So it's National Coming Out day.
A moment to get it off your chest and say
that you're transgender, bisexual, lesbian or ***.
A lot of my friends I know feel this way.
I have brothers and sisters within Church walls
who feel this way too, but are terrifed to be called
any of these labels, lest they lose their home
and get stripped of everything they've ever known
their desires are talked about like these diseases
creases on their soul for which they could never atone
or iron out with good behavior
or the most devout times of prayer
I think of this, and my heart breaks for you
because I admit, I've been there too
wanting for things I'm afraid to say
because of the way that I could be shamed
I don't quite agree with calling myself ***
because Christ doesn't identify me this way
yet I can't help at times but be distracted
by the reality that I'm same-*** attracted
The church, I think, is too afraid
to face the fact that there are many who feel the same
we shame these desires from a distance,
talking like it's us VS them, as if that ecplises
the fact that this can happen to any of us
can we trust that Jesus is not afraid of this?
That his body is meant to be a safe haven
not a place where anyone fears being hated
for things they have no idea how how to change
as if anyone had a clue in the first place
I'm not here to justify my sin, or anyone else's
I'm not here to inspire sympathy or make excuses
I just want to admit that I'm not perfect
and if someone else is able to say it too because of me,
I think that's worth it.
A poem I wrote for #comingoutday.