What is the Sikh attitude to homosexuality?
Sexuality in Sikhi relates to the marriage of a man and woman and the sacredness of their singular physical relationship. It is a means to creating a future of children that can live in elevation and mastery. When speaking of homosexuality and even bisexuality, the implication is that the relationship is based on sex. The Sikh way of life is a system of living for achieving harmony of the mind, body and spirit and living in God consciousness. If you are focusing heavily on the physical aspects of your relationships, then you are already out of balance.
Those who have an issue with sexuality preference should be encouraged to direct their mind away from flirting with their own sexuality. Let it go. When ever these thoughts come up, they should direct their mind to meditate on "WaheGuru". People should be encouraged to develop their capacity as a "God man" rather than a "gay man".
There is no such thing as same sex marriages in the Sikh Gurdwara.
RESPECT AND DIGNITY FOR ALL
Although Sikhism does not find homosexual behaviour acceptable, Sikhism does not "hate" or believe that homosexuals are damned to hell as propagated by some religions. As Sikhs we are taught to have principles (asools). A Sikh does not accept any lifestyle other than the Guru's Way but also prays everyday for "Sarbat da bhalla" (the prosperity of all humanity). Gurbani tells us that God is without hatred and animosity. We are all the children of God. The Gurdwara is open for all no matter who they are or what they've done. God loves us all regardless of our thoughts or actions.
เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐเฉ เจฆเจพเจคเจพ เจฆเจเจเจฒเฉ เจนเฉ เจเจฟเจธ เจจเฉ เจฆเจเจ เจธเจฆเจพ เจนเฉเจ เฅฅ
เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐเฉ เจ
เฉฐเจฆเจฐเจนเฉ เจจเจฟเจฐเจตเฉเจฐเฉ เจนเฉ เจธเจญเฉ เจฆเฉเจเฉ เจฌเฉเจฐเจนเจฎเฉ เจเจเฉ เจธเฉเจ เฅฅ
"The True Guru is the Merciful Giver; He is always compassionate.
The True Guru has no hatred within Him; He beholds the One God everywhere."
(Ang 302)
BEING BORN HOMOSEXUAL AND NATURALLY INCLINED?
Whether homosexual inclinations, tendancies and behaviour are natural or not does not hold any weight when discussing Gurmat (the Guru's teachings). It is possible that urges, inclinations and desires may be natural to some, but in Gurmat a Sikh is not supposed to act upon or follow on all urges of sexual desire/lust (or any other vice).
เจฎเจจ เจเจพ เจธเฉเจญเจพเจ เจธเจญเฉ เจเฉเจ เจเจฐเฉ เฅฅ เจเจฐเจคเจพ เจนเฉเจ เจธเฉ เจ
เจจเจญเฉ เจฐเจนเฉ เฅฅเฉจเฅฅ
"(In the world) everyone acts according to the inclinations of the mind. (But the one who remembers and meditates on the Lord's name doesn't follow the inclinations of the mind, instead with the blessings of Naam becomes) the image of the Creator Lord and remains in a state free of fear. ||2||"
(Ang 1167)
Taking the help of Guru's Shabad, we are supposed to fight the sexual urges.
เจเฉเจฐ เจเจพ เจธเจฌเจฆเฉ เจเจพเจเฉ เจเฉเจเจฟ เจเจฐเจฎ เฅฅเฉฉเฅฅเฉงเฅฅ
"The Word of the Guru's Shabad eradicates the karma of millions of past actions. ||3||1||"
(Ang 1195)
Just because some sexual urge is 'natural', it does not mean that it is good to act upon it or follow it. Some people have incest urges and they too are natural to them. Should they follow those urges or subdue such urges through extensive reflection of Gurbani and Naam Abhiyaas (repetition of the Divine-Name). Some are paedophiles and have such horrific urges. Does it mean that the paedophiles are supposed to follow their urges just because they are 'natural' to them? Gurbani teaches us that urges, inclinations or desires can be subdued through reading, listening, contemplating and understanding the Guru's Shabad, keeping company with the Saadh Sangat (company of the Holy), sewa (selfless service) and Naam Simran (devotional remembrance and meditation of the Lord).
เจเจพเจฎ เจเฉเจฐเฉเจง เจฒเฉเจญ เจฎเจฆ เจฎเจคเจธเจฐ เจธเจพเจงเฉ เจเฉ เจธเฉฐเจเจฟ เจเจพเจช เฅฅ
"Sexual desire, anger, greed, pride and envy are destroyed in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy."
(Ang 1223)
SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS?
