Queer Christian Joy
Written by Amelia — Florida, USA
As a bisexual, Christian woman I take both aspects of my identity very seriously. I am very proud to be LGBTQ+. I am also very proud to be a Christian. I can have a relationship with God while still being true to myself and who I love. I am blessed to be a part of a church that is loving and accepting. I know that I am safe to be myself when I am at church. But, unfortunately not every church is that loving. The same churches that preach about a God with unconditional love, will turn around and condemn you for who you are and who you love. For this reason, it is incredibly important to be a part of such a wonderful church that truly celebrates God’s everlasting and unconditional love.
My faith in God is a very important aspect of my life. I am comforted by the fact that there is a God who loves me so much that he made me in his own image and created me to be exactly who I am supposed to be. Because of my belief in God, I know that he does not hate me because I am who he created me to be. My queer identity is also very important to me. There is so much love and acceptance in the LGBTQ+ community and it is such a wonderful community that is full of such wonderful people who celebrate diversity and love. There is so much joy in being queer.
The intersection between being queer and Christian is one that took me a lot of time to figure out. For so long I believed that my identity and my religion had to be separate. But, I have learned that they are not inherently separate things and they can even intersect in beautiful ways. In small ways like taking my partner to church services and hearing the pastor preach love to all, or in bigger ways like being a part of church community service that is geared towards supporting the queer community. I am also a part of the church’s choir. While it is not inherently queer, many of my peers in the choir are also LGBTQ+, so it is a wonderful place where I can be queer and Christian at the same time surrounded by people who are also queer and Christian. I am safe when I am at church. I am safe during the service, during church events, while volunteering, and while performing in the choir.
I love being queer and I love being Christian. I love my church and I love my partner. I love church services and pride events. I love everything about being a queer christian. I love being safe and I love having a place that I know that I truly belong in. Nothing will ever separate the parts that make up my full identity. I cannot be reduced to just one part of myself. I am not just bisexual and I am not just Christian. I am a bisexual Christian and I am proud.
