Recently, I was asked to explain why I’d never act on my same-sex attractions. Surprisingly, I was excited to respond because it reminded me of beauty and truth of our Catholic faith and the joy I have come to know in pursuing a heart of virtue. Indeed, I was initially inspired to pursue chastity because of the beautiful example of others Read more…
For many years, I rejected chastity while thinking I was truly free. However, that kept me from being able to experience love and joy in the way God designed, which I now experience today as a man who strives to live chastely. The Pursuit of Truth With same-sex attractions and transgender inclinations being part of my story, I knew I Read more…
I’m a Catholic man in my early twenties, I pray daily, and my cross in this life is gender confusion. What even is gender confusion? Gender confusion means different things for different people, but for me, it means I don’t have a grasp or even basic understanding of my own sexuality. Some days, I’m interested in dating a girl. Some Read more…
Matagal na panahon ding iniwasan ko ang chastity dahil iniisip ko na sagabal ito sa aking kalayaan. Ngunit, ito palan ang naging dahilan kung bakit hindi ko nararanasan ang kasiyahan at tuwa na itinala ng Diyos, isang bagay na naisasabuhay ko na ngayon dahil nagsisikap ako na maging chaste. Ang Paghahanap sa Katotohanan Malaking bahagi ng aking kwento ang pagkakaroon Read more…
Same-sex attractions are a part of my story yet today I live a joyful and fulfilling life within the Catholic Church, pursuing holiness and virtue. How did I get here? I began asking questions, and here’s what I found: 1. God loves us, no matter what attractions or inclinations we experience. 2. We shouldn’t feel shame for experiencing attractions or inclinations we didn’t Read more…
From my earliest memories, I wished I was born a girl. I loved their clothes, how they played gently, and how they seemed to be treated “softer” than boys. Those were my perceptions, and as a sensitive kid, my heart desired that deeply. I also saw boys terrorizing younger kids on the playground and at daycare (both of which were Read more…
As a lonely and rejected little boy, my first discovery of gay pornography felt like a miracle. In a sense, after years of being either ignored or mercilessly teased by other boys, and thus adoring and hating them from afar, when I saw the men in pornography, I thought I had finally found acceptance. Although I could never admit it, Read more…
I’ve been reading a lot about gender lately, and more often than not, I find arguments supporting the person’s choice to identify as the “gender” they personally feel they are. I think we need to be careful about what we are saying when it comes to “gender” today. We walk a very fine line when we say that by allowing Read more…
Do you ever long for the day where people won’t cram you into their own narrative—defining who you should be without ever getting to actually know you? I long for this day—deeply. I am sure we have all felt this way at times. I was the boy who was different. I played with the girls, longed to wear girls’ clothes, Read more…
Trends come and go. This we know is true. Whether it be “man hair-buns” (shudder), burly beards and smoking pipes, the metro-sexual, or guys wearing tights hundreds of years ago. The point? Though things change, what it means to be a man doesn’t. When we get caught up with caricatures of manhood without focusing on its essence, many people like me Read more…
Soy un hombre católico y atracciones del mismo sexo son parte de mi historia. Sin embargo, recientemente la posibilidad de un llamado al matrimonio ha sido escrito en mi corazón – matrimonio con una mujer. ¿Qué? Déjame explicar… No es para terapia Esto no tiene nada que ver con terapia con la intención de cambiar de “gay” a “hetero”. Nunca Read more…
Aunque es cierto que las atracciones hacia el mismo sexo son parte de la historia de mi vida, hoy comparto de mí mismo para defender la Iglesia Católica. Si, has leído correctamente, defenderla. Oro para que abras tu corazón y puedas escuchar mi voz. ¿Quién dices que soy? Muchas personas (aún personas católicas) han tratado de imponer una identidad “gay” sobre Read more…
Muchas personas piensan que solo tengo dos opciones en esta vida porque siento atracciones hacia el mismo sexo. Estas dos opciones suelen ser: tener una relación con otro hombre para sentirme “realizado”, o estar soltero y solo (y por consecuencia miserable). Se olvidan que hay más opciones en esta vida. Aunque no tengo una relación romántica, no me siento solo. Read more…
It’s been a few weeks since the Supreme Court issued its vote that made same-sex “marriage” legal in all fifty states. Since that decision, social media has been taken over by a rainbow filter, especially on Facebook as millions of people have adjusted their profile picture to be shown under an assembly of horizontally-striped colors in support of the Supreme Court’s decision. Read more…
Notice whom Christ is raising from the dead here in this classic icon of Easter Sunday: it’s the first married couple. Marriage has been under attack since the beginning. It’s nothing new. And Christ always raises it up. In light of last week’s Supreme Court decision, which effectively legalized same-sex “marriage” nationwide, it may seem like marriage is facing unweatherable storms, Read more…
Recently, during a radio interview, the Son Rise Morning Show’s host Matt Swaim asked me if the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage would cause a marriage crisis. And I said no. Because it won’t. But last Friday, a lot of Christians responded like it would—“as if everything was perfect last Thursday,” one of my readers wrote on his Read more…
This past month has seen some pretty incredible headlines. The coverage has been consumed with the story of Bruce Jenner announcing himself as Caitlyn Jenner. That story was accompanied by a resounding celebration of Jenner’s decision. The coverage was so overwhelmingly positive it was hard not to get swept up in all the cheer. Then something strange happened… A woman Read more…
Although Pope Francis’ comments on climate change have dominated the headlines in recent days, many are unaware that his new encyclical, Laudato Si’, also addressed another controversial topic: Gender Theory. Here’s what he wrote: “Human ecology also implies another profound reality: the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for Read more…
I am a 52 year-old woman and mother of four. A wife for almost twenty-six years but I wished I had been born a boy. Probably until I was well into junior high and maybe even high school I was fairly convinced God had simply mixed me up with John Mark, the name my parents had selected if I had Read more…
One of the most frequent objections I hear in regards to my same-sex attractions coupled with my desire to live a chaste life in obedience to God is, “Why are you so ashamed of who you’re attracted to?” My initial response to this objection, I won’t lie, is often laughter. Me? Ashamed? I have a lot to be ashamed of Read more…
A few months ago, I walked into a framing store with a large painting of Saint John Paul II, and laid it on the counter. The framer, a kind gentleman in his mid-forties, looked fondly on the image for a few moments, and remarked, “I’m a Catholic boy. Too bad the Church doesn’t want me.” Although it was unspoken, it Read more…
There’s a campaign that has gone viral on YouTube recently called, “Love Has No Labels.” Chances are you have seen the video (at least 45 million have). The campaign attempts to encourage people to overcome their prejudices and to accept people for who they are because, “love is love.” I think most of us can agree that we want more Read more…
When I came out about my same-sex attractions at 14, I felt free and exhilarated because I could finally be honest with myself. These attractions had set me apart from my peers since my childhood, but with this newfound sense of self-honesty, I was free to explore what might happen next. From confessing crushes with a little less awkwardness, to Read more…
Everywhere I turn, I am pressured to embrace the gay identity and make it “who I am.” With same-sex attractions being a part of my story, it seems that many people cannot see me in any other way. However, I ask you from the bottom of my heart: Please stop calling me gay. The reason is bigger than me, or Read more…
I’m a Catholic male and same-sex attractions are a part of my story. However, it has recently been written onto my heart that I might be called to marriage—with a woman. What? Let me explain… Not About Therapy This has nothing to do with therapy with the objective to change from “gay” to “straight.” I’ve never done that, and I Read more…
While it is true that same-sex attractions are a part of my life story, today I share of myself to defend the Catholic Church. Yes, you read that correctly—defend. I pray that you will open your heart to hearing my voice. Who Do You Say I Am? Countless people (yes, even Catholics) try to impose the “gay” identity onto me. They Read more…
Many people think that because I experience same-sex attractions, I have only two choices in life: Get into a relationship with another guy and be “fulfilled” or be single and alone (and therefore, miserable). They forget that there is far more to life than either of those choices! Although I’m not in romantic relationship, I don’t feel alone. Unfortunately, many people Read more…
If you have ever been invited to participate in a gay pride event or invited to “Like” a gay pride page on Facebook, what do you do? Because I experience same-sex attractions, I get bombarded by that kind of stuff, and have been praying about how I can respond in a loving way, without compromising my faith. I have friends Read more…
Conceal don’t feel. This is the mantra of the Snow Queen, Elsa, throughout every stage of life. That is, of course, until her climactic musical number in the Disney phenomena, Frozen. At this moment, the Queen lets her listeners know that the “perfect girl is gone” as she boldly proclaims a new mantra: “no right, no wrong, no rules for Read more…
(Editor’s note: The following is a post was written by Steve Gershom (a pseudonym) who runs the blog stevegershom.com.) I have heard a lot about how mean the Church is, and how bigoted, because she opposes gay marriage. How badly she misunderstands gay people, and how hostile she is towards us. My gut reaction to such things is: Are you freaking Read more…
As a hip hop artist, there are qualities about Macklemore’s song “Same Love” that I appreciate. I think about my own musical journey, and the advice I got from other people to produce music at the highest quality I could, and that people would listen to my counter cultural (Catholic) music if it’s done well and from the heart. I Read more…
Article 3 of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), which affirmed the federal definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, was overturned last month, further paving the way for “gay marriage” to become the law of the land. Here’s the catch, and why I’m not overly distressed: the gay marriage movement can’t really “win.” That’s because Read more…
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