Gay glossy The Advocate has
named Pope Francis its Person of the Year, a move that is proving
controversial.
An image of the Holy Father with the
NOH8 Campaign's familiar black and red “NOH8” slogan written on
one cheek graces the magazine's December cover.
In selecting its recipient, Advocate
editors said that they were looking for the “single most
influential person of 2013 on the lives of LGBT people.”
Francis, also named TIME Magazine's
Person of the Year, has distanced himself from previous popes by
lowering the decibel level on several controversial issues, including
gay priests.
“Pope Francis's stark change in
rhetoric from his two predecessors – both who were at one time or
another among The Advocate's annual Phobie Awards – makes
what he's done in 2013 all the more daring,” editors
wrote.
In the United States, however, Catholic
leaders have continued to oppose gay rights. For example, Catholic
bishops in Indiana this week unanimously called
on voters to prohibit gay marriage in the state, saying that it
was harmful to children and society.
Advocate's selection divided
readers.
“My how easily we forget all the
horrible things this man said about us before he became Pope,”
wrote Chris Sullivan on the magazine's website. “Teachers are
still routinely fired for being gay and the Catholic church is still
front and center in actively denying us our civil rights everywhere
in the world that they can.”
Tyler Bates defended the choice, saying
that Francis “is the first to say something remotely compassionate
when it comes to homosexuality. He may not have said everything you
want to hear, but his statements have a huge impact on his
followers.”