Loading ...
The fight for gay rights goes on, with arguments from the morality police that have no basis or logic.
Is there a cause that you would die for? Is there an issue that you feel so passionately about that you would publicly, and without reservation, speak out for? Do people know about this passion, this cause? Are you lending your voice for changes you wish to see? If we wish to see change, we must speak. If we wish to break the silence on an issue or find the solution to a vexing problem, we must find an avenue to speak, for how else can we bring about the change we wish to see? When you drop a pebble in water, it creates ripples. That pebble represents your passionate voice. But in speaking for our passion or cause, we have to be cognizant of the fact that we will not be embraced immediately. In speaking for our cause we have to ensure that there are no damaging skeletons in our closet which will lead to the casting of doubt when we open our mouths.
Teachers would agree that reiteration is important for in doing so, the students will be reminded of the principles and concepts to be grasped. Again, I decided to write from the closet about male homosexuality as I felt that there was a need to bring about certain awareness about the lifestyle—particularly as it relates to the closeted gay man. I decided to write about this issue because it is personal to me, after all I am a gay man, with full acceptance.
In following the reactions on the STAR website, which continues to be varied, I have pondered, should I stay on course with my writings as planned? Or should I zoom in and respond to some of the broad-based comments? I have made my decision. Upon close examination of the debate, I have noticed that a vast number of the arguments raised point to morality/Christianity. As a closeted gay man, I am familiar with this aspect of the discussion. Truth be told, I am intimately familiar with it for I was once in the church and not just in the church, I was at a very high position. In fact, at the onset of my struggle with my attraction to the same sex, I was fully involved in the church.
As a closeted gay man, I have to shake my head in utter amazement, that so many Christians today are simply “playing church”. You see, the church can be likened unto a fisherman’s net: when a fisherman pulls in his net, within it can be found all types of fishes; as a matter of fact, some fish within the net may not be sold for they may not be sale worthy. From within my closet, I have observed that some Christians are only Christians when they put on their best to go in the sanctuary on their chosen day of worship but during the week, some of them are the most miserable and uncooperative employees, while yet still others make their spouses’ and children’s lives a living hell. Wow! I wonder if we were living in the days of Ananias and Saphiyra, when judgments were swift, how many would have been brave enough to stand in the pulpit and lead out in worship in any form. Within the church, you will find the good, the bad and the ugly. As a matter of fact, it is quite amply put; the wheat and the tears shall grow together until the day of harvest.
I think that it is high time that we see more messages of love, hope, peace, unity, forgiveness and restoration being pronounced from pulpits rather than messages of hell and condemnation.
I find that for too many, religion is the perfect cloak, the perfect shield. For when you are hidden under the banner of Christianity, you are almost above board—almost. I welcome the day when I will see many Christians being living sermons rather than preaching them. After all, anyone, anyone can expound scripturally like an angel.
As a closeted gay man, during my early struggles with my attraction to the same sex, I sought help, not from within the church because (though not assumptive by nature) I was fully aware of the righteous condemnation lines that such counsel would have entailed, so I opted rather to visit a psychologist in another Island. After a few sessions, I decided to discontinue my visits, because I accepted that this was the way I am—that for me it was innate.
I know that there are those who are going to be critical of this pronouncement and who would advance the view that homosexuality is a learned behavior, while others will, of course, stick to their conviction crying “sinful!” Being gay can, in fact, be innate while on the other hand, there are others who make it a choice. That choice can be a means to an end—money—while for others; the choice may be for additional pleasure and experimentation. Can a leopard change his spots? As a closeted gay man, I have followed countless discussions and read many articles which sought to answer the question as to whether or not a gay man can be made straight. For me, if your inclination is innate, trying to achieve that result may just turn out to be a time-consuming and fruitless effort. I had a lover who once said to me that our last encounter was the last for him, as he was done with the lifestyle. Done with the lifestyle? I believe that while a person’s intentions of wanting to become “straight” might become important to them for whatever reason(s), such a process may just end up making them totally frustrated and go back to their old ways. Getting a gay man to become straight cannot be likened to kicking drug addiction or some other bad habits for we must accept the fact that sexual desires are the most powerful. Was sexual desire not so powerful that a biblical king had another man’s wife placed at the front of the battle field so that he could be killed in order for him to have the man’s wife? Is that not frightening power? If your feelings are innate, they are innate and no number of programmes or therapies will change that. Trying to get a gay man to become “straight” may have to involve the emotional support of a spouse, family or lover (female), and how many would be as open as to embrace and not morally condemn? If a gay man feels that he would like to change his ways; if he is successful that success will depend on him.
These are my words from my closet. They are based on my experiences combined with interactions and observations; written so as to uncover a social issue which needs to be examined and discussed in an objective, rational, loving, understanding, forgiving, open minded and practical manner. These are the words from my closet—the gay man’s closet.
RSS
mr lewis….why dont you write a book……peoples private sexual lives and prefrences should hardly be news….or are you advertiseing ……enough……..save the space for more important issues like spouse abuse and rape……..choops…..
