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My name is Ben and I am this year's summer intern in the HIV/STI department specializing in anti-homophobia and transphobia. I am a student majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Latin America. Growing up in the Dominican Republic for twelve years has given me the opportunity to learn about different cultures. In Latin America and the United States, Christianity was central to the country's historical development. As a Christian who grew up in a fundamentalist church, I had a difficult time reconciling my faith and sexuality.
Recently I watched an informative documentary that highlighted some of the misconceptions people have about what the Bible says about homosexuality called For The Bible Tells Me So. As LGBT individuals, quite often we hear that God does not love us or accept us for who we are. The most notorious group that we often hear about in the media — Westboro Baptist Church — goes as far to say that "God Hates Fags" and that the cause of the end of the world is due to homosexuality. But there is a flaw in this argument, LGBT individuals have been around since the beginning of time. Alexander the Great, and even the ancient greeks engaged in same gender loving relationships, if LGBT persons are going to be the cause of the apocalypse, then our world should have ended centuries ago.
As a gay Christian it is hard to reconcile your religious and sexual identity. In terms of the media, gay Christians have had a difficult time gaining ground. Jason and De Marco, Jennifer Knap, and Ray Boltz are gay Christian artists who sing about the unconditional love of God. The Christian community for the most part, does not recognize them as Christian singers. In fact, neither of these artists’ merchandise is available in Lifeway stores, which is one of the most popular resources for Christians. Thus, the visibility of gay Christians is very limited.
If you are reading this and are struggling with your religious identity, there are many resources you can look into. When I first realized I was gay and questioned my faith, I visited websites and checked out gay affirming churches in the area. Many youth struggle with these issues on a day-to-day basis, and although I am confident that God made me this way, it is still taking time to come to terms with it since the church I grew up in was not supportive of LGBT individuals. These are some resources that will aid you if you have any questions about your faith and sexuality.
Resources
For The Bible Tells Me So
http://www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/indexb.htm
Gay Christian Network
http://gaychristian.net
Soul Force
http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible
