What Does it Take?

Recently, it seems that more and more people in the world of the Christian Right are either coming out gracefully as homosexuals or being outed by their actions. Two prominent contemporary Christian artists, Jennifer Knapp and Ray Boltz both come to mind as those who have announced their sexual orientation in the media. They both have said that they can both trace their homosexuality from a young age and that they have made peace with their Maker regarding this. 

Others within the Christian right have been outed by their actions and most were quickly rejected by their church. Among these include Lonnie Frisbee, Roy Clements, Ted Haggard, Paul Crouch, Paul Barnes, and Lonnie Latham. Most prominently in this company are John Paulk, (former leader/chairman of Focus on the Family's Love Won Out conference and Exodus International North America), as well as George Rekers, (founding member of the Family Research Council and board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality). It is fair to say that all these men came out of the closet kicking and screaming and many swear to this day that this is untrue although evidence suggests differently. 

I include this list to say this....How many "outings" does it take before the Christian Right considers the possibility that MAYBE, just MAYBE people are born gay? 

Another list that if compiled would be miles long and much more humbling, is the number of gay's who have finally taken their own lives after being tormented, judged, and rejected. There is a reason that the suicide rates among our young gay population is significantly higher. Research shows that as many as 30 percent of the completed suicides among our youth each year is completed by a gay or lesbian. That number does not include attempted suicides. Gay youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide and completed suicide is the number one reason for death among this group.

So again I ask....How many gays and lesbians must take their own lives out of desperation and brokenness as a result of the rejection our society brings down upon them before we will consider the possibility that homosexuals are simply born that way?

I am astounded at the thinking among the Christian Right. They will take the word of a self-proclaimed healer who touches a "sick" individual on the head knocking them to the ground to believe that he is anointed by God to heal, but will not accept the clear evidence that is before them. They would rather hundreds upon hundreds of homosexuals die by their own hand than to consider the possibility that they have misinterpreted scripture. 

So one last time I ask and I hope someone out there will answer me....

"What does it take?"