From a Former Pastor

Aug 18th, 2011 05:12 PM By Shan

I too, like many of you, grew up in the church, in fact, for most of my young life. I “took myself” to church while everyone else stayed home. I ended up going to a Southern Baptist, where I felt led to go in the ministry, which I did. From that point I prayed daily for God to take away this horrible sin that I was dealing with – - needless to say it didn’t happen. For nearly 7 years, I was an associate pastor and battled with feelings of guilt – guilt to the point of a near suicide.

In April of 1998, I finally looked in the mirror and said out loud “you’re gay – YOU ARE GAY!” and that was that. I left the church that August with a great deal of anger toward God for not banishing these feelings.

In recent months, I have wanted nothing more than to get back into church work. Knowing there are ‘gay’ churches out there makes it much easier, because when I DO go back, I’ll not be ashamed of who I am, gay church or not.

No Faith in Me

Aug 18th, 2011 05:07 PM By Gareth

My mum’s Christianity is very important to her. She has tried to bring me up living as closely to it’s values as possible.

When I was 9, we were watching the television and a girl kissed another girl. At the time I saw it I didn’t really think much of it; I found it a bit unusual but that was simply because I had never seen two people of the same sex kiss before. However my mum was disgusted. A year or so later I was watching a reality series and two guys embarked in a relationship. Mum walked in and was once again disgusted. This and similar occurrences made me believe homosexuality was of the devil.

A few years later I realized I had a massive crush on a guy. I kept on looking at pictures of men on the Internet, although I was also gaining an interest in women. I hated myself for the feelings towards guys. I spent a while believing these thoughts would vanish and that me feelings toward women would outgrow them but after a few months I recalled moments in my childhood where I fancied male celebrities, and there were more of them than women. I finally admitted to myself that really liked that guy at school. I came out to myself. I’m bi.

I was 13. A few weeks later, and after informing my closest friends, I couldn’t keep it from my mum any longer. She didn’t take it too well. She told me it was just a phase and then prayed that it would go away. It never will, of course. She kept on hassling me about it so I told her that I was straight so it would end. She preferred her beliefs to me.

I’ve since abandoned organized religion. Too much of it makes no sense. And I can’t be fully out until I’ve left home. I’m 15; in my country I will be allowed to leave legally next year. I’ll have to stay for a while though. I can’t just up and leave.

I’m Bisexual, Autistic & Roman Catholic

Aug 18th, 2011 04:48 PM By Kat

I have had a great deal of trials within not only my High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (as one might imagine), but many trials with acceptance with my bisexualism.

I first found out that I was bi when I was about 15 to 16 years of age. My parents (one a conservative Republican, my father whom I absolutely love dearly), and my mother (not as much a Conservative Republican as my father is — she voted “no” on Prop still, I personally feel they cannot come to grips or terms that I just so happen to be bi.

I personally feel that not only the Roman Catholic Church (in which I wasn’t raised within — I was baptized and technically raised as an Episcopalian — don’t ask why I confirmed myself as that Roman Catholic… call it that “structure thing” that I so desperately needed within my life), needs to also come to grips/ terms that love just is… plain and simple.

My father (God love him), thinks that this is “…just that passing faze, and one day I’ll get over it…” My mother, not so much. When I broke the news to them, I was 18, and I felt like I was “comfortable” enough within my life that I was able to express this towards them. Go figure.

Thank you for reading my story –

– Kat

Longer than my PARENTS

Aug 18th, 2011 03:23 PM By Teal

So many gay couples have been together longer than my parents!! (and I am NOT young!!) May you be blessed and kept close to the hearts of all who are fortunate enough to know you and to love you. May you walk in the light of dignity and hope and follow your dreams. Let’s all pray for the day that we can all live and let live. We are all children of God. Beyond unfortunate that some can’t practice what they preach… to love one another….

New Start

Aug 18th, 2011 03:20 PM By Kimo

My name is Kimberly, but most of my friend’s call me Kimo. I grew up in Texas with Pastors for parents. All my life I have heard the same stories of Hell and Brimstone for homosexuals, and that is the reason I tried so hard to change. But I finally came to peace with the fact that I am gay, and I shouldn’t have to feel ashamed about myself. I hope to one day help other people be comfortable with who they are. I am currently studying psychology in college and hope to one day be able to make a difference. Thank you all for giving a damn.

