When I started wrg my new book, God and the Gay Christian, I was well aware that Christians who oppose same-sex marriage the church have long ed the Bible to fend their pot of view. As a gay Christian om an evangelil church Kansas, that stat quo has had a damagg impact on my life, which is one reason I'm settg out to change the flty perspective. Here are 10 reasons why God accepts gay Christians.
Contents:
- EVANGELILS ARE CHANGG THEIR MDS ON GAY MARRIAGE
- CELIBATE GAY CHRISTIANS: NEHER SHOCKGLY CONSERVATIVE NOR WORRYGLY LIBERAL
- LGBT RIGHTS AI: WILL KENYA BE THE LATT TO PASS ANTI-GAY LAW?
- GAY CHRISTIANS VS. EVANGELIL WARRRS
- ACCEPTANCE GROWS, SLOWLY BUT STEADILY, FOR GAY EVANGELILS
- EVANGELILS WH GAY CHILDREN CHALLENGE CHURCH
- THE GAY AND TRANS CHILDREN OF EVANGELIL CHRISTIAN FAI
- WHY ARE MORE EVANGELILS SUPPORTG GAY MARRIAGE?
- EVANGELILS AND GAYS: WHY CAN'T WE ALL JT GET ALONG?
- 10 REASONS GOD LOV GAY CHRISTIANS
- HOW CHRISTIANS TURNED AGAST GAY CONVERSN THERAPY
EVANGELILS ARE CHANGG THEIR MDS ON GAY MARRIAGE
Growg up, gay evangelils may have thought they had to be one or the other. It's different now. At one welg Baptist church Kentucky, a member says, gay ngregants "walk through the door." * gay evangelical christians *
Views about homosexualy18-2930-4950-6465+Sample sizeShould be accepted25%36%26%13%2, 881Should be disuraged12%31%32%24%4, 832Neher/both equally18%37%29%17%393Don't know14%33%27%26%311Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
Views about homosexualyYounger MillennialOlr MillennialGeneratn XBaby BoomerSilentGreattSample sizeShould be accepted15%16%29%30%8%1%2, 881Should be disuraged7%10%26%38%17%2%4, 832Neher/both equally10%16%29%33%11%1%393Don't know8%9%30%32%20%1%311Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyMenWomenSample sizeShould be accepted40%60%2, 912Should be disuraged49%51%4, 943Neher/both equally44%56%406Don't know42%58%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyWheBlackAsianLatoOther/MixedSample sizeShould be accepted72%7%2%13%6%2, 890Should be disuraged79%6%1%10%4%4, 878Neher/both equally70%5%1%16%8%396Don't know70%5%3%15%6%315Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
Views about homosexualyImmigrantsSend generatnThird generatn or higherSample sizeShould be accepted9%9%83%2, 877Should be disuraged9%5%86%4, 885Neher/both equally10%6%84%401Don't know13%9%78%321Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyLs than $30, 000$30, 000-$49, 999$50, 000-$99, 999$100, 000 or moreSample sizeShould be accepted37%22%26%15%2, 627Should be disuraged34%22%30%14%4, 260Neher/both equally36%24%24%16%341Don't know42%19%26%12%234Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
CELIBATE GAY CHRISTIANS: NEHER SHOCKGLY CONSERVATIVE NOR WORRYGLY LIBERAL
After losg son, Rob and Lda Robertson try to change church policy while helpg other evangelil parents accept their gay children * gay evangelical christians *
Views about homosexualyHigh school or lsSome llegeCollegePost-graduate greeSample sizeShould be accepted39%39%15%8%2, 910Should be disuraged47%33%14%7%4, 905Neher/both equally37%42%14%7%403Don't know47%35%11%6%327Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyMarriedLivg wh a partnerDivorced/separatedWidowedNever marriedSample sizeShould be accepted45%8%16%6%24%2, 906Should be disuraged63%2%13%9%13%4, 924Neher/both equally51%6%16%8%19%404Don't know47%8%15%12%18%328Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
LGBT RIGHTS AI: WILL KENYA BE THE LATT TO PASS ANTI-GAY LAW?
