another myth is that women become lesbians because of a bad experience with men. If this were true, there wouldn’t be any straight women left.

But, the cruelest, and most untrue myth, is that we are child molesters. This has once again surfaced during the Catholic Church’s pedophilia scandals. Unfortunately, the church elders immediately blamed gay priests. Boston’s archbishop even went as far as to blame the victims and forbade Catholics from attending same sex commitment ceremonies. The Vatican ordered their parishes and Catholic politicians to file petitions opposing any legislation that appears to support gay unions including domestic partner benefits. This only provides access to medical care. What is Christ like about denying people admission to doctors? They also instructed all Catholic lawyers and judges to fight gay marriage.

A forensic psychologist, William Samek, who has studied sexual predators, points out that

“men who molest boys are disgusted at the thought of having sexual relations with adult males. They choose boys because they are less frightened of them or because they feel a connection.”

While some pedophiles may be gay, most studies show that most sex crimes against minors are committed by heterosexual men. Since molestation is often a crime of opportunity, the prevalence of boy victims of the priests may be more a reflection of the all male culture of the priesthood, its unfettered access to boys, and the strain of having to live under an imposed form of anorexic sexuality.

Yet, the idea of linking gay people with child molesters still lurks — perhaps even here.

And, recalling Harry’s spells, perhaps he or Hermonie could cast a magical beam to seek out evidence of intelligent life – not in the Universe, but in Washington. For, how smart is our military which in spite of a shortage of qualified Arabic linguists expelled nine specialists because of their sexual orientation. Under the “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” policy, they have banned over 9,000 people at an estimated cost of 200 million dollars. Are we more frightened by gay people that by Al Quida?

Gary and I are sometimes challenged to defend what our opponents call the “homosexual agenda.”

This “agenda” label is a term commonly used to dismiss valid concerns of various groups. It is used as a justification to devalue people. You reduce their legitimate struggles for equality by saying they are merely following some agenda. Then by selectively quoting the bible, you add a veneer of “natural” or “divine” reasons to your opposition. School anti-bullying programs are routinely opposed for these very reasons.

What I admire most about Harry is his courage. Although a new student, he became the hero of his first Quidditch game. He led his friends on their quest to find the “Sorcerer’s Stone” and dared to confront Voldemort alone. Perhaps Harry or Hermonie could cast a courage spell on our Senate where they have been sitting on a treaty called “The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.”

President Carter signed it over 24 years ago, but conservative groups in the Senate still oppose ratification, because they believe it will lead to same-sex marriage and abortion. And, maybe they could also supply courage to Big Brothers-Big Sisters which is under attack from right wing religious groups because the national organization includes sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policy.

And, perhaps they could send conservative politicians a compassion spell. They have joined with religious hardliners to try to pass a constitutional amendment that would not only ban gay marriage, but would wipe out domestic partner benefits and civil unions.

Gay people have a connection with the Harry Potter books because the Religious Right is equally against us. They would ban us, as they ban these books from homes, schools and libraries. Pat Robertson said the books bring heathen, pagan practices to our country.

Incredibly, Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition links them to homosexuality and abortion. And, Jerry Falwell calls them “godless pursuits.” Of course, these reasons compel some of us to want to read them all the more.

Finally, what does all this mean — to you and to us?

And, why should you support our struggle for equal rights? To me it comes down to a matter of fairness. It is a contradiction to call us equal citizens when there are laws that specifically deny us the many benefits that most of you here take for granted. We are productive citizens who ironically pay taxes into a system of government that doesn’t benefit us in the same way it does others.

In school we learned about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as well as the principles of equality and justice upon which our country was founded..... Where were we excluded?

We hear a lot about “traditional values” and “traditional families.” These have become twisted into anti-gay code words used to devalue and undermine our relationships.

The concept of “traditional families,” as put forth by the religious right as being the only moral way to live, is not universal.

It doesn’t exist for many families. Yet, these other families are not immoral. Morality is how you live and conduct yourself — not what your sexual orientation is. Gary & I do indeed have “family values” such as love, respect, and caring. These have to do with values found inside the family — not whether our family’s makeup conforms to what others think it should be. Seeking equal recognition of our families doesn’t undermine the “traditional families” from which most of us come.

We are sometimes asked: “Just what do you people want?” Well, what we want is to be valued. We want recognition of our families.

We want the removal of laws that single us out for lesser treatment. We want the right to live our lives just as most of you do — openly and honestly. Like other citizens, we have a right to live without fear that someone might break down our door, or call us names, or beat us up, or deny us work, or evict us out of our homes, or refuse us needed medical care, or criminalize our unions just because of our sexual orientation. For in the eyes of most people, and the law, the relationship that Gary and I have doesn’t exist. Others see it as an “abomination.” We live in a culture that sanctions physical and psychological violence. Our way of surviving, with our humanity still intact, is to become fiercely protective of each other.

For when you live in world where you are hated, it is all you can do to avoid directing that hatred and rage back at yourself.

Our emergence as part of an openly gay population is simply the latest stage in our country’s ongoing civil rights struggles.

Accepting who we are, and being open about, it is not a power trip or a desire to convert others.

Gary and I aren’t out to be fashionable, but simply to be true to ourselves. Our struggle is NOT a threat to organized religion. Rather, it is a fulfillment of our promised constitutional rights.

What we are seeking are not “special rights” but those available to other citizens by our Constitution; the very rights identified as the purpose of our government in our Declaration of Independence.

We aren’t trying to “promote homosexuality” but to dismantle barriers to our full citizenship. And, if our current laws say that it is wrong to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, or national origin, then help me understand why it not also wrong to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation? We aren’t seeking your permission to be gay. This is not within the authority of anyone to give.

Rather, we are struggling to secure conditions under which we may live productive lives. And, we do have lives and not lifestyles. Living at the beach is a lifestyle.

And, Gary and I resent being called “practicing homosexuals.” If anything, by now, we are “accomplished.”

We can joke about this, and be this open, because the beauty of our faith is in its nourishment of self-respect, dignity, and empowerment. When immersed in the healing power of love, one person can find the courage to be different as well as to make a difference. This, my friends, is the “Gospel” — the good news found in Harry Potter.

Like Harry, we can have the courage to be ourselves, as well as be brave. A “Welcoming Congregation” lets us know that we are loved and appreciated — not in spite of what we are, but because of what we are. It allows us to be open about our lives because we know that there, the love that binds us is greater than the fears that divide us.

It makes what is implicit explicit!

Our Winston-Salem fellowship is a “Welcoming Congregation.” This means that it has covenanted with us to be proactive about our issues — and not just in words, but in deeds. It means that our non-gay allies will come out of the closet to stand up for us. It means that our ministers will publicly counter the mean spirited comments of the entrenched religious right in our community. It means that because we belong there, we must hold open a place of sanctuary for those who are still hurting from their religious experience; still terrorized by bible thumping fanatics; still frightened about coming out; and still excluded from their families.

For, if we Unitarian Universalists aren’t brave enough to have the courage to be accepting, then who will? If this place, where our minds are set free and our hearts are opened, won’t stand up for our social justice issues, then where are we to go?

And if we can’t be true to our stated principles, then why are we here? Remember, our faith calls upon us to not only confront, but to overcome injustice in all its evil forms.

If we are to indeed build a “beloved community” then Social Justice is not only the mortar that will hold it together, it is the substance that keeps out the toxins of racism, sexism, and homophobia.

You have heard the comment that while you can’t do everything, you can do something. Like Harry, one person can make a difference.

As Robert Kennedy said:

“It is from numerous diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time that you stand up for an ideal, or act to improve the lot of others, or strike out against injustice, you send forth a tiny ripple of hope. And, crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build into a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

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