I usually feel very stressed when I think about my future because there are so many different ways my life could go. I think that I worry about it more than I need to. I am going to make the best decisions I can in the situation I am in and I am confident that whatever it looks like it will be great!
I definitely did not choose this! After so many years of trying to make the feelings go away I learned that the only thing I could choose was to love myself for who I am. Since I have been able to do that I feel so much happier and confident.
I get that it can be uncomfortable for people who aren’t familiar with LGBTQ topics/experiences to step into this space. I think that discomfort or fear comes from not understanding the experience. I’ve seen so many people have a huge change of heart once they hear someone’s journey and experiences. I think the most impactful thing people can do is to clearly and strongly show love to LGBTQ people. So many LGBTQ individuals live in fear that their friends or family might not love them if they knew, or don’t approve of, who they are.
This fear paralyzed me for so many years and even got in the way of developing relationships with people I care about. Please just love love love. Don’t worry so much about the choices others make, try to see them as God sees them and love like He does. My greatest allies are my family and my close friends who have made it very clear that they accept and love me completely, no matter what.
There are a few reasons why, but here are the main ones. I want to live a more authentic life and not hide anymore. I am in a much healthier place now that I am doing that. I also want to help others who are in a similar situation. And I also have felt prompted by God to tell people that I am gay and to love who I am.
I am going to be completely honest with this one… I don't know. I feel like I deserve to be happy and comfortable with myself. Sometimes the church causes me anxiety and pain that makes it hard for me to be happy and comfortable with who I am. That makes me want to not be a part of the church. However, the church has done good for me too. I am grateful that through the church I have been able to develop such a close and special relationship with my Heavenly Parents and Jesus Christ. It’s tough when both sides of it are so strong - the good and the bad. It’s a complex thing to figure out so I am making this decision slowly and with lots of thought and prayer.
I really wish I had the answer to this question. It is super hard to be working towards an eternity when I have no idea what it will be like for me. While the church puts so much emphasis on heterosexual marriages and how that is the only way couples can live with God again, I feel like I am excluded because I don’t want to be with a woman. It hurts and makes me confused.
Something that I do know is that my Heavenly Parents have a plan for me. I’m not sure what it is yet, but I know that They are watching over me. I really like the 9th article of faith:
“We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”
I believe that there is so much more truth out there that we just don’t know about yet. But I hope that if we begin asking the right questions and God wants us to know more that He will give more to us. We desperately need more truth, especially regarding LGBTQ individuals and where we fit in the plan.
I am very open about my experience so message me if you have any additional questions.
Please check out these resources that have helped me.