Bahá'í Faith

The Bahá'í Faith teaches that the only acceptable form of sexual expression is within marriage, and Bahá'í marriage is defined in the religion's texts as exclusively between one man and one woman. Bahá'ís stress the importance of absolute chastity for any unmarried person, and focus on personal restraint.

While in authoritative teachings homosexuality is described as a condition that an individual should control and overcome, Bahá'ís are left to apply the teachings at their own discretion, and are discouraged from singling out homosexuality over other transgressions, such as the consumption of alcohol, or heterosexual promiscuity. Membership in the Bahá'í community is therefore open to lesbian and gay adherents, who are to be "advised and sympathized with".

Treatment of homosexuals
Bahá'ís are taught not to treat homosexuals as condemned outcasts, and are taught not to expect others to follow Bahá'í laws. The Bahá'í writings teach people to treat everyone with respect and dignity. An attitude of discrimination and social intolerance toward homosexuals is not supported by the Bahá'í teachings. The issue of secular same-sex marriage is not mentioned.

Gay Bahá'ís
Individuals who are openly homosexual are not prevented from entering the religion and joining in community life. This acceptance is not an endorsement of their personal conduct, rather it is a recognition that becoming a Bahá'í is not conditional on their complete and strict compliance with all Bahá'í standards and laws. Spiritual Assemblies are told to act patiently, and gradually persuade members to accept principles inwardly and “out of pure conviction and desire.” As a general rule, the Spiritual Assemblies do not get involved in the private lives of believers, unless their actions are considered to be causing some harm to the community.

There have been examples where an individual's administrative rights were taken away when their actions were decided by a Spiritual Assembly to be damaging to the image of the Bahá'í Faith. This response is also applied to extreme cases of alcoholism, heterosexual promiscuity, and anything that is considered flagrant immorality. However this consequence is meant only to be applied in cases of "public scandal", or "very flagrant cases". In cases of Bahá'ís who are flagrantly homosexual, they are to be approached by a Spiritual Assembly and informed of the teachings on personal conduct. If after a probational period the person continues to present a disregard towards the laws in a public way, then the assembly may remove the person's voting and administrative rights, "administratively expelled from membership in the Bahá'í community." These series of actions are only performed if the conduct of the Bahá'í is "seriously injuring the Faith in the eyes of the public" and Bahá'ís are told they must be forbearing to people's moral conduct due to the nature of society in general.

The Bahá'í administration has reminded followers of the religion not to single out homosexuality over other transgressions of the religious code and to be very tolerant of what is perceived to be immoral behaviour.

Curing homosexuality
Shoghi Effendi, the appointed head of the religion from 1921 to 1957, taught that "through the advice and help of doctors, through a strong and determined effort, and through prayer, a soul can overcome this handicap." Anyone who is not able to have a heterosexual marriage is encouraged to remain celibate, as would any person who does not marry and is a Bahá'í.

The concept of homosexuality as a changeable condition or as a disease in need of a cure has been largely dismissed recently by mental health professionals. However, the Universal House of Justice, the elected governing body of the Bahá'í Faith, has stated that "the Faith does not recognize homosexuality as a 'natural' or permanent phenomenon." The Universal House of Justice has approved of and encouraged Shoghi Effendi's idea of possible medical treatment, and has written its own correspondence to individuals, encouraging them to divert thoughts into spiritual channels and the nature of man, and to "resist wayward impulses each time they arise".

The Universal House of Justice responds to recent research that claims that homosexuality is innate and not changeable by asserting that homosexuality is one of
 * "many problems, both physical and psychological. Some are the result of the individual’s own behaviour, some are caused by the circumstances in which he grew up, some are congenital... homosexuality is an abnormality, is a great problem for the individual so afflicted, and... he or she should strive to overcome it." "You mention recent research which indicates that there may be a genetic basis for homosexuality; you accept the Bahá’í view of this matter, but you question the use of such terms as “abnormality, handicap, affliction, problem, etc.” since they can create misunderstandings. On the contrary, the House of Justice feels that just such words can be a great help to the individuals concerned. Human beings suffer from many problems, both physical and psychological. Some are the result of the individual’s own behaviour, some are caused by the circumstances in which he grew up, some are congenital. Some human beings are born blind, some suffer from incapacitating accidents or diseases. Such conditions present the individual affected, and those around him, with serious problems, and it is one of the challenges of the human condition that all those concerned should strive to overcome such problems and have understanding and sympathy for the individual so afflicted.

"There is a wide range of sexual abnormalities. Some people nowadays maintain that homosexuality is not an abnormality and that homosexuals should be encouraged to establish sexual relations with one or more partners of the same sex. The Faith, on the contrary, makes it abundantly clear that homosexuality is an abnormality, is a great problem for the individual so afflicted, and that he or she should strive to overcome it. The social implications of such an attitude are very important. The primary purpose of sexual relations is, clearly, to perpetuate the species. The fact that personal pleasure is derived therefrom is one of the bounties of God. The sex act is merely one moment in a long process, from courtship through marriage, the procreation of children, their nursing and rearing, and involves the establishment of a mutually sustaining relationship between two souls which will endure beyond life on this earth."
 * (Letter of The Universal House of Justice, 5 June 1993, Homosexuality, p. 11)

They also argue that statistics may be distorted due to underreporting, that other genetic predispositions to undesirable behaviors exist, and that other types of bias may exist in the present-day research.

Basis from texts
In one passage of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá'u'lláh writes "we shrink, for very shame, from treating the subject of boys." (gr. 107) Some debate has occurred as to the meaning of the word "boys". The Arabic term "Ghilmán" is the plural form of the term "Ghúlám" which according to the Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic is defined as: boy; youth, lad; slave; servant; waiter. The practice of pederasty, or erotic relations between adult males and adolescent boys, was not uncommon during the time of Bahá'u'lláh in the Islamic world, and in some cases was socially acceptable. Bahá'u'lláh condemned such relations, and Shoghi Effendi, the authorized interpreter of the Bahá'í writings, clearly forbade all homosexual acts, a position upheld by the Universal House of Justice.

In other verses, sodomy is clearly forbidden but is not distinguished as being only homosexual sodomy. Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice later made more direct statements on homosexuality, in one case Shoghi Effendi's secretary wrote on his behalf: "No matter how devoted and fine the love may be between people of the same sex, to let it find expression in sexual acts is wrong."

From the United Kingdom, 1996
The National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom distributed a statement prepared for a London, UK, education group about the teaching about homosexuality within the school system. The Assembly stated that "the statement does not claim to be exhaustive, but it can be used with wisdom as part of a response to questions." Some excerpts from their statement are:
 * "...the sexual impulse is a God-given one... The appropriate circumstance for this is within marriage, the legally, socially, and spiritually sanctioned union of two adults of the opposite sex. Other expressions are neither valid nor to be encouraged."
 * "This is taught by the world's great religions, and is part of the basis of a stable and civilized society."
 * "The moral and sexual education of children cannot be taken separately, and must be based upon heterosexuality, fidelity, and the family unit."
 * "...the sexual practice of homosexuality is no more an acceptable activity than is heterosexual activity outside marriage."
 * "We also abhor the introduction of loaded words such as 'homophobia' and 'heterosexism' to try to convey the idea that rejection of homosexuality is as prejudiced and discriminatory as racism, sexism, and other biases and intolerances..."