Having premarital relations with the opposite sex is same as having premarital relations with the same sex - they are both unacceptable in the Sikh faith. They both are the result of Kaam (lust) which a GurSikh must be able to control. Guru Sahib prohibits the Sikh from even gazing at another with the intention of romance, lust, or sexual affection:
เจชเจฐ เจคเฉเจฐเจฟเจ
เจฐเฉเจชเฉ เจจ เจชเฉเจเฉ เจจเฉเจคเฉเจฐ เฅฅ
"With your eyes, do not even gaze (in a lustful manner) upon the beauty of another."
(Sukhmani Sahib, Ang 274)
เจฆเฉเจเจฟ เจชเจฐเจพเจเจเจ เจเฉฐเจเฉเจเจ เจฎเจพเจตเจพเจ เจญเฉเจฃเจพเจ เจงเฉเจเจ เจเจพเจฃเฉ เฅฅ
"Men should look at the opposite gender as mothers, sisters and daughters, (women should look at the opposite gender as fathers, brothers and sons)."
(Bhฤฤซ Gurdฤs: Vฤr 29/ Paurฤซ 11)
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
According to the Sikh Rehit Maryada, the Anand Karaj (Sikh marriage) can only be between a Sikh man and woman only. Sexual relationship can only be between the couple married under the Anand Karaj maryada. Denouncing the practice of same-sex marriages, Jathedar of Akal Takht, issued a directive with the seal of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib that prohibited any Gurdwara in the world to hold such ceremonies. Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti described same sex marriages as an โanti-Gurmatโ trend that had no place in Sikhism.
เจธเฉ เจธเจฟเจเฉ เจธเจเจพ เจฌเฉฐเจงเจชเฉ เจนเฉ เจญเจพเจ เจเจฟ เจเฉเจฐ เจเฉ เจญเจพเจฃเฉ เจตเจฟเจเจฟ เจเจตเฉ เฅฅ
เจเจชเจฃเฉ เจญเจพเจฃเฉ เจเฉ เจเจฒเฉ เจญเจพเจ เจตเจฟเจเฉเฉเจฟ เจเฉเจเจพ เจเจพเจตเฉ เฅฅ
เจฌเจฟเจจเฉ เจธเจคเจฟเจเฉเจฐ เจธเฉเจเฉ เจเจฆเฉ เจจ เจชเจพเจตเฉ เจญเจพเจ เจซเจฟเจฐเจฟ เจซเจฟเจฐเจฟ เจชเจเฉเจคเจพเจตเฉ เฅฅเฉงเฅฅ
"He alone is a Sikh, a friend, a relative and a sibling, who walks in the Way of the Guru's Will. One who walks according to his own will, O Siblings of Destiny, suffers separation from the Lord, and shall be punished. Without the True Guru, peace is never obtained, O Siblings of Destiny; again and again, he regrets and repents. ||1||"
(Ang 601)
Guru Sahib gave Sikhs Hukam (Order). Hukam and Rehit (discipline) put boundaries on our behaviour. We all need discipline in life. Some may say why we do you stop people from smoking, you do not believe they are equal to you? But reality is everyone is equal, but as a Gursikhs, we choose a 'Niraala Panth' (a Distinct Path). The 'Niraala panth' is defined by Rehit and Hukam.
Marriage is two souls merging into one. However even this union which is not based on Kaam (lust), but love, respect and within Gurmat, even that is also temporary. The true Union is between a person and Akaal - this is permanent. When one achieves that union, everything else is put into perspective and is incomparable. Even if a person is naturally homosexual, as one cannot become one, or a person is heterosexual and full of lust (Kaam) or not, and lives as a true disciple of Guru, all of them should search for this 'true union', because without it there is no way to quench their thirst. To obtain this union, one has to forsake all, and live in the discipline of Gurmat Rehit (discipline in accordance to the Guru's Way), and have a longing for the Darshan, Blessed Vision, of Waheguru.
RESPECT FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS
A Sikh of the Guru treats all humanity with dignity and respect. We may not agree with homosexual's lifestyle, and occasional mannerisms, but we could also on a personal level not agree with the lifestyles of 95% of humanity who love to drink, and others smoke, etc. So we should not be hypocrites and judge some and not others. One should strive to appreciate every human as they are on a humanitarian basis and build upon their Jeevan (spiritually disciplined life). A Sikh should share common positive virtues. If someone sees God inside you then one should direct the other person towards Gurbani. The fact is the Amritdhari lifestyle does not allow of homosexuality, and this is not debatable.