listenspeakcreatev2:

This is a post I wrote that I was going to put on my Facebook but I’m not sure whether I’m ready for the barrage of opinions that will undoubtedly follow and whether I’ll have enough patience to respond to them in a calm manner. So it’s preserved here for now



broadsheet:

This is a topic very close to my heart as most of you are aware that I love Jesus, and I am also gay.



In the past week I’ve seen a few of my Christian friends posting memes such as the one above, about being censored on their views on gay marriage. I applaud you! It’s not easy being a minority, being shouted over by a group of people who won’t listen to your opinions. We live in a country where free speech should be a universal right, yet at the moment the media is aggressively skewed in support of same sex marriage. It’s hard, I totally get it, being oppressed.



I hear you, you feel attacked by gay rights activists, I can understand why you feel that way and I apologise. Gay people tend to assume everyone is on the same page as us in terms of understanding our same-sex attraction, and when anyone doesn’t support us, more often than not, we become defensive rather than trying to open up dialogue.



I also imagine, most gay people relate to your feelings of helplessness. There are children currently attending your sunday schools and youth groups. They are crying because they hear that they are loved, but are treated as second rate Christians; banned from serving in ministry unless they commit to a life of loneliness. There are men and women who grew up sitting in church pews, broken inside because they were told they were abominations for something Science already proved they cannot change. There are those who felt worthless, because they endured years of Christian “reparative” therapy only to commit suicide because they were riddled with shame at not being able to suppress their feelings. 40% of homeless youth in America identify as LGBT. LGBT youth are 4 times more likely than their straight peers to attempt suicide.

We have a crisis here. But arguing against same-sex marriage only further alienates LGBT youth, the media and the public from the church.



I hear you Christians. Your free speech is being oppressed. But before you go share the Christian memes about your lack of free speech with all your Facebook friends, why don’t you put yourselves in the shoes of Lesbians and Gays who have endured far worse discrimination from the church for something they cannot change.

For a long time, they’ve been silenced by the shame and guilt the Christian/Catholic church has perpetuated over the centuries. If you feel that not being able to vocalise your views on marriage is oppression, I suggest you get some perspective by asking a Gay or Lesbian or Transgender person, respectfully, about the oppression and discrimination they’ve faced in their lifetime.



No one is forcing your pastors to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Same-sex marriage does not impinge on any of your rights as Christ followers to live a life dedicated to spreading Jesus’s message of love and redemption. So rather than victimising yourself, take this opportunity to show compassion to a community that is hurting.

Not that “you love them, but respectfully disagree with their lifestyle”. I can guarantee they won’t want to be your friend if you told them that. Who wants a friend that feels sorry for them for something they’re perfectly content with and can’t change??

I’m telling you, instead of wasting your time fighting a losing battle to maintain what you hold to be “Christian” values, you’d be much better off just emanating Jesus’ love, no strings attached. It’ll be much more effective. Trust me.