Views about homosexualyParentsNon-parentsSample sizeShould be accepted33%67%2, 907Should be disuraged30%70%4, 921Neher/both equally29%71%405Don't know30%70%327Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyBelieve God; absolutely certaBelieve God; fairly certaBelieve God; not too/not at all certaBelieve God; don't knowDo not believe GodOther/don't know if they believe GodSample sizeShould be accepted80%17%2%< 1%< 1%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged93%5%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%4, 943Neher/both equally88%12%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%406Don't know87%10%1%1%1%< 1%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
Views about homosexualyVery importantSomewhat importantNot too importantNot at all importantDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted65%30%4%1%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged88%10%1%1%< 1%4, 943Neher/both equally78%16%1%2%2%406Don't know78%16%2%< 1%4%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a month/a few tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted39%44%17%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged70%21%9%< 1%4, 943Neher/both equally59%26%13%2%406Don't know55%29%13%3%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least dailyWeeklyMonthlySeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted68%20%5%7%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged86%10%2%2%1%4, 943Neher/both equally83%11%1%5%1%406Don't know76%16%2%2%4%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
GAY CHRISTIANS VS. EVANGELIL WARRRS
Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted25%15%11%49%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged56%12%8%23%1%4, 943Neher/both equally44%11%12%33%< 1%406Don't know40%10%14%35%1%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted41%8%4%46%1%2, 912Should be disuraged54%6%2%36%2%4, 943Neher/both equally53%8%4%32%3%406Don't know49%6%2%38%5%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted65%16%9%9%1%2, 912Should be disuraged80%9%4%5%1%4, 943Neher/both equally80%9%3%7%2%406Don't know76%8%7%5%3%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
ACCEPTANCE GROWS, SLOWLY BUT STEADILY, FOR GAY EVANGELILS
Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted45%19%13%23%1%2, 912Should be disuraged49%15%10%24%2%4, 943Neher/both equally53%12%13%20%3%406Don't know49%11%8%25%7%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyRelignPhilosophy/reasonCommon senseScienceDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted40%9%44%5%2%2, 912Should be disuraged73%3%21%2%2%4, 943Neher/both equally62%5%25%3%6%406Don't know57%2%32%3%7%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
EVANGELILS WH GAY CHILDREN CHALLENGE CHURCH
Views about homosexualyThere are clear standards for what is right and wrongRight or wrong pends on the suatnNeher/both equallyDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted34%64%1%1%2, 912Should be disuraged60%37%1%1%4, 943Neher/both equally45%50%5%< 1%406Don't know44%47%3%5%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted46%16%10%28%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged74%9%5%11%1%4, 943Neher/both equally64%12%9%14%1%406Don't know62%13%5%18%2%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
THE GAY AND TRANS CHILDREN OF EVANGELIL CHRISTIAN FAI
Views about homosexualyWord of God; should be taken lerallyWord of God; not everythg taken lerallyWord of God; other/don't knowNot the word of GodOther/don't knowSample sizeShould be accepted36%42%3%14%6%2, 912Should be disuraged68%21%4%4%3%4, 943Neher/both equally46%30%9%7%9%406Don't know56%22%11%5%5%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample sizeShould be accepted89%6%5%2, 912Should be disuraged88%5%7%4, 943Neher/both equally83%5%12%406Don't know83%6%12%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample sizeShould be accepted76%17%7%2, 912Should be disuraged87%7%6%4, 943Neher/both equally76%12%13%406Don't know74%9%17%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
Views about homosexualyRepublin/lean leanDemocrat/lean sizeShould be accepted43%17%40%2, 912Should be disuraged66%13%21%4, 943Neher/both equally49%26%24%406Don't know46%29%25%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyConservativeMorateLiberalDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted34%39%21%6%2, 912Should be disuraged69%19%8%5%4, 943Neher/both equally52%29%10%9%406Don't know47%25%10%18%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualySmaller ernment; fewer servicBigger ernment; more servicDependsDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted53%41%3%3%2, 912Should be disuraged72%23%2%3%4, 943Neher/both equally61%23%9%7%406Don't know56%30%5%9%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
WHY ARE MORE EVANGELILS SUPPORTG GAY MARRIAGE?
