Press Release: Is Presidential Candidate Buttigieg a Hero or a Sinner?

Houston, Texas, February 20, 2020 — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s candidacy has raised the issue of homosexuality as a sin front and center.

An Iowa Democratic caucus voter who agreed to back Buttigieg rescinded her support after learning he is gay and married to another man. Being gay was not acceptable to her religious beliefs. Rush Limbaugh, the recent Medal of Freedom recipient, expressed on his widely followed conservative radio show, “America's still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage.”

US evangelist Franklin Graham has received criticism for writing Mayor Buttigieg's homosexuality is “something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized.” Graham, like many other religious leaders around the world have called homosexuality a sin and abomination.

Can a war veteran who risks his life, is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to serve the country, be a sinner because of his sexuality? Should we not respect a veteran as a hero? Is it time for religion to update the definition of a sinner?

“No one should be labeled as a sinner because of their sexuality,” says Ravi Kathuria, author of the spiritual parable, “Happy Soul. Hungry Mind.” “Religious leaders may discriminate based on sexual identity, but sexuality has no impact on your spiritual progress.”

Why is spirituality unaffected by sexuality? Ravi explains, “Your body and mind may be heterosexual or homosexual. Your soul has no sexual identity. Spirituality is not about the body, it is about your soul.”

Ravi adds, “Religion is obsessed with the body and the mind. Spirituality is about going beyond the mind and body. Spirituality is far more important than religion. Let’s focus on spirituality and leave antiquated religious dogmas behind.”

Will religion diminish its following if it does not modernize itself? According to the Pew Research Center, a quarter of Americans now identify themselves as spiritual and not religious, and it’s a growing trend.

Over the ages, religion has divided us, will spirituality unite us? Says Ravi, “Spirituality is available to every human being without preconditions, exceptions, and judgment. It unites us all. Spirituality does not discriminate. It cannot!”