Pride
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In the early 1950s, the United States was gripped by a paranoid fervor that led to one of its most insidious campaigns against its own citizens. Known as the Lavender Scare, this period saw government agencies systematically purge LGBTQ+ individuals from federal employment. Labeled as security risks solely because of their sexual orientation, thousands lost…
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Alexander Leon once said, “Queer people don’t grow up as ourselves; we grow up playing a version of ourselves that sacrifices authenticity to minimize humiliation and prejudice.” Those words have always resonated with me, capturing the challenges I faced growing up queer. Early on, I learned to conceal parts of my true self—my interests, my…
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My father was a loving and accepting man. I watched him grow and evolve over the years—his beliefs shifting as he learned, as he listened, as life opened his eyes in new ways. He never clung to an idea simply because it was familiar. Instead, he allowed himself to question, to reconsider, to change. When…
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In an ideal world, I would be able to hold my husband’s hand in public without a second thought. Not just in the safe pockets of the world—the city streets where we blend in, the Pride festivals where we are celebrated, the family gatherings where we are known—but anywhere. Any street, any town, any room.…
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Let me be blunt: when you vote for politicians who call us “degenerates” or promise to “protect traditional values,” you are not just casting a ballot—you are signing off on a blueprint for our erasure. The Department of Homeland Security’s recent decision to revoke protections barring the surveillance of LGBTQ+ individuals isn’t a bureaucratic tweak.…
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December 2017. The air smelled like the holidays and pine needles. We stood in a room full of people who’d fought for us, cried for us, waited for us. My hands shook holding the marriage license—a piece of paper I never thought I’d get to sign. Seven years later, I still remember the way my…
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I’ve been reflecting a lot on spirituality and its connection to religion, especially as a gay man. For many queer individuals, religion can be a challenging topic, often leaving a bitter taste in our mouths. Throughout our lives, we have faced many moments of hostility from those who insist they hold the key to divine…
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Hate, a weapon wielded in the Trump era to strip away rights and dignity from numerous marginalized groups, seeping into the very essence of our society and eroding the bonds that bind us. As a gay man navigating these turbulent times, I have felt firsthand the weight of this malevolent force and its impact on…
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The worst homophobia I have experienced in my life has been within the paranormal community. I have been threatened to be outed several times over the years, which I found amusing because anyone who truly knew me was aware that I came out at 29. I considered my sexuality a non-topic and something that was…
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Talking about Jesus and his sexual orientation can be an eye-opening conversation—one that often sparks curiosity, discomfort, or even resistance. But what if we put aside our preconceptions for a moment and simply explore the idea? Not to be provocative, but to reflect on what we believe and why. Some scholars and theologians argue that…
Steven LaChance Blog 