Religion has been a cornerstone of society in every corner of the world for millennia.
Most religions feature love, kindness, tolerance and understanding as central parts of their foundations but if history has shown us one thing, it’s that religion is one of the greatest weapons in human history.
In recent history, Christian texts have been used as an excuse to harm and mistreat members of the LGBTQ+ community.
For years, Leviticus: 18:22 has echoed in my head and those of others for years, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” These words have been used to justify years of suffering for me and others.
The Trevor Project, which provides 24/7 crisis support services to young LGBTQ+ people, estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 24 seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S.–and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds, according to its website.
A story that has stuck with me since I was in middle school is the suicide of Bobby Griffith.
Griffith died by suicide due to his mother Mary Griffith’s religious intolerance. When his mother discovered he was gay, she would preach to him night and day that being who he was, was wrong.
On Aug. 27, 1983, he climbed onto a freeway overpass and jumped into the path of an 18-wheeler, which killed him instantly.
I first saw his story in the movie “Prayers for Bobby” in sixth grade and when I saw it, I realized for the first time in my life that being who I was, was wrong.
I tried so hard to fit in and be “normal,” but no matter what, the way I felt never changed.
Like Griffith, I was afraid to be who I truly was, so I knew I had to keep who I was a secret from my family.
I confided in friends I trusted but toward the end of eighth grade, I was “outed.”
At first, only the school knew, but one day the counselor called me to her office saying she wanted to help me. She prayed for me to feel better but that night she called my dad and told him I was gay.
I was working in the backyard when she called him.
He asked me what the counselor was talking about and I had no choice but to tell the truth.
With tears going down my face and in my mind wondering where I was going to sleep that night because I was certain that he was going to kick me out, my father hugged me and said it was OK.
The next day the counselor called my mom as well.
It’s happening again, I thought, but my mother told me the same thing.
It turns out I had nothing to fear, but for many millions of LGBTQ+ teens, this is not the case. They either get sent to conversion therapy or to church to be “fixed.”
My fear of what was going to happen to me is the direct result of what I have heard in church.
No one should have to be ashamed of who they are no matter what.
Society has gotten rid of many parts of its religious texts to fit what is considered acceptable for the time period.
We have pride parades, a month dedicated to the LGBTQ+ society and even laws to protect our rights.
We have to change what we preach if we want to truly end the pointless hate thrown at us. If we do this, we never have to hear stories like Griffith’s again.
For LGBTQ+ individuals contemplating suicide or looking for any other resources, call 988 or visit thetrevorproject.org/get-help/.
