LGBTQ, in LC and Beyond.

[SerenityLives]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for this topic.

I am bisexual, and I really found it hard to accept myself during my teenage years and even early 20s.
I tried to push it down and "pray the gay" away for the longest time.

In my mid 20s I realised I could not deny that I was bisexual any longer. But still being in the LC made that hard. It was like the longer I stayed in the more homophobic preaching I heard from elders in the LC.

Every wedding I attended felt like it was being used as a lesson to push heterosexuality as the only right way.

This wasn't the only reason I left, but even so, when I first left and then met Christians who were also in the LGBT community and supported for it by their church, I felt envious.

I don't feel that way particularly anymore, but I do worry a lot for the queer kids still in the church.

I am bisexual as well and it took a lot of denial but nothing seemed to work no matter how hard I prayed to God, tried to date guys. At one time I felt like I was living a double life in college, joining Christians on Campus and simultaneously, neevously avoiding church people who happen to be on campus to go to evening lgbtq support groups. There were times when I felt like giving up, letting go, having suicidal thoughts, but I finally realized that I only had one life, and that was given to me by God. I had to live it and stop pretending. I worry also for the ones still stuck in LC and struggling with their sexuality or gender identity, hence why I wanted to start this thread to show that there is hope out there for any of them if they are starting to question and need to know that there are others like them, who have gone through similar experiences. Thank you for sharing and I’m glad to know I am also not alone.

[Trapped]

Originally Posted by SerenityLives

I am bisexual as well and it took a lot of denial but nothing seemed to work no matter how hard I prayed to God, tried to date guys. At one time I felt like I was living a double life in college, joining Christians on Campus and simultaneously, neevously avoiding church people who happen to be on campus to go to evening lgbtq support groups. There were times when I felt like giving up, letting go, having suicidal thoughts, but I finally realized that I only had one life, and that was given to me by God. I had to live it and stop pretending. I worry also for the ones still stuck in LC and struggling with their sexuality or gender identity, hence why I wanted to start this thread to show that there is hope out there for any of them if they are starting to question and need to know that there are others like them, who have gone through similar experiences. Thank you for sharing and I’m glad to know I am also not alone.

Hearing that you were in COC helps clarify for me the "in LC" part of this new thread. I had been thinking that, at least according to my own experience, the LGBT+ topic in the local church is essentially not brought up except in the college student context. As far as I am aware, "the ministry" doesn't spend much if any time on the topic, and the co-workers are more concerned with their own "deputy authority" during the trainings and conferences than to address this topic at all. The only place I have heard much said, and it wasn't much, was in the context of college student gatherings.....mostly things like Q&As or "special topics" or something like that.

[clever sister]

Originally Posted by Trapped

Hearing that you were in COC helps clarify for me the "in LC" part of this new thread. I had been thinking that, at least according to my own experience, the LGBT+ topic in the local church is essentially not brought up except in the college student context. As far as I am aware, "the ministry" doesn't spend much if any time on the topic, and the co-workers are more concerned with their own "deputy authority" during the trainings and conferences than to address this topic at all. The only place I have heard much said, and it wasn't much, was in the context of college student gatherings.....mostly things like Q&As or "special topics" or something like that.

I left the LC about five years ago, but during the fivish years before that I heard brothers in LC speak more and more frequently to condemn homosexuality. This is in New Zealand though, maybe in the Southern states of the US they don't feel like they need to address it, outside of the campus work?

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by SerenityLives

I am bisexual as well ...

What does your wonderful wife of 4 years say when you start getting interested in some guy?

[SerenityLives]

Originally Posted by Ohio

What does your wonderful wife of 4 years say when you start getting interested in some guy?

Just because someone is bisexual does not mean they can easily flip flop. I am commited to my wife and am apalled at how you continue to disparage my relationship and the other lgbtq’s relations with their loved ones. If you have nothing good to say, then dont say it at all.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by SerenityLives

Just because someone is bisexual does not mean they can easily flip flop. I am commited to my wife and am apalled at how you continue to disparage my relationship and the other lgbtq’s relations with their loved ones. If you have nothing good to say, then dont say it at all.

I have not disparaged your relationship or any other.

It is you who said somthing quite concerning about being bi.

Do you esteem loyalty or faithfulness to your partner as important?

[clever sister]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I have not disparaged your relationship or any other.

It is you who said somthing quite concerning about being bi.

Do you esteem loyalty or faithfulness to your partner as important?

What did she say about being bisexual that was concerning?

Being bisexual does not change how faithful or loyal one is to their partner, just like being heterosexual does not guarantee a person won't cheat on their partner.