{"id":7293,"date":"2022-03-21T19:54:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T00:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/quisutdeus\/?p=7293"},"modified":"2022-03-21T19:54:44","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T00:54:44","slug":"conformity-or-self-denial-the-struggles-faced-by-lgbtq-christians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/quisutdeus\/2022\/03\/conformity-or-self-denial-the-struggles-faced-by-lgbtq-christians\/","title":{"rendered":"“Conformity or Self-Denial”: The Struggles Faced By LGBTQ+ Christians"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

We LGBTQ+ Christians constantly face a ridiculous amount of pressure from all ends. Some religious groups single us out by demanding that we conform to their idea of acceptable sexuality, or practice self-denial.<\/p>\n

Many of my fellow LGBTQ+ Christians were coerced to go through some form of conversion\/ex-gay therapy because of the tightly held belief that even having \u201cgay thoughts\u201d is a sin. Even when the person struggling with their identity is a child, that isn\u2019t enough to stop some Christians from demanding that they change to fit their ideal paradigm. It\u2019s exhausting having to deal with these unfair expectations that can lead to us questioning the validity of our relationship with God.<\/p>\n

For this article, much of my research was kicked off by watching this following YouTube video by God is Grey<\/em>, my favorite Christian YouTube channel. Brenda Davies (author of the channel) created this eye-opening video about a talk between two LGBTQ+ Christians with respectfully opposing views.<\/p>\n

This video by Brenda first told me about the fantastic Jackie Hill Perry, who has done an excellent job conveying her views on the intersectionality of sexuality and faith.<\/p>\n

<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Thanks to Brenda\u2019s video, I found this next one, which encapsulates the talk between Grace and Jackie.<\/p>\n<h2>Gay Conversations<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Life Threatening Dangers Of Gay Conversion Therapy | State Of Grace | Refinery29\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HL5ThApf0IA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Just from the first 2 minutes alone, Grace\u2019s video is another aggravating reminder that not all \u201csins\u201d are treated equally in the eyes of some Christians. It seems that obsession over gay stuff is timeless. How disappointing.<\/p>\n<p>However, isn\u2019t it fascinating how diplomatic Grace is here in the face of these anti-gay protestors? I can\u2019t say that I\u2019d be able to remain calm in the face of another Christian telling me that \u201ctough love\u201d is equivalent to obsessively telling LBGTQ+ folk that they\u2019re Hellbound while refusing to give other groups this cruel treatment.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cDuring the parade, the PFLAG group marched by and they were holding signs that said \u2018I love my lesbian daughter\u2019 or \u2018I love my gay son\u2019. And I just\u2026I wanted that so much. And not just from family or from friends, but I wanted to love myself that way.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Part of me wishes that I hadn\u2019t finished the video because of the hard conversations Grace heard here. This is a quote from Leea, a non-binary gay Christian who Grace got to speak with:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cShe came in the room and shook me and was like, \u2018You\u2019re not gay!\u2019 And she was crying over me and you know, telling the demon to come out. And \u2018I wish you were dead, rather than be gay.'\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I love that at the end of this video, Jackie tells Grace that both opposing sides of LGBTQ+ Christians need to be friends. I wholeheartedly agree.<\/p>\n<h2>Grace and Jackie<\/h2>\n<p>Grace\u2019s conversation with Jackie is full of diplomacy on both sides. When Grace asks Jackie about her opinion on conversion therapy, this is Jackie\u2019s response:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI\u2019m not a fan just because I don\u2019t believe that God\u2019s heart is to change people\u2019s orientation. I don\u2019t see God calling people to be straight, I see Him calling people to be holy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I agree with Jackie. We should all strive to have \u201choly\u201d sexuality that honors God, ourselves, and our partners. Inviting God into this private part of our lives deepens our trust in Him.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the next question and Jackie\u2019s response to it that had me the most interested. Grace asks Jackie if she feels she identifies more with fellow LGBTQ+ individuals or anti-gay protestors. Jackie makes it clear that she has nothing to do with those evil protesters:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI have nothing in common with them. The way it\u2019s presented is sinful. Some of the conclusions they come to about people\u2013indignifying them, is sinful. I think they tend to fall more on the Pharisees\u2019 side than on Jesus\u2019 side.