Gays and Christianity
Yesterday a story was featured in the local gay Nashville newspaper Out and About, which is the same newspaper I write my Life Guide column for. Within hours, it spread to blogs worldwide and caught a lot of attention at lightning fast speed.
What it boils down to is a local man named Azariah Southworth came out of the closet. So what’s the big deal? Well, Azariah is the producer and host of a very popular nationally syndicated TV show called The Remix, aimed at Christian youth. Azariah is well known in the Christian community and has been featured in many religious magazines. He’s also had some of the biggest names in Christian music on the show.
I thought Azariah’s quote about the situation was so inspiring:
“I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community, and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ. I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian. We all know there are so many other gay people in the Christian industry; they’re just all scared. I was scared, but now I’m no longer afraid.”
So true!
Religion is a topic that divides the gay community very strongly. It’s the single most controversial topic and it has single handedly ruined the lives of many GLBT people. Who doesn’t know the story of someone who was terrified to come out because he or she knew his family and friends would reject him due to religious beliefs? It’s the story of so many of our lives.
I think what Azariah has done is worth applauding. I hope it provides a lesson to the Christian community that loved him so much. If you truly believe in the lessons taught in The Bible, you will accept that gay people are creations of God, and to hate us or judge goes against the very message you’re preaching!
The sad thing is that so many gay people don’t get to live their lives openly because of the way religion is used as a weapon. That’s just not the way it should be. I know that there are many other closeted gay figures in the religious media, and I hope this will start a trend of them coming out.
When you break past that mental wall that being gay is some dirty, perverted fetish, you eliminate boundaries and show that gay people are just as normal as anyone else.
Nice job, Azariah! And kudos to Out & About for publishing an article that is making waves everywhere, with a very insightful message.
Read the article that started it all.
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Thanks for this, nathan. Great post.
I’ve seen it many more times than once in the Christian community, which I was raised in and came from. I, too, was nose to nose with many top-notch Christian musicians and personalities. It was one hell of a scary time for me. Good for him! Fear is no way to spend one’s life.
If he can balance his faith with being gay, I admire his decision. If he reforms as an ex-gay, I’ll be scared, especially with an audience.
Overall, the more and more people who come out, the better we will be.