Our Message is Love
Every day it seems like there’s a controversial new headline that prominently features the LGBTQ community. It’s almost always incendiary. Even the language that’s been developed outside of the community captures the core thesis of rejecting LGBTQ identities (see “gender ideology” as a good example of this–there is a constant framing of the LGBTQ community as intending to proselytize). Clearly a mixture of strong negative emotions motivates this type of stance, from fear to anger to disgust. The fear can also be seen as a driving factor behind framing LGBTQ education as a plan to “indoctrinate” children into the community against their wishes and/or nature.
The truth is, the LGBTQ community is made up of people who just want to live. We all understand the statistics. We understand there are hate crimes perpetrated against this community. We understand that this community has never really been protected in a court of law. It’s no wonder that LGBTQ people deal with frustration, anger, fear, anxiety, depression, and even despair in a world that is openly hostile to our existence.
But here’s the thing. People don’t stop being gay just because you don’t like it. People don’t stop being trans just because it makes you uncomfortable. People may hide their identity out of fear related to all of the things I mentioned above, but that doesn’t make their identity go away. LGBTQ people have existed throughout history. Whether or not they have been properly remembered is another matter.
The goal of spreading awareness about LGBTQ identities has never been about trying to change the identity or orientation of anyone. Rather, the goal has always been to demonstrate that it’s okay to be yourself. It’s okay to love someone of the same gender, just as it’s okay to love someone of the opposite gender. It’s okay to be bisexual. It’s okay to be transgender. It’s okay to be queer.
In fact, the goal is to spread love–just like Jesus’ famous commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving yourself is a vitally important step in understanding how to love others. When we presume to know how best to love someone else we cease to emulate Jesus, who constantly purposefully went out and met people where they were. He constantly met with the people that everyone else viewed through a judgemental lens and chose to keep at an arm's length. He chose to meet with them and show them love. He chose love.
Ultimately, that is the core message and purpose of this documentary series. Love. Love for God, love for others, and love for yourself. Honoring and respecting the stories of LGBTQ individuals in a church and world that doesn’t often allow those voices to speak for themselves. We are here. Our voices, and our experiences, matter. We will still exist no matter how hard the world tries to erase us. This series is one way to honor the varied experiences and stories of our lives.
