Hi, my fraternal brothers.

My remarks on this.

As a shy & lonely gay boy/man. I have tried to connect with a religion/church/community, that accepts me (as a child of God) into their fold. One that does not condemn me to hell. Or tells me that I am not in God's image or likeness (Catholic beliefs). I do not belong in his church, as God intended, as I continue to live in sin.

About two months ago a brother of mine here in MS gave me an address where I could connect with other gay persons in a community social atmosphere. Mainly to try and shed some of my shyness & isolation. Spirituality wasn't in my plan then.

So, I became a member of the Gay/Lesbian MCC community, in Joplin. MO.

We tend to isolate ourselves, from others because of what happened yo us.

So there I have found both a community of like persons, Gay & lesbian. We socialise together. Thus for me, trying to move further out from my shyness & isolation in intermingling with others. I was not judged. I was welcomed with open minds & hearts.

At the same time making a move in my spirituality. My MCC community is exclusively for Gay persons. The pastor is himself gay & in a partnership, as I'm sure the others are also. At the current time I am alone. I am welcomed to participate in their church services, when I am ready to accept God's graces.

We,can be gay & survivors. We can accept spirituality from a church that accepts us as children of God. Something that you certainly can not find in the Catholic religion & possibly the Southern Baptist as well.

In summary, I am Gay. I can have spirituality in the MCC community. And I will be a survivor..eventually.

My two cents worth.

Heal well, my fraternal brothers, heal well.

"I will take that lost boys hand, and I will lead him from the depths of darkness, into the sunshine, forever into eternity." As he is me.

Pete..Irishmoose.

MCC is an awesome place and present in many communities.

If I could not be gay and a survivor then I would not be a true survivor in my life. I happen to be both.


Daryl

Sometimes the simplest statements can be profound. Thank you, Daryl.

I would put myself in the same category. Being an adult gay man is in itself a form of survival. There’s still a strong anti-gay element out there, and it’s not easy to go against a system that insists, sometimes vehemently, there’s something wrong with you. To embrace who you are despite being different challenges other people. And people get nervous when their worldview is challenged. If they get fearful enough, they’ll attack you. Being gay means we often have to fight just to be ourselves. It may be somewhat easier now, but it still takes courage and valor to go against the grain and stand up for who you are.

ty

google gay men's project they are also a good resource even if you are not a victim of domestic violence

Driftwood,

Thanks for your wise comments here and for sharing thoughts that so many of us can identify with on many levels.


Daryl

Deleted

one can be gay and a survivor i am.

Gay and Surviving here( hands waiving overhead like horshack on welcome back kotter) http://youtu.be/Jpb-Fd2rFuE

I'd go as far as Thriving. No longer Conniving and now Re-aliving. A move towards peace as my inner self and outer world are now Jiving. Being there for those i love and care about, without worry of causation or labels or judgement is the only aim I find worth Striving(4). But as rhyming syntax goes , this one is Diving,lol.


A sense of humour, a realization that some of us will be gay regardless of personal expectation, and an acceptance that it is as ok to be gay as it is to be not gay - all assist in understanding.

Its sort of like saying can one be left handed, have a counter clockwise crown swirl or be attracted to certain pheromones and be a survivor? The question can be intriguing but the point is moot. When dealing with complex issues, its always best to consider more than one author. I thought he was always into spinach, but to quote the tuber loving Popeye:
" i yam what i yam" Ok its late , sue me.