Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, Homosexuality, bahai-library.com.
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Homosexuality

Bahá'u'lláh

Shoghi Effendi

Universal House of Justice

Universal House of Justice, Research Department

, compiler

1993

Contents

Extracts from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

Extracts from letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi

Extracts from letters written by or on behalf of the Universal House of Justice

Extracts from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

We shrink for very shame, from treating of the subject of boys. Fear ye
the Merciful, O peoples of the world! Commit not that which if forbidden
you in Our Holy Tablet, and be not of those who rove distractedly in the
wilderness of their desires. (Kitab-i-Aqdas, paragraph
107
) [1]

Ye are forbidden to commit adultery, sodomy and lechery. Avoid them, O
concourse of the faithful. By the righteousness of God! Ye have been
called into being to purge the world from the defilement of evil passions.
This is what the Lord of all mankind hath enjoined upon you, could ye but
perceive it. He who relateth himself to the All-Merciful and committeth
satanic deeds, verily he is not of Me. Unto this beareth witness every
atom, pebble, tree and fruit, and beyond them this ever-proclaiming,
truthful and trustworthy Tongue. (From a previously untranslated Tablet)
[2]

Extracts from letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi:

...Bahá'u'lláh has spoken very strongly against this shameful sexual
aberration, as He has against adultery and immoral conduct in general. We
must try and help the soul to overcome them. (25 October 1949) [3]

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. To say that it is
ideal is no excuse. Immorality of every sort is really forbidden by
Bahá'u'lláh, and homosexual relationships He looks upon as such, besides
being against nature.

To be afflicted this way is a great burden to a conscientious soul. But
through the advice and help of doctors, through a strong and determined
effort, and through prayer, a soul can overcome this handicap.

God judges each soul on its own merits. The Guardian cannot tell you what
the attitude of God would be towards a person who lives a good life in
most ways, but not in this way. All he can tell you is that it is
forbidden by Bahá'u'lláh, and that one so afflicted should struggle and
struggle again to overcome it. We must be hopeful of God's mercy but not
impose upon it. (26 March 1950) [4]

Regarding the question you asked him about one of the believers who seems
to be flagrantly homosexual -- although to a certain extent we must be
forbearing in the matter of people's moral conduct because of the terrible
deterioration in society in general, this does not mean that we can put up
indefinitely with conduct which is disgracing the Cause. The person
should