Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Well it's a start.
Now if only this message can spread to the REST of the "loving" gay bashing Christians in the world perhaps we can finally see our gay brothers and sisters living their lives guilt free and finding acceptance whereever they go.
I hugged a man in his underwear. I think Jesus would have too.
I spent the day at Chicago’s Pride Parade. Some friends and I, with The Marin Foundation, wore shirts with “I’m Sorry” written on it. We had signs that said, “I’m sorry that Christians judge you,” “I’m sorry the way churches have treated you,” “I used to be a bible-banging homophobe, sorry.” We wanted to be an alternative Christian voice from the protestors that were there speaking hate into megaphones.
What I loved most about the day is when people “got it.” I loved watching people’s faces as they saw our shirts, read the signs, and looked back at us. Responses were incredible. Some people blew us kisses, some hugged us, some screamed thank you. A couple ladies walked up and said we were the best thing they had seen all day. I wish I had counted how many people hugged me. One guy in particular softly said, “Well, I forgive you.”
Watching people recognize our apology brought me to tears many times. It was reconciliation personified.
My favorite though was a gentleman who was dancing on a float. He was dressed solely in white underwear and had a pack of abs like no one else. As he was dancing on the float, he noticed us and jokingly yelled, “What are you sorry for? It’s pride!” I pointed to our signs and watched him read them.
Then it clicked.
Then he got it.
He stopped dancing. He looked at all of us standing there. A look of utter seriousness came across his face. And as the float passed us he jumped off of it and ran towards us. In all his sweaty beautiful abs of steal, he hugged me and whispered, “thank you.”
Before I had even let go, another guy ran up to me, kissed me on the cheek, and gave me the biggest bear hug ever. I almost had the wind knocked out of me; it was one of those hugs.
This is why I do what I do. This is why I will continue to do what I do. Reconciliation was personified.
It's these sort of gestures that grow into movements which blossom into education,acceptance and understanding. Thank you for posting this, Jesse, it opened up some new doors in my world.
Sharing the blogger's post about his experience as a Christian who has recovered from his homophobia, with my ultra Christian friends over dinner tonight made for some highly spirited conversation, a few confessions and lots of open minded conversation. Not everyone was able to be completely comfortable with the 'whole gay thing', and that's fine with me, however they were thoughtful, not reactive, in their responses and that was something new.
I think seeing another Christian take the stand that he did, rather than me, not a Christian, making a point, they were more receptive to the message and will be thinking about it going forward.
I even saw moments of realization in their eyes, flickering and then gone, but still it was there, the crack in the biblical armor. A little bit of LOVE got through. But the indoctrination runs deep and has been long in cementing, so I must be patient. But your blog post helped things move forward another tiny step...Thank you.
This is the from the 2010 Chicago Gay Pride Parade.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.timschraeder.com/2010/06/30/a-different-kind-of-demonstration-at-gay-pride/
The photo brings tears to my eyes. This is what love is all about.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. (sobbing) What a powerful message!
DeleteI hugged a man in his underwear. I think Jesus would have too.
ReplyDeleteI spent the day at Chicago’s Pride Parade. Some friends and I, with The Marin Foundation, wore shirts with “I’m Sorry” written on it. We had signs that said, “I’m sorry that Christians judge you,” “I’m sorry the way churches have treated you,” “I used to be a bible-banging homophobe, sorry.” We wanted to be an alternative Christian voice from the protestors that were there speaking hate into megaphones.
What I loved most about the day is when people “got it.” I loved watching people’s faces as they saw our shirts, read the signs, and looked back at us. Responses were incredible. Some people blew us kisses, some hugged us, some screamed thank you. A couple ladies walked up and said we were the best thing they had seen all day. I wish I had counted how many people hugged me. One guy in particular softly said, “Well, I forgive you.”
Watching people recognize our apology brought me to tears many times. It was reconciliation personified.
My favorite though was a gentleman who was dancing on a float. He was dressed solely in white underwear and had a pack of abs like no one else. As he was dancing on the float, he noticed us and jokingly yelled, “What are you sorry for? It’s pride!” I pointed to our signs and watched him read them.
Then it clicked.
Then he got it.
He stopped dancing. He looked at all of us standing there. A look of utter seriousness came across his face. And as the float passed us he jumped off of it and ran towards us. In all his sweaty beautiful abs of steal, he hugged me and whispered, “thank you.”
Before I had even let go, another guy ran up to me, kissed me on the cheek, and gave me the biggest bear hug ever. I almost had the wind knocked out of me; it was one of those hugs.
This is why I do what I do. This is why I will continue to do what I do. Reconciliation was personified.
http://naytinalbert.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-hugged-man-in-his-underwear-and-i-am.html
So sweet!
DeleteFrance Legalizes Gay Marriage
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/23/france-gay-marriage-law-_n_3139470.html
Acceptance is a wonderful thing! Yeah, it's a start.
ReplyDeleteIt's these sort of gestures that grow into movements which blossom into education,acceptance and understanding. Thank you for posting this, Jesse, it opened up some new doors in my world.
ReplyDeleteSharing the blogger's post about his experience as a Christian who has recovered from his homophobia, with my ultra Christian friends over dinner tonight made for some highly spirited conversation, a few confessions and lots of open minded conversation. Not everyone was able to be completely comfortable with the 'whole gay thing', and that's fine with me, however they were thoughtful, not reactive, in their responses and that was something new.
I think seeing another Christian take the stand that he did, rather than me, not a Christian, making a point, they were more receptive to the message and will be thinking about it going forward.
I even saw moments of realization in their eyes, flickering and then gone, but still it was there, the crack in the biblical armor. A little bit of LOVE got through. But the indoctrination runs deep and has been long in cementing, so I must be patient. But your blog post helped things move forward another tiny step...Thank you.
OMG Gryphen, gay marriage is passing all over the world!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130423/eu-france-gay-marriage
And in this country
First it was Massachusetts. Then it was Connecticut. Then Vermont, New Hampshire and eventually Maine followed suit.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-baume/marriage-equality-now-expanding-out-from-new-england_b_3133769.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
Rhode Island GOP Senators Unanimously Back Gay Marriage
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/23/rhode-island-gop-gay-marriage_n_3139633.html
Apparently the Marin group was willing to say they were sorry, but not to say that homosexuality wasn't a sin. http://www.towleroad.com/2010/07/christian-group-says-im-sorry-at-gay-pride-parade-in-chicago.html
ReplyDelete