Hope for acceptance. Hope for love.

(WARNING: If you're looking for a witty, comical post, today ain't it.) Last night I attended a viewing of the documentary film, for the BIBLE tells me so. I first saw the film a couple years ago and highly recommend it. The film focuses on the relationship between religion (particularly Christianity) and homosexuality and takes a closer look at Scripture and what the Bible really says and doesn't say about homosexuality. The film also focuses on families of several different Christian faiths (catholic, lutheran, episcopalian, and baptist) as they struggle with having a gay son or lesbian daughter. Gene Robinson, the first elected openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church and Chrissy Gephardt, the daughter of 2004 Presidential candidate Dick Gephardt, are featured in the film.

The film is incredibly thought provoking and has become my go-to source when someone tells me the Bible says homosexuality is a sin and all gays are going to hell. I've also recommended it to folks who ask how one can balance a gay identity and a religious identity. I happen to believe they are interconnected.

So I attended the viewing last night with several friends unaware that one of the moms from the film, Mary Lou Wallner, would be in the audience. Her story is by far the most heart-wrenching as her daughter Anna committed suicide at the age of 30. She had come out to her mother who refused to accept her (based on her religious beliefs) and Mary Lou blames herself for her daughter's suicide. Her daughter's suicide served as the catalyst for her religious change of heart. She now serves as a Christian advocate for gay rights and travels the country speaking out against religious injustice and discrimination. As we found out last night, one of the psychology professors at the University was a friend of Anna's in college but had lost touch with her. When she first saw the film about a year and a half ago and saw what had happened to her friend, she felt compelled to bring the film, Anna's story, and her family to campus.

I was moved to tears last night listening to Mary Lou and her husband speak about Anna and their commitment to supporting the LGBT community. Audience members asked several questions pertaining to how to come out to a family member, what to do when a family member won't accept you for who you are and how to let go of one's anger toward religion and God in the face of discrimination and hatred.

Toward the end of the evening, an elderly man stood up in the back of the room. He was dressed in a coat and tie and had attended the viewing by himself. He announced to the 200+ people in the room that he was 75 years old and have begun coming out to himself and his family 15 years ago. His children refuse to have anything to do with him. He said he continues to send them birthday cards and holiday greetings in the hopes they will one day accept him and seek to repair the broken relationship. But he said you can't give up on love and on giving someone time. And you have to hope. Hope for acceptance. Hope for love. I wanted to run over and give him a huge hug. Thinking of my own father at the age of 75 being alone and watching his children turn away from him is something I cannot fathom. I want to call his children and scream at them! Their father is alive and he is healthy! He's not in jail, he hasn't committed any crime. And he's always been gay. He may not have ever said it or expressed it but he's still their father and he still loves them. I can't put myself in their shoes and I don't know what it's like to have a family member turn their back on me but it didn't stop me from wanting to slap them silly.

I thank Mary Lou and the gentleman in the audience for sharing their stories. It takes courage and incredible strength and I admire them both greatly for reaching out to 200+ unknowns at the University. And I wake up today with hope. Hope for acceptance of all individuals. Hope for a realization that religion and faith and spirituality is about LOVE, not hatred nor injustice nor discrimination. I hope for love.

Cheers.