“Stl tea party” this is an issue that we must address head on, because although we say that having sex with someone of the same-sex is “private” we are quick to judge or criticize them for the choices they make. You don’t consider this an important issue because your life is not on the line. You do not have to worry about or fear being beat, shot, or killed for being gay or bisexual or trans-gendered. I have had friends who have been killed because they refuse to shy away from being who they are. You see this issue as sexual, how about seeing this issue as a basic human right to love another human being regardless of their sex. We as St. Lucians, need to open our minds, in same-sex relationships there are all of the things that you mentioned spousal abuse, rape, and the list goes on. There are ways to accept people who are different… something called tolerance. The same way we tolerate affairs, greed, and sex before marriage (just to name a few), we can easily do the same for same-sex couples or persons who identify as LGBT.
We have more things to worry about as St. Lucians. The key to improving St. Lucia’s economy may just be in the rights and the hands of those we oppress.
as a rass it also my right to smoke my weed….however its illegal therefore i abide by the law…i keep it private…i think homosexuality is illegal so it should be your private business……so many of us have been killed and brutalised sometimes by our own family……fight to make it legal or keep it to yourself……..my 25 cents
it’s bad to see many gays concerned about their (homo)sexuality, but never concerned about the work they do.
if we accept gays, perhaps we should also accept necrophiles, zoosexuals or practitioners of scatophagy …
OK Lewis I guess you have won the battle…are you happy now? As a gay writer and poet, you have publicly been able to air your laundry to the world and have yet to have started a revolution as displayed in the image displayed in this article.(wonder what a tourist would think if he/she saw this article..hmm) I haven’t heard any threats , violence or other unfortunate circumstances happening to homosexuals around the island since you started writing these weekly articles or any other than 1 or 2 isolated incidents that took place within the last 8 yrs.
I am convinced that you wake up on mornings and ask your self “are they after me” , “are they going to hurt me” etc etc. The fact of the matter is those little thoughts you keep getting are all in your head. I’d wish you would come on and comment/ respond using your real identity. This can help clear the air a little and I’m sure many of the questions you keep asking yourself can be answered. If you believe there is a problem with the way society reacts to homosexuals lifestyle and you believe that you are capable of educating the public, I challenge you stand up and be the male/ woman that you suppose to be.
Most people don’t like to pull others up especially when they believe their situation isn’t where they want it to be financial, emotional etc. They especially don’t like people trying to drag them down and bombard them with issues that don’t usually pertain to them or have a care for (I’m sure you can agree). Keeping this in mind, I want you to ask other bloggers whether or not they’ve changed their views or reactions towards homosexuals because of your articles.
Well, well, well….. how quick you are to judge the christianity of others. We are but mere mortals and absolutely fallible. What is most important in all of this is what is written in God’s word. As I have responded in previous posts, I am not one to lambase homosexuals, as long as the lifestyle is not forced on me or mine. Otherwise, I am in agreement with the rst of your article. Homosexuality cannot be sweated out of you in some rehab clinic or other. It comes with tremendous support and acceptance from loved ones.
We let the white man tell us that homosexuality is not wrong but when we as Africans see nothing wrong with one man having several wives then it is wrong because white people don’t know such practices.
Why isn’t a case being made for polygamy?
i agree with zeigy……..let me add …they sell us tobacco and booze but jail us for weed……….guess what….we like it so….
GAYS WILL ALWAYS DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO BE GAY.I REALLY HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHY A MAN WILL WANT TO SLEEP WITH ANOTHER MAN.THATS JUST NOT NORMAL
Miss Lewis…oops…Mr Lewis..whatever! The church alone cannot save you. You need Jesus. Like you said you were in the church in a very ‘high’ position. That wouldn’t mean a thing if you never knew Jesus personally for yourself….Now I know what you’re probably thinking right now given your present state…Not in that way mister!!
True Christianity is about knowing Jesus Christ personally as your in -dwelling Lord and Saviour. Not just going to church. In case you missed it, there are still messages of love, hope, peace, unity, forgiveness and restoration being preached in our churches today , but at the same time messages of hell and condemnation is also preached to let you know that you cannot continue on your path to destruction and if you do what the consequences would be.
When you know this Jesus for yourself in a true and meaningful way, all these things are put aside and you become a new man! (If any man be in Christ he has become a new creature) You will no longer have those animalistic desires (these are not sexual), you would become bold enough to talk about your past openly without having to operate from a perceived closet! Then is the cause worth dying for which you should become passionate about…Your faith in Jesus Christ/God!
Sin is sin no matter how you perceive it to be. There is no sin greater than the other. (We all have sin and come short of the glory of God) Your desire/attraction/obsession with the same sex is as a result of lust, greed and selfishness which by the way is sin. God is not a God of/does not like mess!
God will not lead you to sin. It is of the devil which you yield to. God’s instructions are clear when it comes to sin but he is a merciful God who will forgive you for that sin if you honestly ask him for forgiveness and show a commitment to turn away from your wicked ways and follow him in spirit and in truth.
Instead of worrying about who is worst than you or not you should be concentrating on find God…