A Few Updates

Sorry for the long silence, everyone. As Alan mentioned in a recent post, I’ve been rather busy with life lately, and haven’t had much time to breathe, let alone post on QPHC. I hope that will change soon!

In the last couple of weeks, my family has made it clear to me that I am not welcome at home, and I am not allowed to talk to any of my siblings who are younger than 18. This does not bode well for any future coming out process, and it’s also just a bit of an adjustment for me. Even when my relationships with my family members have been strained, I’ve still always maintained contact, and to suddenly have that cut off has left me reeling. At the same time, I have a great sense of freedom and relief. I think I’ve needed space from my family for awhile, and I probably never would have chosen it for myself.

Fabulous Friday: July 28th, 2012 (A Saturday)

Happy Saturday the 28th! So Kate has been super busy with life the past couple weeks and not getting much sleep (just because someone graduates from Patrick Henry College does not mean that they automatically get to start getting enough sleep) and wasn’t able to compile her usual Fabulous Friday posts these last two Fridays. So here’s my attempt at filling in the gap temporarily…and on a Saturday.

Why Did I Believe It For So Long?

I’ve known for quite a long time now that I liked guys, at least a dozen years, but it wasn’t until just recently that I actually comprehended it. For the longest time it didn’t really mean anything to me and I just assumed that I wasn’t really attracted to girls was because the ones that I knew didn’t really met my ‘list’ for what I was looking for in a wife. This heterosexual worldview was one of the 2 main reasons that it took me a long time to come to terms with my sexual orientation, but the other was that I believe for a very long time that homosexuality was sinful.

Chick-Fil-A Doesn’t Like Me, But I Still Love Their Food

According to Dan Cathy, the President and COO of Chick-Fil-A, we queers are “inviting God’s judgment” as we “shake our fist at Him” by wanting the right to have civil marriages. Chick-Fil-A has been at the center of LGBTQ related controversy before by financially supporting anti-LBGTQ groups. However, this is the first time (that I’m aware of) that a specific statement against LGBTQ interests has been made by Cathy.

Boy Scouts Continue to Exclude Out Gay Kids, Leaders

This morning, my Facebook newsfeed exploded with praise from my Patrick Henry College acquaintances for the continued Boy Scouts of America ban on out gays as members or leaders.

New Friends and Marriage Equality

By Alan Scott

This weekend I had the pleasure of getting to know an awesome gay couple–R and B–much better (I’d met them a couple of weeks ago). I’ve known numerous gay couples over the years, but what made these guys special is that they’ve been together longer than just about any others that I know.

Worth Sharing: Transgender Housing Network

The recently founded Transgender Housing Network was created to assist trans*-identified people in finding temporary housing. Trans* people can post a submission if they have a need for housing, and those who are able to host trans* people can also post to the network.

This project is worth your time. If you can’t host someone, please consider reblogging, Tweeting, and otherwise putting this site out there so that those who need to find it, will.

Read an interview with THN founder Dylan at Autostraddle.com to find out more.

Guest Post: The Freedom to Be

Today we have our first guest post, submitted by the Reverend Don Prange with St. James United Church of Christ in Lovettsville, Va. We welcome guest posts if you wish to encourage LGBTQ readers or share about your personal experiences at or with Patrick Henry College in connection with LGBTQ issues. To submit a guest post or to inquire whether your guest post would work on Queer Patrick Henry College, email us at queerphc@gmail.com. We’ll grant you complete anonymity if you desire, and we love interacting with new people! 

The Rev. Prange says, “My own story of simply coming out of my straight closet happened many years ago when still in a Lutheran track, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod no less, but I became involved with ‘Lutherans Concerned’ back in 1975. It was part of an on-going revolution in my faith journey that had taken me into a pan-theology of sorts. I want to share a homily from about 13 years ago when I was doing an interim pastoral role at Georgetown Lutheran Church (ELCA), and that says something about my pan-theology. It still has relevance, I believe.”

The version shared below was preached five years ago at St. James UCC.

Fabulous Friday: July 13, 2012

Happy Friday the 13th!

I advise throwing glitter over your left shoulder to ward off any bad luck today.

Queer PHC Featured on Equality Loudoun

David at Equality Loudoun just featured Queer Patrick Henry College in a very kind, welcoming post. As I read his blog post over my lunch break, I felt that things had come full circle.

Earlier today, Captain Jack published a moving post on the Soulforce visit. I remember that visit well. I was a frightened student, afraid of myself, afraid of others finding out about me. In the days leading up to the visit, I remember one of my acquaintances telling me in a hushed whisper that she hoped none of the Equality Riders would make it on campus. She kept saying that she was going to hide in her room so that she didn’t get stuck in one of the campus bathrooms with one of the Riders.