Love, honour and respect
I wish I had known what I know today about LGBTQ2+ people. In 1988, I was too young to participate in the decision at my home church. I am told that we decided not to allow gay and lesbians in our church at Greenbart United.
I feel that now is the time to stand up for what I believe to be right and just in 2018. Being 35 years old now, and open to new ideas and beliefs, I feel the time is right to correct in my church, Grace United, what I feel was the wrong decision in the 80’s at Greenbank United.
It turns out that some of my friends that did attend Greenbank United in the 80’s and 90’s have now come out as gay. So it does resonate with me, “Do you really not know any LGBTQ2+ people? Are you sure you don’t?”
Who are people really hurting if they come out as LGBTQ2+? They may affect their family, co-workers, friends, but at the end of the day they are still John, or Mary… and I can accept that.
We have a saying at our home, when we talk about relationships, “Do the two people love honour and respect each other? Then if they do, why do genders matter?”
Signed, Adam Olivero
[Shared with permission. Photo credit: Wix stock photo.]
