While Masons here in the South continue to bitch and moan about who is or is not a racist, or about whether black Masons should be accepted as Masonic brothers, the rest of the Masonic world, more or less, seems to have figured this brotherly love thing out and has stopped hating people who might be different. I mean, that's the whole point of Masonry, isn't it? Truth, Relief and Brotherly Love....At the opposite corner of the country, up in the state of Washington, there is a Masonic lodge that accepts — even openly invites — gay men as Freemasons.
Daylight Lodge No. 232, which calls itself Seattle's Masonic Lodge of the Arts, is not a gay lodge, but rather, a lodge with gays.
From Daylight Lodge's website:
What is the Masonic policy on gay members?Daylight Lodge No. 232 is also unusual in that it elects its officers for two-year terms, giving officers enough time in each station to actually enact and carry out a concerted plan of action. A moving force in the changes for the better in Daylight Lodge for the past several years has been Anthony Monaco [pictured], who is now serving as the lodge's Worshipful Master. Almost all of the officers of Daylight Lodge are in their 20s and 30s.
There is nothing in the so-called Ancient Landmarks of Masonry that would forbid a gay man from joining. Of course there are gay men in Masonry. It is a simple thing, sexual orientation is not a determinate for admission, it is not even asked and that is a Masonic standard. The Washington Mason Code does not address the issue because each petitioner is judged by the lodge and its members.
Since membership is voted on by the members of the lodge, a situation of exclusivity could exist, as with any organization. For instance a lodge could be made up entirely of Spanish speaking people, at which a non-Spanish speaking person may not feel comfortable. Similarly, when a gay man is selecting a lodge to petition for membership, the make-up of that lodge should be considered. It is conceivable that the majority of members of a lodge could have a problem with someone being gay and thus prevent membership from being attained. That is certainly not the case at Daylight Lodge #232.
Because Daylight Lodge has since its inception been involved with the arts, it is a logical assumption that there have been and are gay members, but for the same reason it is not an issue that is even considered important. All that Daylight Lodge asks of a member is that be loyal to the lodge and Masonry. Also that he obey the laws of his city, state and country and there is no law against being gay. Masonry does not discuss religion and that is the source of most of the objections to the gay life style.
So, yes! Gay men can join Masonry and be accepted as a brother; just be conscientious of the lodge you are petitioning. The members of the lodge do vote in secret on petitions for membership and it is possible that a member may cast a negative vote. At Daylight Lodge #232, however, being gay will never prevent you from being accepted and loved like a brother.
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