“Sometimes people tell me they don’t want to label themselves by their sexual orientation. I used to reject my gay identity. In fact I did everything to try and annihilate it. The last thing I would ever do would be to say...... “I’m gay”. Taking ownership of that was a terrifying thought and I believed it had tragic long-term as well as eternal consequences. The closest I ever got to acknowledging my true orientation was admitting I had “a homosexual problem”. Accepting who I was, was a loooong journey. And once I’d accepted then learning to embrace and celebrate being gay. We have multi identities. We can have different identities in different contexts. In some contexts some identities are paramount and others irrelevant. The highly self-aware person is conscious of the various identities but manages them wisely, recognizing each one is a part of the whole. Personally, I’m proud to be a homosexual. No more shame, denial or secrecy. The shame has been washed away by self-acceptance and self-hatred replaced with self-love. I am gay. Always have been gay. Always will be.” GayComing OutHomosexualSexual OrientationComing Out Of The ClosetComing Out Stories Book:A Life of Unlearning – a preacher's struggle with his homosexuality, church and faith Source: A Life of Unlearning – a preacher's struggle with his homosexuality, church and faith
“Homophobia and the closet are allies. Like an unhealthy co-dependent relationship they need each other to survive. One plays the victim living in fear and shame while the other plays the persecutor policing what is ‘normal’. The only way to dismantle homophobia is for every gay man and lesbian in the world to come out and live authentic lives. Once they realise how normal we are and see themselves in us….the controversy is over.” MenWorldWayNeedsPlayGayNormalShameVictimDependentRealisingAlliesClosetsControversyUnhealthyHomophobiaGay MenAuthentic LifeLiving In Fear Author:Anthony Venn-Brown
“The enemy is not individuals, churches, 'ex-gay' organisations or political parties; the enemy is ignorance. Change is created by focusing our energies on overcoming the latter instead of attacking the former.” PoliticalIndividualEnergyChurchPartyEnemyIgnoranceGayOvercomingFormerLatterPolitical PartiesExesAttackingOrganisation Author:Anthony Venn-Brown
“When you finally embrace the gift of your sexual orientation it IS the end; the end of shame, fear and oppression. You leave the darkness of the closet and begin a life of honesty, authenticity and freedom.” EndsDarknessHonestyGayShameEmbraceAuthenticityOppressionClosetsOrientationGay Pride Author:Anthony Venn-Brown
