Born This Way
Watching the latest Glee episode last night broke my heart.
Throughout the entire series one of the characters, a star football player, has continuously bullied the brave gay character. We come to find that the bully is a closeted gay, but uses his abuse to cover up what he thinks is a shameful secret. In this particular episode, his secret comes out and all hell breaks loose in the locker rooms and Facebook walls of the school. Those who once were his friends become name-calling enemies, battering him emotionally and physically. He reaches a point where he believes the only option to escape the torture is suicide. Thankfully, he is rescued and given treatment - but still has to face the reality of the condemnation he knows is waiting for him outside the safe walls of the hospital.
My heart was wrenched even more after reading about the shockingly true story of Teena Brandon, a young woman dealing with sexual orientation in the early 90's. After moving to a small Nebraskan town she befriends Lana, who cares for her in spite of her gender. When their other friends find out Teena's secret they viciously rape and murder her in cold blood. I can't imagine the complete helplessness felt by Teena, realizing that she would never be accepted by her family or friends and becoming the victim of such a tragic life.
No one should be treated with such cruelty or face so much hate, NO ONE. Sexual orientation or gender should NEVER be a cause for bullying or abuse. People are precious beings, unique and beautiful creations of an Almighty God, who loves each one of us unconditionally. That means He loves people, in spite of their condition. He loves us so incredibly much that He sent His Son to die for us "when we were STILL sinners" (Romans 5:8). We had done nothing to deserve His love. We are fallible and sinful, but He desires a relationship with us.
I want to desire the same relationship with people. Relationships not based on judgment but acceptance, because who am I to judge?
Throughout the entire series one of the characters, a star football player, has continuously bullied the brave gay character. We come to find that the bully is a closeted gay, but uses his abuse to cover up what he thinks is a shameful secret. In this particular episode, his secret comes out and all hell breaks loose in the locker rooms and Facebook walls of the school. Those who once were his friends become name-calling enemies, battering him emotionally and physically. He reaches a point where he believes the only option to escape the torture is suicide. Thankfully, he is rescued and given treatment - but still has to face the reality of the condemnation he knows is waiting for him outside the safe walls of the hospital.
My heart was wrenched even more after reading about the shockingly true story of Teena Brandon, a young woman dealing with sexual orientation in the early 90's. After moving to a small Nebraskan town she befriends Lana, who cares for her in spite of her gender. When their other friends find out Teena's secret they viciously rape and murder her in cold blood. I can't imagine the complete helplessness felt by Teena, realizing that she would never be accepted by her family or friends and becoming the victim of such a tragic life.
No one should be treated with such cruelty or face so much hate, NO ONE. Sexual orientation or gender should NEVER be a cause for bullying or abuse. People are precious beings, unique and beautiful creations of an Almighty God, who loves each one of us unconditionally. That means He loves people, in spite of their condition. He loves us so incredibly much that He sent His Son to die for us "when we were STILL sinners" (Romans 5:8). We had done nothing to deserve His love. We are fallible and sinful, but He desires a relationship with us.
I want to desire the same relationship with people. Relationships not based on judgment but acceptance, because who am I to judge?
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