Mark Zamen, author

It has been shown on LOGO, not sure when/if it might be coming out on DVD. This is a documentary about 30 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young adults who went to colleges and universities across the country–mostly evangelical Christian–to discuss issues of being gay and lesbian in a religious context. (I was the press person on the trip).

In response to Dr. Tupper’s statement, I think he gets at the major point in that to treat gay and lesbian people, especially those raised in the church, as an “issue” that can be argued about through scripture or church tradition is perhaps the most dehumanizing and anti-Christian thing churches can do. No gay person is going to walk away from a “debate” about their sexuality, their relationships, their lives, with their human dignity intact, and that is absolutely against the Gospel.

What non-gay Christians must realize is that for many of us who are gay and Christian, the realization that God accepts us as gay people and wants us to be able to live with integrity and to experience the fullness of human sexual relationship is the most profound spiritual realization of our lives. Someone who has not struggled with being gay in the depths of their soul, or journeyed honestly and humbly with someone who has, is simply not qualified to render judgment. I would doubt if the loudest voices against full acceptance of gay and lesbian people in the church have ever really given the issue much soul-searching thought.

So who are you gonna believe? The person who hides behind “scripture” and “tradition” as an excuse not to be challenged, or the person who has taken this issue and wrestled with it in the depths of their soul and come to a new and vibrant understanding of God and their faith as a result?

Awesome post.