How to tell my friend that he is gay
Marina Sarris
Date Revised: June 12, 2024
One date, Riley Smith learned from some former co-workers that an acquaintance had reach out as gender diverse. Smith felt joyful for the acquaintance, but she also felt something else. “Afterward, in the days and weeks that followed, I felt a alternative emotion that I recognized as envy. It led to me to question myself increasingly tough questions about who I was.”
Assigned male at birth, Smith eventually came to realize that she is a gender nonconforming woman. As an autistic person, she is not alone. A higher percentage of autistic people identify as female homosexual, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ) than the general population, according to research studies.1-5 A 2017 Gallup poll found that 4.5 percent of Americans identify as LGBT.
Studies vary widely on the percentage of people with autism who are homosexual, lesbian, or attracted to both genders. One analysis suggested the rate is 15 to 35 percent among autistic people who undertake not have intellectual disability. 2
“Most of the data that we’re seeing is that [the LGB rate] is two to three times higher,” says clinical psychologist Eileen T. Crehan, Ph.D., an assistant prof
What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?
What Does The Bible Utter About Homosexuality?
Introduction
For the last two decades, Pew Explore Center has reported that one of the most enduring ethical issues across Christian traditions is sexual diversity. For many Christians, one of the most frequently first-asked questions on this topic is, “What does the Bible state about attraction to someone of the same sex?”
Although its unlikely that the biblical authors had any notion of sexual orientation (for example, the phrase homosexual wasn't even coined until the late 19th century) for many people of faith, the Bible is looked to for timeless guidance on what it means to honor God with our lives; and this most certainly includes our sexuality.
Before we can jump into how it is that Christians can maintain the authority of the Bible and also affirm sexual diversity, it might be helpful if we started with a brief but clear overview of some of the assumptions informing many Christian approaches to understanding the Bible.
What is the Bible?
For Christians to whom the Bible is God’s very written word, it is widely understood that God produced its contents through inspired
If Someone Comes Out to You
Someone who is coming out feels close enough to you and trusts you sufficiently to be honest and risk losing you as a companion. It can be complex to know what to say and what to do to be a supportive friend to someone who has “come out” to you. Below are some suggestions you may wish to follow.
- Express gratitude your friend for having the courage to explain you. Choosing to reveal you means that they have a great deal of respect and faith for you.
- Don’t judge your friend. If you have strong religious or other beliefs about LGBTIQ communitites, keep them to yourself for now. There will be plenty of time in the future for you to think and talk about your beliefs in bright of your friend’s individuality.
- Respect your friend’s confidentiality. Allow them the integrity to share what they want, when and how they want to.
- Tell your companion that you still look after about them, no matter what. Be the buddy you have always been. The main fear for people coming out is that their friends and family will reject them.
- Don’t be too serious. Sensitively worded humor may ease the tension you are both probably feeling.
- Ask questions you may have, but understand that your partner
A letter to my homosexual best friend
Dear You,
I’m writing this with trepidation and excitement at the identical time. I don’t realize how you’ll feel upon reading it, and some of this has been brimming over for a while. I just didn’t have the courage to tell you face to face.
I was walking over to your office the other day after a bad day at work and thought about our friendship, which has survived so many storms. I walked through those doors, and in your hand was a small box from Lady M.
“Here’s cake for you, I know you had a bad day,” you said, with that signature glow.
If people didn’t grasp any better, they’d ponder we were together. But nothing could be further than the truth. Not just because we both believe that men and women can have well platonic friendships. Not just because we really are just friends.
But because, well. You like men, and I do too.
I remember when we met, but I think what was more striking was how we connected years later, after a church conference had concluded and I had a sudden urge to pray for your heart defect. This was before the life of WhatsApp, and I couldn’t wait till I got home to log on to MSN Runner. So I dropped you a text,
How Do I Help My Gay Friend?
by D’Ann Davis
“How do I help my gay friend?” This is a question we catch constantly in the Living Hope office, when out speaking at events, or from friends and church members from around the world. Twenty years ago few Christians asked this question, for few knew any same gender attracted people, or if they did know them, they were ignorant to their friend’s struggles. Today almost everyone knows of someone who identifies as queer or deals with a measure of same gender attractions. Even if a Christian finds himself in a season of animation where he does not personally know of a same gender attracted (SGA) person in his sphere of influence, this interrogate is of utmost importance in light of the change of our customs and the growing willingness of Christians dealing with SGA to openly discuss about their issues. So how does one assist a gay-identified friend or SGA friend?
The first response I typically give to this question is actually another question. “Does your friend know Jesus?” This is a vital first question any believer must tackle before attempting to help a friend deal with her sexual attractions. This is because there are two different rou