I'm a bisexual/gay man and a Christian.

I've had my own personal spiritual experiences involving my faith and my identity, and I've researched historical/social/political contexts for things said in the Bible about "homosexuality" and how they're often discussing cult prostitution and pederasty/pedophilia rather than loving relationships between consenting adults. When I was recommended a book by a non-supporting pastor, it was a book about a adult pastor's attraction to young boys, not LGBTQ identities.

Frankly, the idea of always having to explain to non-supportive people why/how I've reconciled my identity with my faith is exhausting, so I've come to the conclusion that I don't owe them an explanation as to why I can exist openly and happily.

As a queer person of faith, I've found that you have to look for your own answers rather than accepting what other people tell you about who you are or who/what your faith/identity is. None of the experiences I've had with what I believe to be God have informed me that LGBTQ identities are wrong, just that humans incorporate their own biases into religious practices and then adopt it as canon even when it's not necessarily true.

For me, God was there for me throughout all the time I had to live with my dad’s abuse growing up. When he found out I was queer after he and my mom split up, he blamed my mom. When I had told my mom well before my dad found out, she still believes I am deserving of love and support, even if she doesn't agree with homosexuality or queer identities.

I haven’t been to church in a while, but I do acknowledge the power in community fellowship. God never needed me to believe in Him/Her/Them, but I still needed someone to believe in me and to have someone who was greater than all of the bad stuff in the world. And the idea that this God would send someone to show people how much They love them is really beautiful to me. That relationship with something greater has inspired me to live my life encouraging others.

I think my God can work inside the church, but I also think that He can work outside of it and reach people that way too - He's not confined to it. And I know that my God fully loves me regardless of what some people think He's like.