Sunday, 08 February 2009

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  A Call to Action

  I've recently taken on more responsibility in terms of ministry to people who struggle with homosexuality. I have been asked to be an administrator for the ExodusYouth website. (www.ExodusYouth.net). Basically as I understand it, that entails moderating comments, replying to comments and questions by youth and writing articles to post on a regular basis. I'm all for this and honestly excited about the whole ordeal. Alan Chambers gave such a rousing speech at the leadership conference last month calling us all to work together and reach the lost. so, I stepped foward and asked how I can help... this is what I was given.

  however, I cant help but feel like this ups the stakes for me. who knows who visits this site. people may very well start picking apart the things I write in my articles and debates may pop up? no longer can my writing be but vain musings of a kid seeking to live his life according to his faith, values and self schema, I feel like I really really have to know what I'm talking about. I feel like I almost have to be an expert in gay science and gay history. I guess I have to be an expert in "Queer Humanities." Its interesting because all my arguments are supported in gay litterature, I think a point can be better made if I refer to their own texts, and famous authors.

  Just recently I started reading And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts detailing how the spread of AIDS came about. More of a book on public health, but still a famous gay author and a big book in gay and lesbian history. Though I'm only in the begining I'm already enjoying the book. A point stuck out in the book to me though, Shilts mentions Harvey Milk the first openly gay City Supervisor of San Francisco that was gunned down by another city supervisor. Harvey Milk seems to have been a remarkable man, there is one instance where an initiative was being brought up to make it illeagal for homosexuals to be teachers. Harvey Milk made a speech challenging everyone to "come out of the closet." His belief was that as long as homosexuals remained a silent population, an invisible people, they would always be oppressed. I can only imagine what that would look like for the Ex-Gay community?

  Many ex-gays are satisfied to just be free of homosexuality. Most meet their loves, get married, have kids and live happily ever after. they are go on fully integrated into society, working as air traffic controllers, sports therapists, social workers, teachers and nurses. but nobody knows. how would the world believe the claims of Exodus? we tell the world there are thousands of people who have successfully left homosexuality, but no one really knows an "ex-gay." to the world it is a myth. They only see Alan Chambers on Tv. How can we expect them to believe? I wonder what would happen if everyone "came out of the closet?" I wonder what would happen if people all over the country could said... "you know... my neighbor three doors down used to be gay." or "I know this guy at my job that used to be gay" or "yea... theres someone who came out of homosexuality in my church." how would public policy be affected? how would sex ed be affected?

  I love homosexuals. but history runs in loops, and many times the oppressed can become the oppressors. I worry about what can awaits us if we dont act. already there is such a battle to make reparative therapy a violation of the APA's code of ethics (perhaps punishable by the revoking of a therapists' license). It is all but expressly forbidden to spread the message in public schools that homosexuals can change. Never (not once) is an ex-gay portrayed positively on TV. I know so many people who were in the lifestyle for 10+ years because they never knew that Exodus or Ex-gays existed. they were told by the world that the only option they had was to be gay and accept it. These people were trapped in a lifestyle they never wanted because information was kept from them. I was almost counted among them.

  Its so scary to let everyone in. to tell people our dirty little secrets. but the bible commands to "let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" as long as we stay invisible, we will be oppressed. some of the people fighting for us are ever-straight mental health professionals, but they can only do so much. they are being edged out slowly. we need to stand up and be counted.

  *sigh* that my soapbox. I just wish the would could see through my eyes. I know so many people who have left homosexuality successfully. there is no doubt in my mind that sexuality is fluid and changeable and that people have the right to determine which life they will lead. and it makes me upset that "the powers that be" would seek to strip us of that right. please people, be counted!

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