I have been reading about a woman evangelical in the UK, Andrea Minichiello Williams.
She has been speaking in Jamaica advocating they maintain their draconian laws on homosexuality. I have yet to personally meet a woman who is so opposed to homosexuality. In my experience it is usually men.
However what has angered me most is her statement that an Olympic diver who recently came out is gay because of the recent death of his father. This is another of the many stupid myths propounded by homophobes.
My father died when I was 30 yet I can remember sexual feelings about men from at least my mid-teens. I did not really understand in those unenlightened days until I went to University and began to study Psychology. I went to see a psychiatrist when I was still at University probably aged 19 or 20. I told my mother a few years later. To my knowledge she never told my Father.
I had to hide from him the fact that at the age of 25, instead of teaching, I spent a week undergoing therapy. Thankfully, in order to hide it from him, I did not stay overnight in the hospital but returned home which was a problem as my Mother became sick with pleurisy and he could not understand why I still stayed back (apparently working) late each afternoon.
A much better example of the stupidity of this statement is the case of a close friend, David. We have been good friends since university days and he is a leader in his church.
He has 4 children, 3 boys and a girl.
In 2003, my closest friend from school days, Peter, died. He had originally introduced me to David. I travelled to the memorial service in Canberra with David and his wife. Peter knew I was gay but I had never told David although Peter assured me there would be no problem.
Peter had 3 children who all spoke at the service from a Christian perspective. On the way home I mentioned that it must be wonderful in this day and age to know all one's children are still believers. I assumed it was the same for David. He then told me his 2nd son was gay. David was and is completely accepting and only regrets that his son took a long time to tell him because he assumed his father, being involved with the church, would not accept it.
David is a great advocate for gay acceptance in his church.
His eldest son and his daughter are both married and he has 4 grandchildren. I have long had thoughts about the youngest son who is now in his early 30's.
A few months ago David told me that his youngest son has also now come out. This year's Christmas message mentions both gay sons' partners along with other family news.
David has recently told me that the older gay son has just decided to have a commitment ceremony with his partner of 8 years. The partner actually asked David and his wife before popping the question.
They are, naturally, delighted. Unfortunately they do not live in enlightened New Zealand so it cannot be a marriage.
I see no evidence of a missing father in the gay lives of these 2 boys.
When We Fight, We Win
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