Hey hey! Just saw your post abt looking for other lgbt Catholics. I am one!! Could you talk a little about your journey towards accepting yourself? I’m still on that path
hello! I’m still on that path as well and I imagine it’s one that I will be on for a lifetime.
I grew up in a socially liberal New England, so I was lucky enough not to deal with rampant homophobia as an adolescent. Honestly, I was fine as a bisexual in high school even came out to my parents. They seemed okay with it. I even went to an all-girl Catholic high school that, finally, created a GSA.
I’ve always kept being queer on the down-low, especially when visiting my *conservative* Catholic family in rural PA. I’d think to myself how can I be Catholic and they are Catholic and we’d both have such different views on our LGBT+ brothers and sisters? Who is right? In the end, I’ve come to realize that’s a battle I don’t want to fight out with family. I don’t care who thinks they’re on the moral high ground because it’s just a big fight between egos when all’s said and done.
So, I usually, just ignore their unintentionally bigoted comments. My faith and my sexuality are between me and God, and it’s none of my family’s business to discount my desiring for God. I know that my Catholic high-school education prepared me with much support to acknowledge my queer identity and still be Catholic. It’s a both/and and not an either/or.
Here’s a book that attempts to reconcile the LGBT+ community and Catholics. Building a Bridge
Here’s a book that gives my philosophical/ theological mindset for a both/and identity. Merton’s Palace of Nowhere
And this painting by J. Kirk Richards. Jesus Said Love Everyone
It’s a long path to excepting yourself as a queer Catholic, but what isn’t a long journey when you’re religiously seeking haha? A lot of it comes with persistent work on yourself to believe that you’re loved by God. All of you in your entirety. Once you believe that, conservative family’s comments don’t hurt as much because you know the nature of God’s love. It does not go away and leave you. ever.
I hope that was helpful. Take care and God bless. :)