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Jackie goes further, telling Grace how she feels about other Christians using her testimony against other LGBTQ+ individuals:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI think people have used testimonies such as mine to weaponize people, or be used as a weapon to abuse and to be harmful and to lack empathy. There isn\u2019t an affirming from me from some of the perspectives that you hold, but also I think the love is, that I don\u2019t feel the need to constantly tell you I disagree.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\u201cTherapy Equality\u201d?<\/h2>\n<p>Naturally, not all LGBTQ+ Christians think alike regarding the topic of conversion therapy. There are some who choose to defend its existence.<\/p>\n<p>When I researched topics for this article, I came across the name <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/entertainment\/movies\/bs-fe-gay-conversion-therapy-20190212-story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">Christopher Doyle<\/a> (not the actor).\u00a0 Christopher Doyle is a staunch defender of conversion therapy and works as a licensed therapist in this practice. He\u2019s also a leader in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.therapyequality.org\/national-task-force-for-therapy-equality-ftc-complaint\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\"><em>National Task Force for Therapy Equality<\/em><\/a> group, which seeks to fight against efforts to ban conversion therapy.<\/p>\n<p>Christopher Doyle tried to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wusa9.com\/article\/news\/local\/maryland\/liberty-counsel-sues-maryland-governor-over-conversion-therapy-ban\/65-821f5a95-c45d-4fdb-a676-5ed723ab1bf4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">sue<\/a> Maryland\u2019s governor and attorney general for their state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/nbc-out\/maryland-becomes-11th-state-ban-gay-conversion-therapy-minors-n874381\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">ban<\/a> against conversion therapy practices back in 2019. His basis for this was that Maryland\u2019s new ban violated the constitutional rights of himself and his clients to pursue counseling aligned with their religious beliefs. Ultimately, the lawsuit was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/nbc-out\/judge-tosses-lawsuit-challenging-maryland-conversion-therapy-ban-n1058056\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">dismissed<\/a>, with the judge stating that the ban doesn\u2019t stop therapists from sharing their views with their clients.<\/p>\n<p>I came across this video where Christopher Doyle speaks with a speaker from the online TV platform <a href=\"https:\/\/www.voicesofthesilenced.tv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\"><em>Voices of the Silenced<\/em><\/a> about his views:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Christopher Doyle - highlighting the silencing of ex-gay voices\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7ducFwOiY5Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I wasn\u2019t expecting to hear the speaker say this:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cMany people believe that sexual orientation is a fixed and unchangeable category of existence and for them, any professional or pastoral initiative to support people leaving homosexual behaviors and feelings is both dangerous and harmful.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, ask them for the evidence of peer-reviewed research and scholarship that shows categorically that on average, such interventions are harmful, and your request will be met with silence. Because it simply doesn\u2019t exist.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This sentiment would be comical if it weren\u2019t so ultimately dangerous. How willfully blind must a person be to assert that there\u2019s \u201cno evidence\u201d that conversion therapy is harmful when the <em>American Psychological Association <\/em>itself <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/news\/press\/releases\/2020\/11\/conversion-therapy-ban-ruling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">spoke<\/a> out against it?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s bad enough that this speaker chose to ignore the already present psychological <a href=\"https:\/\/www.betterhelp.com\/advice\/therapy\/the-dangers-of-conversion-therapy-statistics-study-and-controversy\/\" class=\" decorated-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">evidence<\/a> that efforts to suppress a person\u2019s sexuality are dangerous. But it\u2019s even more callous that he also decided to turn away from <a href=\"https:\/\/prospect.org\/civil-rights\/so-called-ex-gay-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">testimonies<\/a> of conversion therapy survivors. Making an attempt to downplay the objective harm perpetuated by conversion therapy is tantamount to gaslighting.