I Am A Straight, Cisgender, Caucasian Christian Male, And I Am A Proud Ally Of The LGBTQ+ Community
Start writing a post
Politics

I Am A Straight, Cisgender, Caucasian Christian Male, And I Am A Proud Ally Of The LGBTQ+ Community

My religion taught me to love my neighbors, and that is what I'm doing.

169
I Am A Straight, Cisgender, Caucasian Christian Male, And I Am A Proud Ally Of The LGBTQ+ Community
Heather Mount

I remember being a little boy sitting on my grandmother's bed. Every night she would read us stories from her favorite children's book, "The Book of Virtues." It was a book compiled of several stories, many were heavily influenced by Christian morals and ideals. I will never forget a quote from one of the stories, "love can hold back a flood."

Now while not every person is going to stick their finger in the whole of a leaky dam, the idea of love had carried with me all my life. I also remember when my mom was driving my sister and me downtown, we were going to her friend Hugh's house for a dinner party.

While we driving, I overheard my sister and mom talking, and I heard my mom say that Hugh was gay.

I had no idea what that meant, and when I asked her what it meant, she told me that it meant that Hugh was in love with another man. I'm not going to lie, my 10-year-old self was floored by the idea of two men being in love. I didn't know what to expect when I walked through his front door, and I was shocked at what I found.

They lived in a normal apartment, they cooked a normal dinner, and they had normal toys for the kids to play with. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Now, this may shock some people, but Hugh and his partner at the time lived a completely normal life, there was absolutely nothing wrong with how they lived, and there still isn't.

That's what I'm here to talk about.

I am a straight, cisgender, Caucasian Christian male, and I am a proud ally of the LGBTQ community.

Now, this may come as a shock to some people, many people hear the word Christian and immediately assume "homophobic." While I wish that I could say that there is no ground for this assumption, that would be ignorance. The sad reality is that some people who identify as Christians condemn people in the community to brimstone and hellfire.

So let's address that belief for a moment. Yes, it is true that in Leviticus 18:22, the Bible states that "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable". There is no getting around that, and it will always be in the book. However, if you believe yourself to be on the moral high ground where you can condemn someone based off of one verse in the entire Bible, consider this.

My uncle played football at U of I and holds a record to this day. However, according to the Bible, he has committed a terrible sin. In Leviticus 11:7, it states that "touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean." So if you've ever played football or eaten bacon, you've committed a sin according to our Bible.

It is also sanctioned in the Bible that we are allowed to sell our daughters into slavery, that we should execute those who work on the sabbath, and execute those who wear garments made from two different threads. So unless you're about to throw away half of your closet and lose income to feed your families, you have no business quoting Bible verses as a way of attacking someone else.

Now don't get me mistaken, I love my religion. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ never once mentioned homosexuality.

He preached for us to love one another, to help those less fortunate, and to show compassion to all, regardless of race, gender, or creed.

Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross for ALL OF US. He did not endure unimaginable torment on Golgotha for only some of us, it was EVERYONE.

I was fortunate enough to be raised in a household that taught me love and acceptance. They taught me to never put myself above others and to always lend a helping hand if I could. My grandmother took me to church, where I learned the power of love. My roommate my freshman year of college is gay, and he is one of my best friends and someone who I hold very close to heart.

So to everyone in the LGBTQ community, allow me to officially say that I am an ally, and that will never change. Love is love, and I will always stand by everyone in the community who wants to live their lives.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

50012
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

31902
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955373
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180533
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments