*TRIGGERS WARNING*Memories of a gay man's suicide loom over Fremont Presbyterian Church

[chantalzola]

By Jennifer Garza, jgarza@sacbee.com

Comments

[kaowolfie]

that made my face literally go from :) to :( to >:E

[redstar826]

Are messages from the pulpit to blame for gay suicides?

I'd say that yes, they share some of the blame

[rex_dart]

Whether it's direct or not, they're partially responsible for every gay suicide.

[redstar826]

yeah, I think so

[magus_69]

THIS.

[eversofar]

Are messages from the pulpit to blame for gay suicides?

um, yes. people like baird are fooling themselves if they don't think they're contributing to the feelings of inferiority and worthlessness that many queer people have because of homophobia coming from religious leaders.

[fickery]

He's not homophobic tho! He just thinks gay people should be celibate, that's all! Because people shouldn't have sex outside of marriage, and most gay people can't get legally married. I mean, it's shame that it just happens to work out that way, but what are you going to do? Still TOTALLY not a homophobe, though.

[eversofar]

of course! and i should totally believe him because he's ordained or something, and god tells him he's right every day during their morning chats.

[jettakd]

Are messages from the pulpit to blame for gay suicides?

The anti-gay ones certainly are :/

[romp]

Well, no one can say this discussion in his church could have helped him feel better about himself.

I was thinking recently about a kid who killed himself when we were in h.s.--he'd been exploring the world and talking to a few different churches about their beliefs. One of the last one had gone on about how wrong it was to be gay. Point bring, of course intolerant churches have contributed to thousands of suicides. To say otherwise would be completely disingenuous and they should be ashamed.

[zanyofsorrow]

Point bring, of course intolerant churches have contributed to thousands of suicides. To say otherwise would be completely disingenuous and they should be ashamed.
THIS.
The problem is, most of these churches aren't ashamed. They'll just claim that the fact that lgbt people have higher suicide rates than straight people proves that homosexuality is bad. :(