Rabbi Wants to Soften Orthodox Ban on Homosexuality

An Orthodox rabbi has taken the initiative to a Halachic ruling that would allow for “a religious gay man, who is committed to keeping mitzvahs, marry a woman with the understanding that he is not physically attracted to her and that whatever children they have together will be conceived either artificially or through sexual relations that will have only that target.” The man will be allowed to maintain a relationship with his gay partner on the condition that he will not have forbidden sexual intercourse with him.

In an Orthodox context, this is a big step forward, but in my reading of the Torah, I find nothing that suggests gay relationships are not kosher. What the Torah says is that men should not lie with a male as men lie with a woman. To understand what this means one must read what the Torah says about how men lie with women. If we do that, we see a number of rules that are specific to heterosexual relationships. This should guide gay men who wish to be observant Jews. The rule is simply for gay men not to treat their male lovers as women.