<\/p>\n<h2>The Echoes of Conversion Therapy<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kids Meet A Gay Conversion Therapy Survivor | Kids Meet | HiHo Kids\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4q-fCuy7B40?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The speaker in this video above, Marcus James, encountered abuse when his family forced him to endure conversion therapy. The abuse included getting beaten with a Bible, being forcibly starved against his will, and being unable to contact anybody during the process. I\u2019m grateful that Marcus is still here after the horrific things he suffered.<\/p>\n<p>I also found this hour-and-a-half-long documentary on YouTube. It showcases the at times turbulent relationship between Christopher Doyle and his client, Nathan Gweniek, a young Catholic grappling with his sexuality:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Gay Conversion Therapy: Does It Work? (LGBTQ+ Documentary) | Real Stories\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FO2cWOYkpPg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I have yet to watch the entire documentary myself, but so far, this quote from Christopher stood out to me:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cNathan, this isn\u2019t a cure. And I never said that you\u2019re going to go through therapy and you\u2019re going to completely get rid of all same-sex attractions, \u2018it\u2019s never gonna ever come back again\u2019. That would probably be an unrealistic expectation for almost anybody. But it\u2019s important that you know that SSA (same-sex attraction) is not about SSA. It\u2019s about all the underlying issues. So, if you\u2019re having SSA, what are the issues underneath that? That\u2019s what we need to explore in our work together.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This was interesting, hearing Christopher himself state that there isn\u2019t a \u201ccure\u201d for SSA. It honestly boggles my mind that the apparent focus on conversion therapy seems to be on the \u201cunderlying issues\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It also boggles my mind why anybody, especially somebody who formerly identified as gay, would push for ex-gay\/conversion therapy to be seen as valid despite the <a href=\"https:\/\/irct.org\/media-and-resources\/latest-news\/article\/1027\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">harm<\/a> it\u2019s been known to cause. I think I understand now more than I did before beginning to write this article that ultimately, this comes out of genuinely good intentions. But some good intentions have bad delivery.<\/p>\n<p>And apparently, costly results! I found this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/roberthart\/2022\/03\/07\/dangerous-discredited-lgbtq-conversion-therapy-costs-us-more-than-9-billion-each-year-study-finds\/?sh=26b200391cf1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">article<\/a> by\u00a0<em>Forbes\u00a0<\/em>discussing the massive, $9 billion yearly costs incurred because of the fallout of ex-gay therapy. A large part of this cost comes from the harm that participants encounter afterward, including attempted suicide and drug abuse. The article strongly argues for replacing ex-gay therapy with affirming care to save both lives and money.<\/p>\n<h2>Common Ground<\/h2>\n<p>Something that interests me is that there\u2019s more common ground than we\u2019d think over the objectivity of ex-gay practices. The author of this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thegospelcoalition.org\/article\/netflix-pray-away\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">piece<\/a> on\u00a0<em>The Gospel Coalition<\/em>, Becket Cook, echoes Christopher Doyle\u2019s sentiments that permanently ridding oneself of SSA is unrealistic.<\/p>\n<p>Becket and I don\u2019t see eye-to-eye on these issues, but there are points in his article that I do agree with. He points out that when we attempt to \u201cpray away the gay\u201d ourselves and are still left with our desires, it can lead to us distrusting God. This is a huge reason why it\u2019s illogical and outright dangerous to assert that anybody can completely rid themselves of gay desires.<\/p>\n<p>I also noticed that Becket, Jackie, and I concur on the topic of \u201choly sexuality\u201d. To me, \u201choly sexuality\u201d means asking God to help us make the right choices with ourselves. At the very least, I agree that we should all entrust our sexuality to God no matter how we approach it.<\/p>\n<p>On the one hand in this debate, we have Christians, including Becket and Jackie, who choose self-denial regarding their sexuality. On the other, we have Christians like Grace and myself, who assert that God affirms LGBTQ+ relationships based on our research and personal experiences. Both approaches to LGBTQ+ identities have their own validity but often come under fire from fellow Christians.<\/p>\n<h2>Are We Valid Yet?<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s become more apparent to me that all of us LGBTQ+ Christians, whether we affirm relationships or choose otherwise, deal with constant invalidation. What makes this invalidation particularly toxic is that while we get it all the time from straight Christians, we do it to each other too.