Views about homosexualyDo more harm than goodDo more good than harmNeher/both equallyDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted47%48%3%1%2, 912Should be disuraged63%32%3%2%4, 943Neher/both equally48%33%16%2%406Don't know48%34%5%13%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyLegal all/most sIllegal all/most sDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted54%44%3%2, 912Should be disuraged20%78%3%4, 943Neher/both equally32%60%8%406Don't know25%54%21%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyStrongly favor/favorOppose/strongly opposeDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted67%26%7%2, 912Should be disuraged4%92%3%4, 943Neher/both equally18%54%29%406Don't know15%38%47%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
Views about homosexualyStricter environmental laws and regulatns st too many jobs and hurt the enomyStricter environmental laws and regulatns are worth the stNeher/both equallyDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted39%57%2%3%2, 912Should be disuraged55%39%3%3%4, 943Neher/both equally47%39%9%5%406Don't know43%39%4%14%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.
EVANGELILS AND GAYS: WHY CAN'T WE ALL JT GET ALONG?
Views about homosexualyEvolved; due to natural procsEvolved; due to God's signEvolved; don't know howAlways existed prent formDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted18%37%3%38%3%2, 912Should be disuraged6%18%2%70%5%4, 943Neher/both equally7%25%5%54%9%406Don't know10%21%5%50%14%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Qut, which was planted by Eugene Cho 2001, currently scrib self as “fully affirmg” and says on s webse wel everyone “cludg, but not limed to, Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, Intersex, Asexual, and Queer folks” to all levels of volvement the church. The vio has gone viral, rackg up more than 730, 000 views to date, landg V on the ver of the New York Tim Sunday Styl sectn and helpg him raise $100, 000 for the nference, where he lnched The Reformatn Project, a natnwi work of pro-gay evangelils mted to endg their church’s longstandg hostily toward gay people.
About a quarter of evangelils now support same-sex unns, the stute has found, wh an equal number occupyg what rearchers at Baylor Universy last year lled the “msy middle” of those who oppose gay marriage on moral grounds but no longer support efforts to outlaw .
In Oh, where 2004 evangelil activists were among the first the natn to mpaign for a succsful ballot measure outlawg gay unns, both Rob Portman, the state’s Republin senator, and Jim Petro, former Republin attorney general, now support overturng the ban. V, now 24, me up wh the ia for the project after takg a leave of absence om his studi Harvard Universy to study the Bible and Christian history, all an effort to nvce fellow evangelils, cludg his own parents Wicha, that they should embrace gay people like him. In April, when V published a book about the beliefs, God and the Gay Christian: The Biblil Case Support of Same-Sex Relatnships, sparked a torrent of onle nversatn and prompted the Natnal Relig Broadsters, an associatn of Christian media groups, to kick out the book’s Christian publisher for “unbiblil material.
10 REASONS GOD LOV GAY CHRISTIANS
Days before V’ book was published, the Amerin Fay Associatn, a Mississippi-based evangelil nonprof anizatn, issued a prs release headled, “God and the Gay Christian Is Anythg but Biblilly Accurate: Amerin Fay Associatn Calls Out Book’s False Msage and Misleadg Marketg.
He poted to the money behd a pro-gay outreach iative among several natnal gay advocy anizatns, cludg the Human Rights Campaign, that aims to expand LGBT rights Southern stat; Colorado gay rights philanthropist Tim Gill has mted $25 ln to the effort.
Tcher had started a pro-gay Bible study group at New Vienna and rmally unseled gay teens, but some of her peers were turned off; two of them left the roughly 75-person ngregatn for a few weeks when they learned of her activism, the pastor, Sarah Chapman, told me. What we are suggtg is that the stly obedience of celibate gay Christians should impact the full church by beg a mol of what we are all lled to live to: a life of sacrifice which the hardships we face are given meang and signifince relatn to the passn of Christ.
HOW CHRISTIANS TURNED AGAST GAY CONVERSN THERAPY
The Ugandan law is regard as one of the harsht anti-LGBTQ laws the propos life imprisonment for anyone nvicted of homosexualy, and the ath penalty for so-lled aggravated s, which clu havg gay sex wh someone below the age of 18 or where someone be fected wh a life-long illns such as the other si of the ntent, MPs Ghana earlier this month unanimoly voted favour of amendments to the untry's anti-gay legislatn, phg closer to beg enacted to law.