Many LGBTQ+ youths out there would say the same thing.
Whether you share pictures on Instagram, scroll through Reddit, or get into politically charged arguments on Twitter, you have probably heard certain people romanticizing the past. We actually talked to each other, played sports, or even built things with our own hands. Sounds good, right? For you, it might, but for others, not so much. Your good ol’ days are someone else’s dark past, an era that they would rather move on from.
If I didn’t have social media as a closeted bisexual teen, I would have likely committed suicide. Attending a rather conservative school that seemed to pride itself…
A young gay man and his oddly familiar hookup
The first rule of Grindr is to not question the existence of the “straight” setting. The second? Your profile pic is your abs. If showing your abs isn’t an option, you can use your face, your feet, or some random meme. I’ve been working out lately, so I opted for the obligatory torso shot. All I had to do now was find what tribe I belonged to and set up the rest of my profile.
I knew I did everything right when I got my first few unwanted dick pics. Now, I like a nice dick as much as the…
A revolutionary song could set the tone for LGBTQ+ Christian music.
Recently, Ryan Cassata’s Tweets have become more and more Christian after he covered “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” by Martin Smith. As one of the most iconic trans musicians in the music industry, his voice has been one that trans youths cling to for comfort and hope as they navigate the world. Today, he released a song called “I met Jesus at the Gay Pride Parade”. The song details how he thinks Jesus would act if he were alive today.
The refrain “They are people just like you” takes aim at the rampant prejudices in Christian environments and…
Hint: It’s not a common barbecue staple.
When God created Eve, many people found themselves asking why He specifically chose a rib. This divine surgery gives a glimpse into God’s thought process, but the rib seems to be an odd choice. Any other part of the body would have worked, so why this particular bone…if it was a bone at all?
Lizzie Berne Degar, a chaplain, teacher, and Bible scholar, raised an alternative to the rib theory. She thinks that, at one point, Adam had a uterus and it got lost in translation.
The Hebrew word tselas ( צַלְעָה) usually translates to “plank” or “ridge”, referring to…
Was it just an angry mob invading the Capitol or a coup attempt?
Various Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. forcing Congress to suspend electoral college certification of the 2020 election’s results. These rioters shouted “MAGA” and “Stop the Steal” as they forced themselves through police barricades as police deployed tear gas and armed themselves with hockey sticks and flag poles.
Despite claiming to back the blue, several of these protesters have fought with the police and refused to cooperate with their orders. When looking back at previous responses to demonstrations, the use of tear gas seems like a gentle nudge in the side, especially when compared to what protesters…
Take it from someone who collected change in a baby bottle.
When I was in middle school, I collected change in a baby bottle for a faith-based crisis pregnancy center. I was told that it would help women in need and potentially save lives. Being well-intentioned but uninformed, I eagerly stowed coins away to fill my bottle and turned it in at school.
In high school, a pregnant woman volunteered to get an ultrasound live at my school. I could have sworn I saw the baby wave as the ultrasound’s findings were projected on a screen. This was supposed to create sympathy for the pro-life cause. Being young and not knowing…
Sweet fruit for LGBTQ Christians and their supporters
The Trevor Project and Q Christian Fellowship partnered to launch the Good Fruit Project to make a faith-based case against conversion therapy. Although other religions are included, the Good Fruit Project is primarily aimed at Christians. Their name comes from the idea that attempts to change one’s sexual orientation or gender identity bear bad fruits such as high levels of homelessness, unhealthy relationships, and misinformation about what it means to be LGBTQ.
Conversion therapy takes on a wide variety of forms from seeking assistance from conversion-therapy dedicated organizations (e.g. Exodus International, Changed) to individual spiritual counseling. Others may take a…
He’s dead. Now what?
On December 10, 2020 in Terre Haute, Indiana, Brandon Bernard was executed with a lethal injection. He was executed for his role in the carjacking and murders of an Iowa couple in 1999 in a secluded Fort Hood post in Killeen. At the time of the murders, he was 18 years old. He was 40 years old at the time of his execution. While he did not do any killing, he did put Todd and Stacie Bagley in a car and set them afire under the impression that they were both dead. …
But not for the first time
For many people, their sexual and romantic orientations are congruent. The people they want to have sex with are the people they want to hold hands with and kiss as the sun sets behind them. However, that’s not the case with everyone. Some people may find that their relationship between sexual and romantic orientation requires a bit more probing.
It took me a long time to figure out my sexuality because I never had any crushes. I didn’t experience that head-over-heels state of mind where I couldn’t think about anything else but one of my peers. To be honest, I…
Rakija, biphobia, and the effects of war
Sitting together with an awkward silence between us, I felt Nikola’s penetrating stare pressing me for information without words. I could tell that his guard was up, so I tried to offer him some medica. Whether it was a headache or a heartache, rakija cured all ills. Begrudgingly accepting the bottle, he passed it back to me after taking a swig.
“What is it, Marko? Are you gay or not?” Nikola’s glassy eyes bored into my soul as he asked me this question.
“No.” I was completely honest when I said that, but the truth was that I wasn’t exactly…
Valentine Wiggin
Death-positive, sex-positive, and LGBTQ-affirming Christian. Gen Z. I hate onions.
