God's self-appointed lawyer won't have a prayer

THE LORD'S WORK? Participants in Tokyo's Rainbow Pride parade for gays, lesbians and transsexuals may have to go to court.PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

THE WONDERS of the world that is the US never cease to amaze.

A woman in Nebraska is filing a legal case against all homosexuals. She says she is doing this on behalf of God as she considers being gay a breach of religious and moral laws.

The court has recorded the lawsuit as Driskell vs Homosexuals and, in her petition, she is asking US District Judge Gerrard to decide whether being homosexual is a sin or not.

Sylvia Driskell's case is based around quoted bits of the Bible and Webster's Dictionary to support her belief that it is, indeed, sinful.

Her central argument is that "homosexuality is a sin and they know it is a sin to live a life of homosexuality. Why else would they have been hiding in the closet?" She is upset that her home state of Nebraska "would be complicit in some people's lewd behaviour".

Driskell is intending to represent herself. She describes her role as being that of an ambassador for the plaintiffs - named as God and His Son. The lawsuit states it is against all gays worldwide, which means the defendants number in the millions in countries all around the globe.

At this stage, no summons has been issued. This is a relief as otherwise every gay person in the world would have to be called to appear. Assuming they would all bring their own lawyers, interpreters and partners it would mean a very crowded courtroom.

Driskell clearly feels strongly that the God she believes in does not care for gay people and their preference for same-sex relationships. This kind of fundamentalism is right at the outer fringes of tolerance.

It is a constant source of wonder how religious beliefs that are based in caring, compassion and tolerance manage to be transformed into a kind of battle with those who do not agree with them. It seems to be an odd twist on a sense of entitlement that grants the bearer the right to be right, with everyone else, by default, being wrong.

Driskell may actually know homosexual people in her community, with no awareness that it is attitudes like hers that make coming out of the closet she refers to a challenging move.

She may think she has God on her side with this lawsuit but it is unlikely He will appear in court as I am sure He has far more important things to do, such as wars, starving children and refugees crossing the Mediterranean in crowded, unseaworthy boats.

-Terry Sarten is a writer, musician and social worker - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz