Gay. Lesbian. Homosexual. Each of those words can stir up controversy, even today despite the great strides the gay community has made. We now have families that are more accepting of their gay sons or daughters. Friends who understand that we are the same person we were before, minus the lying to ourselves and others part. We have big businesses who have incorporated LGBT inclusion into their workforce, enforcing a diverse and welcoming environment to all. We’ve seen positive gay characters on our TV screens and in movies. We have elected officials who are openly gay, and some who aren’t but support the issues. Still, homosexuality remains a taboo subject for many.
As I mentioned in our last blog about the NY State Senate passing Marriage Equality, many of the people who are against homosexuality cite religious reasons for their beliefs. This puts an extra stress factor on gay kids or adults who are raised in a particular faith. There is already a stigma attached to being gay from our society, but believing that you are a sinner in the eyes of your God is often too much to bear. This is precisely the type of prey that some religious groups target. They preach that there is a “cure” for homosexuality, and that you can literally “pray the gay away’. Catchy slogan, but it has been proven several times by psychologists and scientists that it is just not possible. The 1999 comedy “But I’m A Cheerleader dealt with this issue in a lighthearted manner, but recent headlines show just how dangerous this line of thinking can be:
This Youth Pastor lured young boys to his ministry leading them to believe they could be cured of their homosexuality, only to sexually molest them.
Presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann and her husband fully stand behind their Christian Counseling Clinic, despite recent confirmation that “ex-gay” tactics have been used there. The practice known as reparative therapy has been denounced by The American Psychiatric Association and may actually have mental consequences.
And this horrific tragedy of a sick, delusional man who has killed a child and others in the name of his beliefs.
The way I see it, the basis for any religion should be a spiritual connection that promotes love and acceptance. That’s all. It’s that simple. There is no need to “save” a homosexual, and there is no cure. If there is any sin, it would be the contradictory manner in which these hypocritical types act. They claim to be loving and peaceful, yet they do not accept everyone for who they are. They speak of their prophets with great conviction, but I suspect that they are often missing the point. For example, devout Christians will quote passages from the Bible, words that have been recorded as spoken by Jesus himself. But, while Jesus never mentions homosexuality, he does speak about the evils of judgement. When you pay attention to some of the things that Jesus said, it’s really ironic how it gets contorted or flat out ignored by many who consider themselves good Christians. Remember Harold Camping’s recent Judgement Day hoopla? Well, here is my question…why would you have to go out and repent, save yourself, ONLY when you think Judgement Day is coming? Shouldn’t you just be a good Christian all the time, wouldn’t that be more the point of any religion? Exactly, because as Jesus said we are not meant to judge anyone, period. Love all, accept all, we are all one. That includes the homosexuals, so you cannot pray the gay away.
The struggles that one goes through when coming to terms with their homosexuality can be overwhelming, to say the least. Many feel they have to lose their religion. However, there are many homosexuals who come through their journey of self acceptance with a greater love and connection to God. Country singer Chely Wright made headlines last year when she came out as a lesbian, a huge deal for a genre of music that often depicts the traditional religious values of life. But Chely was at the end of her rope, and was about to end it all with a gun in her mouth. Taken from a Newsweek article:
“I went upstairs and loaded my 9-millimeter. I live in a house that’s 100 years old in Nashville. There’s a mirror in the foyer. I stood in front of the mirror and looked at myself. I was out of body. It shocked me how little emotion I had at the moment. I remember thinking, don’t people cry when they kill themselves? I said a prayer to God for what I was about to do. I prayed that God would forgive me. I thought of my ex-partner and how much I loved her and I thought of sunshine on my skin and how good that might feel and I thought of the gift of music and how much I love music. Then I heard something. It wasn’t the sound of a gun; I heard my heart pumping in my head. I heard my heartbeat. I looked in the mirror and I saw that I was crying. The emotional dam had broken and I came back in my body. I put down the gun. I knew that in the moment that I wouldn’t do it. The next morning, I got on my floor in my bedroom. What I prayed for in that day: “Dear God, I’m praying for a moment’s peace. I don’t care if it’s a minute or an hour, please give me a moment’s peace.” The moment I said “Amen,” I got it. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what God had been whispering in my ear: ‘I expect one thing of you and that’s to tell the truth.’ ”
To me, that moment can only be described as divine intervention. Not all may believe in that, but Chely sure did. Coming out may have lost her some traditional fans, but she had gained more in the form of those who never knew her before and now felt a connection. She also gained something much more priceless, the freedom to live her life open and honest. Chely’s God is one of love and acceptance and that is what pulled her through her darkest moment. I had not known of Chely prior to her coming out, but when the story broke, we covered it on the blog. I was pleasantly surprised to discover her music. And she continues to support the community, share her story through her book, and make music.
Thankfully, we also have this positive story to share:
It’s comforting to know that there are folks out there who find a way to blend their beliefs against all odds and make it work. They are grasping the idea of religion as spirituality, love, and acceptance rather than spreading fear, bogus cures, and trying to convert anyone who is different than them. And that to me, sounds like what any God would want of his followers.
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