Thank you for this message, Katrina! Since June 1st, I've experienced several instances of bigotry on Substack - I was told I'm going to hell & was even called a pedophile 🙄. They were reported & blocked!
Ugh. I'm so sorry you're even experiencing that HERE, Leslie Ann! It's so maddening. And for the life of me, I will never, ever understand that kind of hatred. Happy Pride to you, too! XO
Katrina, here you write something so important - this prevailing problem in Christianity of tolerance. I spoke with a transman at the Human Library event in my city last month - he asked to read my book - and he said, "I love God. I still believe in Jesus. But I don't want to be tolerated. That's insulting. I want to be accepted and loved for who I am."
I think your anger is justified. It sheds light on a much bigger issue. If Christians want their church to survive, they should acknowledge how damaging it is when they wield their theology as a weapon to hurt people or groups of people. I am a Christian, but I'm embarrassed that this is the way Christianity is presented and manipulated.
Thank you, Jeannie. I feel your heart. I know there are good, kind Christians out there--it's just the loud, judgmental Christians that I tend to hear the most. Thank you for listening to my community and loving us just as we are. XO
The most heartbreaking part? The part where their silent loved one internalizes their hate. This often turns to suicide because the ones they love and trust the most cannot accept them for who they are. We should all be loved and accepted for who we are. Love should always win.
I'm angry for you. Who comes to Substack to have random strangers tell you how to think, write, live, love? Seeing no hands raised, I presume no one. I am so sorry you have been subject to such bullying. Not okay.
All anyone wants in this world is to love and be loved. Sadly, this year seems particularly hateful. I’m posting a Pride story next week and I’m bracing for impact. Locked arms in solidarity with you sister…to hell with the haters.
I agree that this year seems particularly hard, Deb. I look forward to your post, and I hope it lands on the ears that it needs to land on. I'm cheering for you! XO
Hi Katrina it’s Wayne, and I know we have only barely met at Sunkissed. I know Julie better. Just for context I’m a straight man, not that that should matter. I see only beautiful loving people who are being hurt for showing and giving that love - I want to tell you that I love you for who you are and the way you love and impact others! This piece articulately calls out the hate and hypocrisy in a way that clearly elevates the alternative of LOVE!!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece with me and thank you for making the world a better place!!! Hugs Wayne
Thank you so much, Wayne, for taking the time to leave such kind words on my post—and to say such lovely things about love. It is so very much appreciated, and Julie and I were both moved by what you wrote. Hugs right back to you!
I have a possible solution. Don't reserve LGBTQ hand holding, love, respect for one month. We all live 365/366 days a year. Reserving who we are or may be for one day as for Women's Day, one month each for Black History Month, one month for Pride Day only encourages the misogynists, racists, homophobes to turn us all into our own little closets. We all belong in the world. That's why we are who we are in it. Then be joyous and gracious to all and, who knows, maybe we get a better, friendlier, loving nation out of it.
I would love to live in that world, Carol, where we're all equal and respected and accepted for who we are. Sadly, though, we still have a long way to go. I am out and proud 365 days a year for sure, and I look forward to that day when we all have true equality. XO
I know exactly how you feel. I went to my first Pride Day in NYC in 1973 and walking down the street towards Central Park was an amazing experience. The parade had thousands of us and the flats above street level had people hanging out their windows either cheering us or giving us the finger. It's been a long road from Stonewall, which I did not attend, thru AIDs to marriage equality and the sinning self-righteous would happily end us all.
I was aware after writing that post that it would strike others as way too sunny. It is. But I guess that comes from a 50 year perspective from the queens who beat the crap out of the police at Stonewall, thru the epidemic and finally to the now threatened marriage equality bill and the supreme court (sic) pushing women back into 3rd class citizenship.
For me, it's better for one's self respect to stand up thru the onslaught. It's scary. You know that after 25 years being what society pressed upon you to be.
It is not for me to tell you or anyone else how to be, how to live, how to survive. It was easier at that time in the 1970s having already bucked the norms to be anti-war, anti-racist, resolutely feminist against all comers, including family. But that was the movement temperature at the time and the 1960s and 1970s hold my most precious memories. I got to live outside myself and my little troubles and join for causes that basic decency demands.
So that is my perspective and your are absolutely right - this is a time that threatens all of us "others" with a trip back down the hill to oppression, violence to the point of murder, and a flag misrepresenting a God that is most loving. It's a time in which they reopen fear.
Be you. Be well. Be safe. Be strong. All the best to you. XO to you, too.
Thank you for this message, Katrina! Since June 1st, I've experienced several instances of bigotry on Substack - I was told I'm going to hell & was even called a pedophile 🙄. They were reported & blocked!
