Loves God Likes Girls

June 17, 2013
Gary recounts her upbringing in a devout but dysfunctional Church of Christ home. An overprotective mother and a distant, volatile father planted what Gary calls lies about relationships, her value, and identity. These lies, such as believing that no man would ever want her or that women were the source of all comfort and consistency, eventually gave rise to same-sex attraction. Gary first realizes her sexual orientation in college, but maintains that a gay relationship is contrary to God's will. Through extensive counseling and supportive friends, Gary continues to live in the tension between same-sex attraction and her belief that she should not act on those attractions. Her adult life appears only briefly, though, with the bulk of the work focusing on her younger years up through junior high. The work offers an alternative view to more gay-affirming Christian approaches at the same time it avoids invective against LGBT individuals or promises that same-sex attraction can be removed. While not offering any clear solutions, Gary provides a glimpse into how Christians can more compassionately reply to same-sex attraction without admitting full expression of that sexuality.