Addressing The Controversy
by Favour Akinnagbe
Embedded Files
Overtime I’ve begun to see the on-going hatred and discord between religion and the LGBTQ+ community grow. More specifically, we hear about it a lot in Christianity. As a Christian myself, this is definitely one of the most heartbreaking things for me to see. This portrayal of Christianity and God has been put up, making it out to be something it’s not, which makes sense as to why the majority of the LGBTQ+ community aren’t in solidarity with Christians because a lot of them grew up with negative experiences within the Church. Being kicked out of their own homes, beaten up, sent to a place made to “change” their orientation, by those they call family. Constantly being labeled as a sin, “an abomination”, told to burn in hell, all because of something they never really chose to have, something that’s not really in their control.
A conflicted child left at the hands of those said to follow Christ, but then religion is used as an excuse to demean and discriminate. I’ve come to wonder too why many are so concerned about sexuality, that all of a sudden a blind eye is turned to all the other issues in the world.
Photo by: Tania Guerrero
Many people grow up with the "christian” ideology drilled into their minds, they’re not allowed to feel a certain way, “God hates gays” “Gays go to hell”, feeding into the thought of being a failure because they aren’t the person that they believed they were born to be, the internalized hatred building up, feeling as though their existence is a menace to society. Now, this doesn’t go to say for all Christians, this is just another constant reminder of how we need to do better, how we all need to do better with loving each other because love is what this world hungers for. And as for the LGBTQ+ community, I’m sorry for whatever religious trauma, or unfair treatment you’ve faced on your journey, no amount of apologies can pay for the words you’ve heard that cut deep into your heart, but I do hope you never fail to remember that you are so loved, more than you know.
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