Not all like that

There’s one religious topic I return to frequently, because I think it’s critically important: Religion is not the enemy of LGBT people, even if some of its adherents may be. We’re now seeing more and more people proving me right.

The video above is by Rob and Linda Robertson of Seattle. You may know of them already. Linda penned a moving post, “Just Because He Breathes”, sharing how she and her husband, Evangelical Christians, rejected their gay son, learned to truly love him, then reconciled with him just before it was too late. They lost their son at least in part, they now realise, because of the hurt and pain they caused him. Linda wrote, “What we had wished for, prayed for, hoped for—that we would not have a gay son—came true. But not at all in the way we had envisioned.”

Since the death of their son, they’ve dedicated themselves to spreading the word that their God doesn’t reject people for being gay. They help Evangelical parents like themselves to learn to love and accept their LGBT children. And, they tell LGBT Christians, “if you’re wondering whether there is a place for you in the kingdom of God, we want you to know that the kingdom of God won’t be complete without you.”

The Robertsons are part of the growing NALT Christians Project. NALT is an acronym for “Not All Like That”, and is inspired by the It Gets Better Project. The mission of the project is simple:

“The purpose of the NALT Christians Project is to give all LGBT-affirming Christians a means of proclaiming to the world—and especially to young gay people—their belief and conviction that there is nothing anti-biblical or at all inherently sinful about being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.”

I admire what they’re doing for two reasons. First, it shows the vast majority people who are NOT  anti-gay religious fanatics that it’s possible to be fervent Christian believers AND loving and accepting of LGBT people. Second, it can provide hope for young LGBT people who are struggling within families and communities controlled by anti-gay religious fanatics. The NALT Christians Project can help save the lives of young LGBT Christians who might otherwise see no way out, no future, nor hope of life or love.

And so, I’d like to gently challenge all LGBT-affirming Christians to make their own statements, openly, publicly and honestly. Make a video as the Robertsons did (trust me, it’s NOT hard!). LGBT people need for you to be heard because without you, the only Christian voices heard belong to the most anti-gay and radical. You can change that. Find a way that works for you and let the world know: Not all Christians are like that.

As I've said before, and will again, religion is not the enemy of LGBT people, even if some of its adherents may be. People taking part in the NALT Christians Project are helping to prove that.