Social Media Sells a Romanticized Image of a Gay Experience, Pt1

I have joined different social media platforms this year after resuming writing for my blog. I have also been able to follow different people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community and those affirming the community. As a result, I have been blessed, challenged, and encouraged by different posts I have come across. However, I have been intrigued by a romanticized image of a gay experience I noticed.[1] It suggests that being a “proper” gay means being middle-class to an upper-class person with a partner, a pet, or child, eating well, dressing well, and travelling, among other things.

Wins and Woes of Coming out: My personal experience

Coming out is one of the critical events and steps for a person belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community. It is crucial because it usually marks a turning point in the life of queer folk. It is a moment when one accepts their sexuality and/or a moment when they finally share it with other people. It can be people in their close circles or with the public. However, while it is an outstanding achievement because it takes courage to come out, it is usually a beginning. The reason is that coming out is not a once-off event, and life continues after coming out.

LGBTQIA+ Allies: The Least Mentioned Yet Not Least Important

Allies are the least mentioned people, yet they play a crucial role in the striving of LGBTQIA+ people. When we say the acronym for LGBTQIA+ people, we hardly reach A, which includes Allies and Asexual people. Sometimes, the short acronym is said for convenience – LGBTQ+ people, and some prefer the generic term gay. Either way, it demonstrates that allies are not always mentioned when discussing LGBTQIA+ people. However, as I have mentioned, their role is crucial. The crucial role the Allies play in the LBGTQIA+ community, being part of it, is not something I have only heard from others. I have also experienced it. However, a definition might be helpful before I speak about the experience.

Comforted by Jesus in a Strange Place

It’s been a week since my granny passed away, and it’s been an eye-opening experience. My granny was unwell for a while, so I knew she would die someday. Sometimes, I wished that God would grant her rest because it was painful to see her suffering. However, I did not know how her death would affect me. I have been struck. It’s been hard to believe that she passed away, though I was with her for a couple of hours after she passed as I tried to ensure that she was indeed gone. So this taught me to be cautious about desiring someone to die because of their suffering. You don’t know how death will affect you.

I Wish to Wear Make-up: The Desire I Have Often Had

When I recently watched Somizi’s show, Living The Dream with Somizi, my desire to wear make-up was rekindled.[1] Somizi had visible make-up, and I remembered that I had a desire to wear make-up for many years. I had forgotten this desire because of societal assumptions. It is often believed that make-up is only for females, mainly when used for casual purposes.[2] I was also a Christian who believed that I could not put a make-up. I was a male, and I couldn’t confuse myself by doing what females do. Other Christians around me believed that it’s something for ladies.

Unexpected Closure and Healing: My Recent Trip to Cape Town

I have observed that my life story is marked by pain and challenges because of my sexuality. Many stories remind me of the painful moments I faced as a gay person growing up in a township. I have other stories that happened during my years of being a Christian. However, the moments that stand out are those I experienced during my last moments in Cape Town in 2021. This year, 2022, I have experienced some implications of those last challenging moments in Cape Town. So my recent short trip to Cape Town was filled with anxiety and worry.

Dear Pastor, I am an affirming gay Christian Pt 3

The last two articles discussed the background of how I struggled with my sexuality, held non-affirming views for years, but now hold affirming views. I wrote the background information to give a context for this article. I want to ask non-affirming Christian leaders and Christian communities to create healthy spaces for LGBTQI members. However, I had first to explain why I am asking this question.

Dear Pastor, I am an affirming gay Christian Pt 2

In the last article, I wrote an introductory article on how I struggled with same-sex attraction for many years, held different beliefs about it but mainly non-affirming, and became an affirming gay Christian. The last article will address several questions I pose to the non-affirming Christian leaders and Christian communities. I’ll ask whether they are healthy spaces for members of the LGBTQI.

Dear Pastor, I am an affirming gay Christian Pt 1

In the next three weeks, I will write three articles about my beliefs as an affirming gay Christian to inspire and challenge. First, I seek to document my story for many members of the LGBTQI, especially Christians, to read and be encouraged. Second, I also seek to speak about what affirming theology means. Last, I seek to challenge the non-affirming Christians, especially Christian leaders, to think about loving and caring ways of treating us in their churches because we are present. Some of us, like myself, not only want to be present, but I also want to be known. I want to be known and not hide that I am an affirming gay Christian. It is all for the lives of the LGBTQI members, the church, and society. So today, I’ll begin where I began wrestling with my sexuality.

Root Cause of Racism in the Bible

The Human Rights Month, March 2016 in South Africa was given a theme to encourage South Africans to unite against racism – “South Africa united against racism”¹. Different companies and organizations went out