[Magdalen] After General Synod in Vancouver for ACC lost the marriage amendment vote .

[Scott Knitter]

Rick, for me it was spending time in NYC with friends who were (and are)
gay. I hadn't really had the experience before, and eventually I thought,
"Who am I kidding?" and came out to Mom and Dad on National Coming-Out Day
in 1993. I visited them and was going to leave a letter for them to read,
but Mom urged me to come in and let them read it and then talk about it.
She asked only, "Are you sure?" and recommended I not tell Grandma. I
didn't, but I'd be surprised if she didn't already know. Dad hadn't been in
the room but came in and told me he felt the same way as Mom about it
(supportive and I love you). And while Mom was reading the letter, actor
Dan Butler from Frazier was on the news, talking about coming out. I wrote
him to thank him for helping me come out! :)

I missed having a "normal" gay adolescence and 20s. Missed out on a lot,
actually, and I often wonder what if I hadn't missed out. But I had a good
coming out and am very glad for that.

On Mon, Jul 15, 2019 at 2:01 PM Rick Mashburn <ricklmashburn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks for sharing that, Scott! I was in almost total denial until I was
> 28. I was depressed and terrified of what "being gay" would mean for me, my
> life and career for the next 7 years.
>
> Ironically enough, it was Don't Ask Don't Tell, which went into effect in
> 1994, that was the key for me. More and more people were coming out, I was
> doing more research and the environment in general was really starting to
> change. I started coming out in early '95 at age 35 and within 6 months I
> was out to everybody - family, friends, work, college & high school
> friends, marching in the Pride Parade. One of my friends at the time called
> me Turbo! It was a wonderful, magical, grace-filled time in my life!
>
> Hard to believe it's already been 24 years! I hope to get at least 24 more!
> (Turning 60 last week has made me somewhat more introspective!)
>
> Peace, Rick
>
> On Sun, Jul 14, 2019, 8:06 PM Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > A tangent apropos LGBT: It was encouraging to me today to read about
> > presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg's path to coming out as a gay
> > man. After spending a long time fearing the consequences of doing so
> > (especially consequences to his career), he came out at age 33. This is
> the
> > same age when I stopped fearing so much (although being in the habit of
> > fearing, and repressing, I'm rather messed up in some ways, including
> being
> > very risk-averse) and told loved ones I was gay. There were no negative
> > consequences, and for that I am grateful to God and to my parents and
> > friends.
> >
> > On Sun, Jul 14, 2019 at 5:42 PM Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
> > magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> >
> > > On 14/07/2019 20:34, Clarissa Canning wrote:
> > > > i felt very sad yesterday . today I had a MP service to do with my
> > little
> > > > congregation in Glenboro Mb. Many people in Manitoba are on
> traditional
> > > > side .  I did some Prayers of People written for GS from
> > Newfoundlander.
> > > > The Gospel was “ Good Samaritan “ .  I felt really called to say
> > > something
> > > > . During the announcements at the end I shared more about my
> daughter .
> > > > Specifically that she is bi sexual . I told them I loved them too .
> Was
> > > > just moved by the spirit . I  was emotional and could not sing much
> of
> > > the
> > > >   of Abide with me”.  I got hugs at end of service and we continued
> > about
> > > > controversial opinions in the church and I shared of my parents
> > > experience
> > > > with this and parish we were at a short time.  we talked of
> > forgiveness I
> > > > order to move on . Wow It felt freeing .
> > >
> > > Clarissa,
> > >
> > > I am glad you found it freeing. In the sermon I heard this morning the
> > > Vicar preached about different understandings of the word "Samaritan"
> > > over the centuries. Here in the UK Samaritans is the name of an
> > > organization (founded by a C/E priest) that is there for people in
> > > crisis so it has a very positive meaning. He reminded us that in
> Jesus's
> > > time the Samaritans were "the other" - outcasts for Jews. He asked us
> to
> > > think about which groups we regard as "other" and listed LGBT as among
> > > the groups that some reject.
> > >
> > > Roger
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Scott R. Knitter
> > Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
> >
>


-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA