POSTED CMMENT FROM KEVIN KIRBY.........................This - TopicsExpress

POSTED CMMENT FROM KEVIN KIRBY.........................This happens all the time. Todds folks have led a home bible study every week for seven years in our hood, a safe place to pray and get encouragement through lifes problems. (Theyre also both ordained ministers.) Theyve always told everyone up-front they have a gay kid and support him, but realize everyone hasnt evolved on the issue, so lets all just agree to disagree on this subject and make it a non-issue, as others in the group happen to have gay kids as well, and even one transgender child. So they just focused on encouraging one another, praying for those who are fighting terminal illnesses, etc. A very warm and caring group, many who dislike church and organized religions but do attend this group. Two weeks ago, a new couple to the neighborhood joined the group that are raging fundamentalists, and were stunned that they accepted their gay child! They made a huge stink, and Todds folks calmly told them they have to respect their home, and their son, and to agree to disagree and move forward if they want to be a part of the bible study group. They later conspired with two other somewhat new couples to agree with them and confronted Todds parents---in their home---at the next bible study, and said they were leaving and challenging them as un-fit leaders of the bible study, and left with said other couples plus another couple. So everyone else was left absolutely stunned and appalled at what had just happened. Todds folks decided to close the study and let the dust settle, and probably move on to channel their energy elsewhere. Very sad, but they did get a first-hand look at the kind of bullshit we as gay people deal with every day, whether from preachers, politicians, or just posts, blogs, negative (usually anonymous) comments in the media at every turn. I explained to them and they realize more than ever that yes, it is jarring when it happens to you, but unfortunately as gay people were rather used to it, so it unfortunately doesnt rattle us much.