gay gospel singer ripped apart by fellow christians

[LDS Jock]

Kirk Talley has had a successful career as a gospel singer, both as part of a group and a solo career. He has acknowledged his homosexual desires, and his struggle to find peace combining his faith and desires. He has made his choice to live a straight life, which he feels is best for him. You would think christians would support him and his decision. But no. You can see here what many think of him, regardless of his actions.

"I will pray for you but you have done so much to harm southern gospel"

"Does he not realize that homosexuality is an abomination in the eyes of God? How can you possible have a “relationship” with God and sleep with another man or even have the desire to sleep with another man?"

"n a note of regret, Kirk Talley is no longer a good spiritual example. Yes, by God’s grace he can change, but the words “Role Model” will never again be linked with his character"

"Although I will acknowledge that a homosexual can be saved and delivered, I can in no way believe that one can be in a relationship with Christ as Kirk is claiming."

"Mr Talley, what a disappointment you are to the Gospel Music industry. And to the gospel itself! How you can dare to even call yourself a Christian and apply that sacred title to someone with a lifestyle such as yours is unheard of."

many more such comments here http://www.inthefaith.com/archives/000850.php

My point in posting these is this... just what do these people want? A man admits he has a struggle between his sexuality and the gospel as he understands it. He has chosen to not act on it. But still he is being torn apart and his career has taken serious hits. The fundamentalist want us to change, but yet they hate those who do just as much as those who choose otherwise. There is no winning with these people. They profess a faith of love and understanding but live a life of hate and judgment. They refer to a handful of verses which refer, or possibly refer, to homosexuality, but forget to read the rest of the book. This just pisses me off. Thank you for listening to my rant.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Wasn't it Jesus who said Love thy neighbor as thyself?"

I love the comment that accuses the singer of "damaging" gospel...do these people have any idea how badly THEY have damaged the word of Christ with their hatred?

[LDS Jock]

8. you hit on a good point

why do they think their sharing a message of hate and judgement will attract anyone? I am a Christian, and I feel there are many positive aspects which could be shared. Unfortunately I seem to be among a small minority. I wonder if its just because it makes them feel so much more holy to look down on someone they can condemn.

I've always been amazed to see the focus on homosexuality. There is a much stronger case against divorce, but yet that seems to be invisible to the masses. Of course when the divorce rate among believers is just as bad if not worse than among non-believers, it becomes too much of an obstacle.

[kitkatrose]

23. He did, but they don't love themselves,

so how can they love or even like someone else? Thus their behavior.

[trotsky]

2. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

That verse is apparently not in everyone's bible.

I think of Maude Flanders in that one episode where the Simpsons think that Ned killed her, but it turns out she was just at bible camp "learning how to be more judgmental." Jerks.

[LDS Jock]

4. one poster did mention it

and a few others similar messages about not judging and support for his search for peace. Of course, most of those posters also told they themselves are gay Christians. It shouldn't have to be the ones try and understand are the ones who have lived the same struggle.

[rkc3]

5. A lot of people own the post-9/11 Bible.

Your verse, plus several others are not included in this version (printed with permission from Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson).

Also excluded are the Golden Rule (do unto others and so on and so forth), passages pertaining to taking care of the lesser among you, and turning the other cheek.

[rkc3]

6. Self delete - dupe

[fertilizeonarbusto]

3. Good

I hope this good man realizes he'll be despised by people and loved by God regardless. Kirk, come over to my place, we'll get you a makeover, then find you a boyfriend. They you can both tell those hateful Pharisees that Jesus still loves you, despite the "abominations."

[Union Thug]

7. Ahh..more love and compassion from the hypocritcal morons

that call themselves Christian in this country.

[sui generis]

9. those fuckers love to hate

If every gay person was suddenly wifted away by the wapture, they would be forced to go back to hating jews, blacks and mexicans.

Wouldn't that be something? Wifted by the wapture.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

10. I'm wifty already

:silly:

[queerart]

21. How Funny You Mentioned............

Take a look at this cartoon!

