NOM

5 years ago when I first learned that the church wasn't quite what I thought it was and I tried to walk this middle path, something I did was teach Sunday school to young teens. I was a non-believer and I felt there was a chance two of the boys in my class were gay. This was Utah County. I often posted on the old site about it and how to handle lessons. I went to to church for a year as a non-believer and those boys were a big motivator for me to keep going and I tried to shield them from someone else who may have said hateful things and tried with all my heart and might to teach them that God truly loved unconditionally even though I didn't believe in God anymore.

Well today is the day one of those boys made it to pride in SLC.

I haven't talked to this young man since I stopped going to church 4 years ago and I only found out secondhand that he was there, but my heart is absolutely full to know he made it there. He's made it that far. Happy Pride.

I love this! Thank you for being so insightful when it was needed. How ironic that the nonbeliever was the one to show the love that far too many believers claim but don’t practise. My daughter came out in her late teens, and I would have been so grateful to know that she had ever had that kind of support from a teacher, or anyone, in the church. This is what I call a real “faith promoting story!”

From external oppression to external acceptance sounds like a delightful circle of travel.

Good job tophywife 26.2!!!!!! You are someone special. Your compassion and understanding speaks volumes about the person you are. I still attend for my spouse but if I were faced with a similar situation I pray I would be as understanding as you. God Bless you.

Awesomeness! I'm the proud dad of a couple of gay kids and it's such a relief to see them out in the world being happy and productive and not struggling with guilt and fear about who they are or all the conflicts that religion and God can bring into the lives of so many.