In celebration of Pride Week 1999, students, faculty and community members gathered to hear a panel discuss issues of religion and sexual orientation.

The panel was composed of the Rev. Jan Griesinger, director of United Campus Ministry; Rabbi Elena Stein, director of Hillel Jewish Foundation at OU; Joe Burke, director of residence life; Heather Moyer, a senior broadcast journalism major; OU junior Lani Banner; and Matt Jordan, who represented Campus Crusade for Christ.

Griesinger said Christian churches that accept gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders exist. Griesinger admitted the issue of sexual orientation divides Christians, but she said in her interpretation of Christianity, homosexuality is not condemned.

"I take the Bible very seriously," she said. "And I think the spirit of God is in the coming-out process and that spirit of freedom is welling up."

Stein said two basic types of Judaism exist - Progressive and Orthodox Judaism. The Progressive form accepts homosexuals because of the human component it encompasses, she said. But the Orthodox Judaism form is anti-homosexuals because beliefs are taken from scripture.

Stein said one reason Jews accept different sexual orientation is because they have had to hide their identity throughout history and probably would never think any other group should have to also.

"Hillel and Jewish people have been consciously inclusive of the GLBT community," she said. "We are a pluralistic community that does not discriminate."

Burke, who is Roman Catholic, said although his religion condemns homosexuality, he does not.

"A person's sexuality is the capacity to feel affection," he said. "Telling someone they are wrong to love undercuts who they are as a human being, and that is wrong."

Moyer, a Christian lesbian, said she believes God does not discriminate against her because she is a lesbian.

Banner, a Pagan, said her religion does not condemn different sexual orientations and also said Pagan literature emphasize the importance of strong same-sex relationships.

Audience member, graduate student Ann Wilson, said she thought the panel was a great idea and raised awareness.

"There's more to life than a scientific law," she said. "And I was really excited that tonight helped me explore those different aspects."