The Gay Rapture

[tjwmason]

11. I suspect that these people may earn interest on savings

These usurers are all heading for the big burny-burny; it says so in the Bible. I'm going to call for a federal amendment against interest.

[madrchsod]

12. there are just as many gay

men and women in the gospel music industry as there is in any other proffesion. the aids problem is something they won`t address or worse won`t even acknowledge.they are not christians , they are one of those who christ condemmed-i know you by your deeds not your words. all their money will mean nothing when they meet their fate.

[David__77]

13. They cannot even accept celibate homosexuals.

It still destroys their world-view, in which everyone must not only NOT be gay, but also MUST be heterosexual. Being gay is not about sex ultimately, and the Christian fascists know this, which is why they cannot accept even a celibate gay man.

[sui generis]

14. because they OWN your balls buddy

what, did you think you have a right to determine what you can and can't do with your own body? How very liberal of you.

Quite frankly I don't even have to pretend to be christian with those folks. The sooner the rapture takes them the better for the rest of us. Next they'll be insisting that Jesus gets married and spawns some brats just to prove that He's Not Gay Too.

Pushy little shits.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

15. Love the post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very well put!!!!!!!!

BTW, is that HOT picture on your avatar you? ;-) :P

[sui generis]

17. c'est moi

flattery will get you everywhere! :hi:;)

[LDS Jock]

19. I told you you are gorgeous a long time ago

it hasn't gotten me anywhere :cry:

[sui generis]

24. I promise we'll come find you the next time we're down in Austin

will let you when; probably sometime in march or april if not sooner.

[tjwmason]

18. This I've never understood

The fundy prots who make it so personal (even if they're not quite at the 'God hates fags' stage). Do they honestly think that we sit down and decide to be gay, thus incurring the wrath of God? Even the most conservative of Catholics I have met can cope with people being gay, it's just the sex they don't like.

[davidinalameda]

16. there are some good people out there

I liked this post


Kirk Talley; a man of God; before this came out, Kirk was dealing with this for years and years. Before I came out, I was the same person as after people were told; immediately their opinion of me changed; I had not changed, their perception of me changed. If you saw one of your heterosexual brothers who had HIV, but you did not know it, you would treat him no different than your heterosexual 100% healthy man. The fact that he tells you he has HIV somehow causes your opinion to change, and many of you would constantly find yourself uncomfortable to be around him.

I say all this to say, just because what is hidden becomes public knowledge, has the person changed any? Whether or not Kirk is gay, is irrelevant. His music has touched thousands, if not millions of lives. Get out of your small town closets, take a trip to a large city and observe the normalcy of urban living, observe the daily lives of gay and lesbian men and women. If you could follow in the shoes of the average gay man, you would be amazed at how normal their lives are; with the exception of those that are forced to live their lives in secret; you would see the great anguish they go through every holiday. Christians today, do not demonstrate Christ-like qualities; where is the compassion of Christ?

Whether or not some of you have wild and crazy sex just for the fun of it makes no difference to me. Granted, my image of so many church attendees would be slightly altered, but you are the same person before and after that knowledge is made known to me.

I am sure you all have heard this before, but if this was such a big deal; why did Jesus not list HETEROSEXUALITY as a condition for entry to the pearly gates? Any thoughts? He sure was hard on all of you who may have been divorced though…

[arwalden]

20. He's Not Bad Looking!

[dsc]

22. I have a very good friend

who is in a Gospel group with his partner and one other guy. He had to leave his church when they found out he was gay. He is now in an open and affirming church.

[Maat]

25. Thank goodness, dsc!

That's the point. There are open and affirming churches out there. We have to stop giving money to the administrative bodies of churches that are not (we progressives).

Hope that it is O.K. that this DUer and 'auntie' of a gay young adult keeps up by reading the news here. I just want to be supportive in whatever way I can. I'm a new member of PFLAG. Seems like a good org.

[Langley85]

26. Hypocrisy

These people don't think a homosexual can have a relationship with Christ but they think judgmental intolerant hate-mongers like themselves can?

[xchrom]

27. these people are good examples of the cancer that

has invaded the faith.
they are nothing short of evil.