WATCH: 'Christian' Family's Terrifying Response to Son Coming Out

[liberalhistorian]

106. I attend a liberal, progressive

seminary in Minnesota where a large percentage of the students, faculty and staff are GLBT. Many of them have had horrific family experiences similar to this poor young man, with some of them experiencing ongoing harassment and hate by those families who are especially incensed that they are studying for the ministry. The seminary worked very hard to defeat Minnesota's gay marriage ban and we were all thrilled when such efforts were successful.

Fortunately, we are all beginning to notice a shift within the general Christian community, the beginnings of an acceptance of more recent biblical scholarship that demonstrates that the verses that appear to prohibit and condemn homosexuality have been misinterpreted and there's no widespread biblical condemnation of it, with a proper interpretation. The majority of conservative and fundie seminaries and Christians still refuse to listen or accept it, of course, but they are beginning to be marginalized and hopefully that will continue.

The funny thing is when there are occasional protestors outside the seminary who are angry at its liberal, progressive stances (in other words, we're not anti-gay, anti-woman, pro-capitalism, etc.), and especially at the social/public ministry center. Students and staff will go out and offer them food and drink, or blankets and hot cocoa if it's winter. They really do NOT know what to do or think about that, lol.