Once Upon a Time in My Oceania

This piece isn't a theology debate to try and change your mind on LGBTQ rights. It's not even necessarily a conversation starter on the issue. No, it's just a simple post on how sometimes love becomes stronger after years of hate. It's about choosing love when hate hurts your soul. This is just me sharing a bit of my heart with this post. If you asked those closest to me what is something I am passionate about, it's likely you would hear something along the lines of seeing the world through a more logical lense. The thing is they would also likely add doing this passionately...which is where my putting "logic" into practice can look more like diving head first in understanding something I will soon become passionate about. The thing is this process can very much be a gradual occurrence. Even years in the making. It was this pattern that becoming LGBTQ Affirming came about. First, I did not know whether I believed "homosexuality" was a...

Trigger Warning: for the sake of authenticity certain insensitive words towards the LGBTQ Community, including the possibility of referencing particular homophobic slurs are to follow. The author in no way supports the terminology used, but chooses to do so in order to, as accurately and closely as possible, depict the following piece true to memory's sake. Many areas of my life were shaped by fundamentalism. Being born and raised, a cradle to a pew, Independent Fundamental Baptist translated into controversial beliefs and opinions that not only were sometimes unhealthy, but also hurtful to others. I've talked a bit already about some of those things, particularly different forms of hate within Christian Fundamentalism . It's not uncommon that something or someone catches my attention, reminding me of those former beliefs I shamefully embraced for a time in my life. I can recall the uncomfortable cognitive dissonance that occurred when those teachings were chall...