The Church is a Whore…. but She is My Mother

Aug 18th, 2011 03:18 PM By Ryan

Being raised in a christian family surrounded by other “bible belt believers”, Christianity and its practices have grown to become societal norms.

Unfortunately Christianity today looks nothing like the religion its principles were based on. Today, the church and its modern day followers practice a religion that breeds hate and discrimination. This outrages, angers and saddens me.

How can this beautiful faith that I follow be so misrepresented by those who don’t truly understand its doctrine. My faith teaches an unfading love for all individuals. We were all created with perfection in gods beautiful image, that includes straights, gays, lesbians and so on.

I plea to all of the many people who are devastated by the mistreatment of those who claim to follow this faith to resist attributing those individuals ignorance and hate to my faith.

While the Christian church is responsible for some of the most horrible things in this worlds past. I still love that church for the faith it brought into this world. The faith that teaches its believers to love all people.

The Youth Group Intervention

Aug 18th, 2011 03:13 PM By olivia

My name is Olivia. I live in North Carolina. When I was 14 one of my friends outed me to the entire church that I was going to at the time. And the Youth Group decided to call a “meeting.” We went to a local coffee shop and proceeded with the “Meeting.” The youth leader was shaky and fidgety, and kept saying things like “we hear you want to be a lesbian.” Like it was something I was aspiring to do or be.

Luckily the Assistant Pastor was there and ended up sticking up for me. I no longer go to that church or any church in fact. Because I no longer felt safe. WE NEED to stand up and help the youth as much as we can. So that present and future youth aren’t put in a situation where they feel unsafe. I hope my story helps in some way shape or form.

I Knew I Was Different from My Family

Aug 18th, 2011 01:02 PM By BrieAnna

Let me start off by saying I am not lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. I am only a teenager, and my parents and siblings seem to force their beliefs on me, which are strongly anti-gay, and I felt forced to believe that too. Until, I realized, I am no better than a gay person. I am no better than a lesbian person. They deserve the same rights that I have.

When I am older, and love someone enough to marry them, I would hope that when someone else, no matter who they are, has that same right. I hope, some day, I will have enough courage to tell my family I don’t agree with them. When I told my sister she was being close-minded about a separate racism issue, she hit me physically with the remote. I can’t imagine what they will do to me when I tell them I am pro-LGBT.

This is why we need to have equality, so no one, a child or adult, man or woman, black person or white person, boy or girl, anyone, has to feel the need to hide what they feel inside.

CCD

Aug 18th, 2011 12:58 PM By Megan

I was raised Catholic, and I love my faith. I feel extremely close to God and I gladly except Jesus as my savior. I believe my religion has helped me and my life so much, but there have been parts of life where people in my religious life have made me feel worthless because of my sexuality.

I go to CCD, which is a program for kids and young teens to learn about God, and in my class (the older class) we discuss a lot of different stuff, mostly having to do with sex, because we’re all at that age where relationships play a big role in our lives and our teacher wants to keep us informed. We also discuss forgiveness a lot too.

So, one day we were sitting there, and we were discussing everything possible, and this one girl said “Does God hate bisexuals and gays?” My teacher was obviously stunned somebody would bring up gays. As if it was something you were supposed to just sweep under the carpet and pretend it didn’t exist.
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Love Who You Love & Hearts

Aug 18th, 2011 12:54 PM By Whitney

I am a 19 year old straight female that was raised in an extremely traditional catholic household. I was raised to believe that anyone who did not believe what my family believed was wrong. I was raised to believe that the LGBT community was like the devil. Well let me tell you what, I believe and know this is all BULL S**T!!

When I turned 18 I left the Catholic faith (like I had been wanting to for years!) and I am now Lutheran with my boyfriend of 2 years. Anyway, him and I both feel very strongly that God loves each and every single one of us EQUALLY. I truly believe that God doesn’t care what your sexual orientation is, your race, your religion, he just wants us to believe in him and love him the way he loves each and every one of us. He created us in his image which makes me wonder why it’s such a big issue for the LGBT community to be accepted, loved, and treated fairly and equally.
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