Happy Pride, Katrina! 🌈🩵
Ugh. I'm so sorry you're even experiencing that HERE, Leslie Ann! It's so maddening. And for the life of me, I will never, ever understand that kind of hatred. Happy Pride to you, too! XO
Amen. (Pun intended)
Ha! XOXO
Katrina, here you write something so important - this prevailing problem in Christianity of tolerance. I spoke with a transman at the Human Library event in my city last month - he asked to read my book - and he said, "I love God. I still believe in Jesus. But I don't want to be tolerated. That's insulting. I want to be accepted and loved for who I am."
I think your anger is justified. It sheds light on a much bigger issue. If Christians want their church to survive, they should acknowledge how damaging it is when they wield their theology as a weapon to hurt people or groups of people. I am a Christian, but I'm embarrassed that this is the way Christianity is presented and manipulated.
And I'm truly sorry.
Thank you, Jeannie. I feel your heart. I know there are good, kind Christians out there--it's just the loud, judgmental Christians that I tend to hear the most. Thank you for listening to my community and loving us just as we are. XO
The religious trauma many have experienced hurts my heart so much. 💔
Mine, too. :( It's why I left religion in my past. It's why so many of us have.
I totally understand. ❤️
Standing in solidarity with you, anger and all! I love rainbows too because how freaking amazing is it that light can do that?!
Right?? Science, man. It's so cool. XO
The most heartbreaking part? The part where their silent loved one internalizes their hate. This often turns to suicide because the ones they love and trust the most cannot accept them for who they are. We should all be loved and accepted for who we are. Love should always win.
Absolutely. 100%. The damage done is unfathomable.
Hand in hand, Heart to heart. There is NO room for hate. Lovingly and with aloha🌈❤️🔥🫶🏼
Love is love is love. XO
I'm angry for you. Who comes to Substack to have random strangers tell you how to think, write, live, love? Seeing no hands raised, I presume no one. I am so sorry you have been subject to such bullying. Not okay.
I agree that bullying is never okay. Thank you for reaching out, Anne. Sending you lots of love. XO
All anyone wants in this world is to love and be loved. Sadly, this year seems particularly hateful. I’m posting a Pride story next week and I’m bracing for impact. Locked arms in solidarity with you sister…to hell with the haters.
I agree that this year seems particularly hard, Deb. I look forward to your post, and I hope it lands on the ears that it needs to land on. I'm cheering for you! XO
Hi Katrina it’s Wayne, and I know we have only barely met at Sunkissed. I know Julie better. Just for context I’m a straight man, not that that should matter. I see only beautiful loving people who are being hurt for showing and giving that love - I want to tell you that I love you for who you are and the way you love and impact others! This piece articulately calls out the hate and hypocrisy in a way that clearly elevates the alternative of LOVE!!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece with me and thank you for making the world a better place!!! Hugs Wayne
Thank you so much, Wayne, for taking the time to leave such kind words on my post—and to say such lovely things about love. It is so very much appreciated, and Julie and I were both moved by what you wrote. Hugs right back to you!
I have a possible solution. Don't reserve LGBTQ hand holding, love, respect for one month. We all live 365/366 days a year. Reserving who we are or may be for one day as for Women's Day, one month each for Black History Month, one month for Pride Day only encourages the misogynists, racists, homophobes to turn us all into our own little closets. We all belong in the world. That's why we are who we are in it. Then be joyous and gracious to all and, who knows, maybe we get a better, friendlier, loving nation out of it.
I would love to live in that world, Carol, where we're all equal and respected and accepted for who we are. Sadly, though, we still have a long way to go. I am out and proud 365 days a year for sure, and I look forward to that day when we all have true equality. XO
I know exactly how you feel. I went to my first Pride Day in NYC in 1973 and walking down the street towards Central Park was an amazing experience. The parade had thousands of us and the flats above street level had people hanging out their windows either cheering us or giving us the finger. It's been a long road from Stonewall, which I did not attend, thru AIDs to marriage equality and the sinning self-righteous would happily end us all.
I was aware after writing that post that it would strike others as way too sunny. It is. But I guess that comes from a 50 year perspective from the queens who beat the crap out of the police at Stonewall, thru the epidemic and finally to the now threatened marriage equality bill and the supreme court (sic) pushing women back into 3rd class citizenship.
For me, it's better for one's self respect to stand up thru the onslaught. It's scary. You know that after 25 years being what society pressed upon you to be.
It is not for me to tell you or anyone else how to be, how to live, how to survive. It was easier at that time in the 1970s having already bucked the norms to be anti-war, anti-racist, resolutely feminist against all comers, including family. But that was the movement temperature at the time and the 1960s and 1970s hold my most precious memories. I got to live outside myself and my little troubles and join for causes that basic decency demands.
So that is my perspective and your are absolutely right - this is a time that threatens all of us "others" with a trip back down the hill to oppression, violence to the point of murder, and a flag misrepresenting a God that is most loving. It's a time in which they reopen fear.
Be you. Be well. Be safe. Be strong. All the best to you. XO to you, too.