A new friend of mine shared “The State of the Gay” with me this evening. I thought it would be a great read while I was winding down before bed. This beautiful zine did quite the opposite. These stories energized me with heartfelt anguish, fear, defiance, courage, anger and love. Each story opened up details of people’s lives that should not be hidden in a zine. These gorgeous individuals, with amazing stories, should be living their lives loud and proud especially in a university setting.
Because of my being brought up in a Lutheran household, deep in the bible belt, there were more than a couple stories that moved me to tears. The words hit deep within me shining light on places I haven’t ventured in many years: The times when I was truly struggling with being gay, being Christian, and generally being a scared kid that needed the acceptance and love of my family and my Lord to survive.
I can’t express enough how this should be shared not only with your fellow gay and gay-friendly friends but with the people in your life that need to be exposed to the pain and torment of their fellow humans. It is time churches and their congregations realized all people deserve respect and love, not judgement. The knowledge that Jesus loved should be the only important thing that echos in your soul and heart beyond that one hour on Sunday morning. We all should love and be loved.
I’ll end with one of the writers statements:
- You are beautiful as you are
- You can be happy as you are
- You can be loved as you are
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Give me a break. EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion. The “churches of Christ” as a whole believe BIBLICALLY homosexuality is a sin.
My sons go there. They don’t like some of the rules. I’ll say what I tell them. “It is a private Christian University with the difficult task of trying to abide by their interpretation of scripture. If you don’t like the “rules”, don’t go!”
Sure, everyone is entitled to their opinions but when it is ignorant bigotry people do not have to endure it. If you see someone in trouble or in pain you stand up and do something.
the defense that the belief is Biblical does not mean that it is right or moral. There are tons of things we ignore in the Bible concerning race, women’s rights, basic civiil rights, stoning, child abuse, and slavery. I still do not understand why the church would defend it’s bigotry instead of trying to understand human sexuality and accept that being gay, lesbian, transgender is not a choice and there is nothing wrong with it.
There is plenty of research that shows the techniques mentioned in the letters concerning reparative therapy are very harmful to the individual. There are people that are in pain. All people should speak up for what is right even if it is a private University that their parent’s have pushed them to attend. Being silent and willingly uneducated is not brave or something that should be respected.
This is the time in our History that your opinion will be ignored for what is truly right and just.
Break not given, Karen.