Spreading It: Fabangelism

As we all know, we, in so far as we have a same-sex mindset, are all from egg to apples Members of the Church. There is no choice in the matter, we just ARE. We are BORN both Spiritually Fabulous as well as Simply Divine. Yes, it is a Burden, but that is Irrelevant. (Members who are Jewish know from whence we are speaking.)

Also all Members in Good Standing are expected to serve as Lay Ministers and are to spread The Fabulous News whenever, wherever and as often as possible. Of course when it comes to making the world aware of The Fabulous News, not everyone is equally as gifted in spreading it. We all recognize that there are good lay ministers and bad lay ministers - but that is a false distinction. We all do our best and good manners demand that those of us with more be generous with those of us with less.

So what makes a good FABANGELIST?

A sense of style, of course, is essential. It is, if you think about it, much of what separates Us from Them. Naturally, some of us are rather more in touch with our Inner Diva than others. And so it is incumbent on those of us who HAVE IT TOGETHER to inspire and encourage those who don't quite yet. We can assure you that helping a brother or sister blossom under our tutelage is a wonderous thing to behold and satisfying in a very profound way. It is a form of child-rearing and, thankdog, one that doesn't generally involve the changing of diapers.

Just "being there" is also an essential quality. Many of Them claim they do not know any of us personally. Of course they do - but thanks to a lack of proper Fabangelism on some of our Members' parts - the poor sods actually ARE ignorant of Our Presence in their sad little lives. Simply by "being there" we can broaden Their limited perspectives enormously.

The third essential quality of good Fabangelism is perhaps the most difficult and the most delightfully subversive. It is for us a willingness to teach the world what we know, thanks to who we are. For example, have you ever met a BAD gay or lesbian parent? They are very rare indeed. Given the endless "legal" difficulties placed in our way by Them, those of Us who want to be a parent are forced to be a very determined group of people. Unlike Them, we don't end up as parents accidentally. We come to parenting INTENTIONALLY. And that makes such a difference. A similar argument can be made with reference to coupling and even marriage. We are by our very natures re-defining and, most importantly, re-energizing what it means to be A Family.

But, of course, no one ever likes being shown up as ignorant. Consequently many of us have found that it is often far safer for us to teach in an indirect manner. Even so, we can still make a Difference. They will never be truly fabulous, of course - how could they? It isn't in their essential nature. But we can impart to Them an understanding of what is lacking in their sordid little lives and that, with our help, They can begin to develop a proper Social Consciousness, a Promiscuous Spirituality - and if they are very lucky - a rudimentary grounding in the Higher Aesthetics.

With this post, all of US hanging at the vestry tonight wish all of YOU (as well as Mrs. Calabash) a Spiritually Fabulous and Simply Divine New Year!