Individuals in the LGBT community are valid. That’s a fairly uncontroversial statement, perhaps one of the least inflammatory things that’s been said in the Iowa State Daily opinion section for a little while. No one’s going to knock down my door and accuse me of anything for acknowledging the basic humanity of a group of people, at least I hope not, because it’s obvious and indisputable. 

LGBT people have made great strides in recent years. While I certainly do not believe it’s enough, the fact that same-sex couples can marry and adopt children in any state is a huge step in the right direction. 

But what about the church? I’ve stated before that my belief, or lack thereof, is not pertinent. I’m an ardent supporter of LGBT+ rights, and I will not deeply go into it but I did grow up in a Southern Baptist church.

To clarify, Southern Baptist is just a name, and while it originated in the South, it doesn’t solely exist in that region. While I dearly love the people I grew up around and always will, I can’t pretend that the message wasn’t staunchly conservative and at odds with many of the beliefs I hold today.

It certainly wasn’t pro-gay.

The Southern Baptist Convention website states, “We affirm God’s plan for marriage and sexual intimacy – one man, and one woman, for life. Homosexuality is not a “valid alternative lifestyle.” The Bible condemns it as sin.” 

An earlier video created by the convention included this message: “Even a desire to engage in a homosexual relationship is always sinful, impure, degrading, shameful, unnatural, indecent and perverted.”

I don’t like to put words in people’s mouths, but I will repeat the words they put there themselves.

People are people whether they’re accepted or not, and there are gay people in churches all across the United States. More than 5,000 churches “intentionally embrace the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.” Some denominations also allow for gay people to be a part of the clergy.

These denominations tend to be of the more mainstream variety and include the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, the Conservative Jewish Movement and the Society of Friends, otherwise known as the Quakers.

This, too, is a giant leap forward. It’s no secret that many sects of Christianity do not look kindly upon the “open practice” of homosexuality. Some verses of the Bible openly condemn those who engage same-sex relationships.

Is it really acceptable to reject this group of people from the religion that many of them grew up in because of something they cannot change?

While I certainly believe I am correct, and many people agree with me, I’m not going to insist that everyone agree or act in accordance with what I say. 

LGBT people have their place in the church and should not be shoved away in the corner as people to be ignored or whispered about. They should be accepted and appreciated, understood and celebrated. This country is moving forward, and we should celebrate our inclusiveness in all of its positive forms.

More lesbian, gay and bisexual people are considering themselves to be Christian than at any other time, in direct contrast to the national trend of decreasing faith. The number jumped 6 percent in two years. 

It is no longer unusual to see queer couples or people in the street, and it shouldn’t be controversial that many LGBT people have faith in something bigger than themselves. Faith, in and of itself, is a wonderful thing, I can’t argue that. It’s hope to help combat what can be a scary world; it’s light in a dark time. 

I understand that some beliefs in many faiths do not correspond with the acceptance of the LGBT community. Pushing away my own probably clear feelings, that doesn’t give anyone the right to completely condemn another.

Condemnation takes many forms, both inside and outside the church. I can’t change people’s beliefs, but I can ask that people understand that faith and religion come in many different forms. Just because someone doesn’t express in the way you do and doesn’t accept what you do, does not mean that what they have is less than what you have. 

When you try to push something down and yank it away, it can completely ruin it. Christians often talk about the “Fellowship of Believers,” while simultaneously telling homosexual people they are damaged and broken and have fallen short. They say it, usually, in the context that “we all have fallen short,” but I always heard it as gay people have fallen further. This is an old rhetoric that has improved in some ways. 

Christianity has an image problem. While that seems incredibly “millenial,” it’s the truth. They often have unique experiences of struggles to which many youth can relate. It’s easier to get comfort from someone’s message when you know they come from a background similar to your own, especially when you know you won’t hear the rhetoric that who you are is sinful. 

I appreciate that the church is trying to be more inclusive. It’s a breath of fresh air, and I’m glad that people are trying to be more accepting of those who are different from them. I don’t think the “we’re all the same” narrative is always appropriate because, while it is well-meaning, it’s not always true. We’re different, and that’s fantastic. We should celebrate those differences and appreciate them, both inside and out of the church.