Big Gay Closet

Only Mr. Boltz knew the specific kind of damage he meant. He was gay, and he had been trying not to be gay since his teens, and he had inhabited and indeed thrived in a fundamentalist Christian culture that instructed him he could pray to be delivered from his affliction, his sin. By now, in his early 50s, he had stopped believing that godly intervention could change who and what he was.

Around Christmas 2004, in the midst of a family dinner, Mr. Boltz’s son Phil asked, “Daddy, what’s wrong with you?” This time, Mr. Boltz told the truth: “I’m gay.” His wife and his children, startled though they were by the revelation, told him they still loved and supported him. Such emotions were not exactly echoed by his fans, especially after Mr. Boltz publicly disclosed his homosexuality in a 2008 article in The Washington Blade, a gay newspaper.

via On Religion – Ray Boltz Resumes Career, Relieved of a Secret – NYTimes.com.

I remember listening to Ray Boltz back in the 1990s. I had no idea he’d come out. Evangelical Christianity has one huge closet.

I had no idea there were coming out stories on YouTube. I fear I may not sleep tonight.

Here’s one I’m watching now. So adorable, dramatic, heartbreaking.

Great glasses and hair.

I’m sure other people knew there were coming out stories on You Tube… any favourites?

13 years ago, I rang in the new year celebrating communion with thousands of other young evangelical students. I was 20. In those days I smoked, but for the five days I spent at  “Urbana”, I only smoked in the middle of the night, showering before sneaking back into my bunk. I had a crush on the girl in the overalls from Newfoundland. I didn’t know I was gay. I just thought she was really, really interesting.