It's still National Coming Out Day for an hour and a half here, so I'm not too late! Here it is, friends: I am an ally. I have friends and loved ones who fall all over the spectra of sexual orientations and gender identities, and I want more than anything for them to be able to live full and happy lives, right next to me, at work and at home and at church.
And I know we've got a long way to go, because I hesitated to post this.
I understand her hesitation. After all, I have friends on both sides. People I dearly love. Those for whom coming out made a huge positive difference in their lives and those who believe that people with gender and sexual orientation differences need to be "fixed". And I rarely write about it because how could my words make a difference? In fact, even typing this makes me cry because the whole issue seems so overwhelming.
I do know this. I second Q's statement. I want more than anything for them to be able to live full and happy lives, right next to me, at work and at home and at church.
I do know this. I second Q's statement. I want more than anything for them to be able to live full and happy lives, right next to me, at work and at home and at church.
Sometimes I forget that we do have segregation. That is until I have a conversation with a friend about my fun trip and how he and his partner should go and he mentions that it is a really conservative area.
It makes me realize that Q's statement isn't yet a reality and I forget that because I get to visit wherever I want and worship wherever I want. We know from church history that there have been lines in the past. Each time we've realized we've gotten it wrong, we've been ashamed. It seems weird we miss that most of the story of the Gospel is about Jesus inviting the people the religious leaders of the day didn't approve of. We forget that the context applies to us.
I don't get what it's like to be gay. Family-wise, I fit into the mainstream of being married with two kids. The thing is, like Q, I don't have to get it to be an ally. In fact, I really don't have to do anything at all except not to be hesitant about writing a blog post like this one.
It makes me realize that Q's statement isn't yet a reality and I forget that because I get to visit wherever I want and worship wherever I want. We know from church history that there have been lines in the past. Each time we've realized we've gotten it wrong, we've been ashamed. It seems weird we miss that most of the story of the Gospel is about Jesus inviting the people the religious leaders of the day didn't approve of. We forget that the context applies to us.
I don't get what it's like to be gay. Family-wise, I fit into the mainstream of being married with two kids. The thing is, like Q, I don't have to get it to be an ally. In fact, I really don't have to do anything at all except not to be hesitant about writing a blog post like this one.
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