<\/p>\n<p>I came across a beautiful testimony on <em>Christianity Today<\/em>, where an author named Bekah Mason wrote this heartfelt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/ct\/2021\/november-web-only\/same-sex-attraction-gay-marriage-side-b-asset-not-threat.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">article<\/a> about her experience as a \u201cSide B\u201d (Same-Sex Attracted) LGBTQ+ Christian. Because of her well-written piece, I learned about the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/cbmw.org\/nashville-statement#articles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">Nashville Statement<\/a>\u201d and how much division it\u2019s caused. This statement was signed by many Evangelical leaders, including James Dobson, the founder of <em>Focus on the Family<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Bekah is an SSA Christian striving to be faithful amid so much painful turmoil from all sides. She pointed out that both conservative and progressive Christians have demonized Side B LGBTQ+ Christians for varying reasons. The former views the mere term \u201cgay Christian\u201d as sinful, while the latter vilifies Side B LGBTQ+ Christians as people who constantly repress themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Being treated as invisible or having your entire existence seen as invalid is incredibly damaging, as any LGBTQ+ person can attest. Side B LGBTQ+ Christians like Bekah are a vital and valid part of our community. God calls us all to marriage or celibacy, two paths that glorify Him. It\u2019s disheartening that our God-given path is seen as a falsehood in the eyes of others.<\/p>\n<h2>Becoming Bridges<\/h2>\n<p>During this Lenten season, my highest aim is to take my scorn for those with opposing views and nail that scorn to the Cross. I have to admit sheepishly that some of my previous writings about Side B LGBTQ+ Christians have been vitriolic. This is especially true of my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/quisutdeus\/2021\/08\/analyzing-an-evangelical-response-to-the-pray-away-documentary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\" decorated-link\">reaction<\/a> to some of the alarming criticism against the <em>Pray Away\u00a0<\/em>documentary.<\/p>\n<p>Walking with God through Lent this year has been an ongoing process of humility for me. More and more, I realize with every week I spend writing on Patheos that I\u2019ve had it so easy compared to my Side B peers.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the Side B testimonies I\u2019ve read imply or state an Evangelical background while I grew up in a progressive United Methodist environment. I\u2019ve seen that Evangelical churches <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2021\/08\/06\/young-evangelicals-are-leaving-church-resistance-to-lgbtq-equality-is-driving-them-away\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">rarely<\/a> affirm LGBTQ+ persons and relationships. This would explain why Evangelical churches have been steadily <a href=\"https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2021\/07\/15\/why-some-younger-evangelicals-are-leaving-the-faith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">losing<\/a> younger members in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>It was sobering for me to read about the suffering and hardships my Side B peers have gone through. We have no right to vilify them when we haven\u2019t walked in their shoes. And as a younger LGBTQ+ Christian, I\u2019ve realized that I take the securities we\u2019ve gained <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/social-trends\/2013\/06\/13\/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">compared<\/a> to earlier decades for granted.<\/p>\n<p>My only wish for them is that whatever choice they choose to make with their lives, it\u2019s entirely theirs to make. I worry that Side B LGBTQ+ Christians are pressured or even coerced into choosing celibacy or a straight partner so that they can \u201cfit in\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Religious authorities take both Side A and Side B LGBTQ+ Christians for granted. I firmly believe that God put us here to be empathetic bridges for our communities. Like Jackie and Grace discussed in that video, we\u2019re meant to be allies, not enemies, to be a working force for God\u2019s Love.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s so draining for all of us to be seen at best as a missionary project or, at worst, as a threat needing to be stamped out. It\u2019s shameful and harmful that no matter how hard we work to prove ourselves as righteous in God\u2019s eyes, it never seems to be enough for other Christians. All we want is to be accepted. And for our fellow Christians to do better by us.<\/p>\n<h2>Bi-Erasure<\/h2>\n<p>Another thing I\u2019ve picked up on during my research for this article is that bisexuality is repeatedly left out as something valid on all ends of this discussion. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.distractify.com\/p\/where-is-yvette-cantu-schneider-now-pray-away\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">Yvette Cantu Schneider<\/a>, one of the main speakers from\u00a0<em>Pray Away<\/em>, came out as bisexual after she refused to continue being an advocate for conversion therapy.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a brief clip of an interview with her about her experiences:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title='Former \"conversion therapy\" advocate, subject of \"Pray Away\" speaks up' width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ePm7xyxFpnM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Just like with Marcus, Yvette endured religious-based abuse to\u201dturn her away\u201d from being gay. At the church she attended as a young woman, the pastor\u2019s wife told her that they needed to remove the \u201cdemon of homosexuality\u201d that was haunting her, and later, Yvette was told to out herself to all of her friends.<\/p>\n<p>This coercion and violation of a person\u2019s privacy is a recurring theme among the testimonies of LGBTQ+ Christians. I saw it again in this <a href=\"https:\/\/letterpile.com\/personal-essays\/See-No-Evil-How-Christian-Bi-Erasure-Erased-Me\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">testimony<\/a> by Laney Wylde, a bisexual Christian whose religious upbringing taught her that having SSA was the equivalent of no longer being a Christian. Laney expresses wonder at the end of her article about whether or not she would\u2019ve had a happier, stable upbringing if she\u2019d seen more grace instead of condemnation about the issue.<\/p>\n<p>When parents of LGBTQ+ children speak against their children, even without knowing their full identity, it can cause terrible damage. This is a painful lesson that we\u2019ve seen, with the story of <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/3655718\/leelah-alcorn-suicide-transgender-therapy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">Leelah Alcorn<\/a> coming to my mind. Leelah committed suicide after her parents had forced her to go through conversion therapy and told her that God would send her \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leelah_Alcorn#Life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">straight to Hell<\/a>\u201c.<\/p>\n<p>No child should have to suffer like this, especially at the hands of their own parents.<\/p>\n<h2>\u201cBefore You Echo \u2018Amen'\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>If all of us LGBTQ+ Christians could come together, we\u2019d be a powerful, unified voice for many issues. Together, we could protect the next generations of LGBTQ+ youth from the harm we\u2019ve endured.<\/p>\n<p>Like Sigourney Weaver says in the movie\u00a0<em>Prayers For Bobby\u00a0<\/em>as the titular character\u2019s mother in this speech, children are listening who need to know they\u2019re loved:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title='Prayers For Bobby 2009 - \"A Child Is Listening\" Speech' width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8SW0W7L4vRc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThere are children like Bobby sitting in your congregations. Unknown to you, they will be listening as you echo \u2018amen\u2019, and that will soon silence their prayers. Their prayers to God for understanding and acceptance, and for your love. But your hatred and fear and ignorance of the word \u2018gay\u2019 will silence those prayers.<\/p>\n<p>So, before you echo \u2018amen\u2019 in your home and place of worship, think. Think, and remember: a child is listening.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><em>Featured Image by JohnBlow\/Pixabay<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Hello, and thank you for supporting my work here on Patheos! If you\u2019d like to support me further, please feel free to \u201cBuy Me A Coffee\u201d here:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buymeacoffee.com\/connorb943C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\" decorated-link\">https:\/\/www.buymeacoffee.com\/connorb943C<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We LGBTQ+ Christians face constant demands from religious groups, including that we practice conformity to “acceptable” sexuality or self-denial.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4635,"featured_media":7295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,36],"tags":[1118,1124,102,12,1121,1112,1115,108,537,1109,1107,120],"class_list":["post-7293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lgbtqia","category-religion","tag-becket-cook","tag-bekah-mason","tag-celibacy","tag-christianity","tag-christopher-doyle","tag-conversion-therapy","tag-ex-gay-therapy","tag-gay-celibacy","tag-gay-christian","tag-grace-baldridge","tag-jackie-hill-perry","tag-lgbtq-christianity"],"yoast_head":"\n<title>"Conformity or Self-Denial": The Struggles Faced By LGBTQ+ Christians<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We LGBTQ+ Christians face constant demands from religious groups, including that we practice conformity to "acceptable" sexuality or self-denial.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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