Addison
My name is Addie. I’m so excited to be a part of Beloved Arise!
Faith has always been a very important part of my life. I grew up with a very loving Christian family that introduced me to God at a young age as well as life experiences toward the end of middle school and beginning of high school that taught me about God and grew my faith a lot.
Pronouns: she/her
Photo of Addison
Around that time, I began to question my sexuality, and a year ago I came out However, I felt a lot of fear in my faith after doing this. Although my family and friends were incredibly supportive, I was scared of some Christians’ reactions. What if God didn’t love me anymore? Is my sexuality really a sin? Am I still welcome in the Church?
These feelings compelled me to research faith and sexuality and how the two can not only coexist but also be celebrated. I read books and old Bibles, connected with other queer people of faith, and studied Scripture more deeply than I ever had before. My faith became much stronger as I learned to love myself for who God created me to be.
The more I learn about God's love for everyone, the more passionate I become to advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in the Church. Everyone deserves to feel loved and celebrated by God for who they are and who they love. Learning that love is love and God is for us was incredibly liberating, and I want to share my story so everyone learns that they are wonderfully made, and that their faith and sexuality deserve to be celebrated.
Photo of Addison
