Ruby
I’m Ruby, I’m 17 years old, and I’m a lesbian. I was outed when I was 11 years old and became a Christian in 2020. While I was raised by atheists, I had always been interested in God.
Finding faith was complicated. On one hand, there was this incredible source of love and hope that I desperately needed. On the other hand, I thought that Christ wouldn’t want to know me because I’m queer. I thought that by accepting His love into my life, I would have to sacrifice my queerness, which I was not willing to do. The weaponization of scripture to attack LGBT folk is something I’m terrified of encountering because I just can’t understand how something so wonderfully can inspire such hatred. The way I’d seen Christians portrayed in the media before I found Christianity put me off. I thought that I wasn’t allowed to be a Christian because of whom I love.
Pronouns: she/her
Photo of Ruby
Luckily, by finding positive queer representation through queer theology and Beloved Arise, I’ve come to know that I’m allowed to worship just as much as the next person.
I’m lucky to have found a church where the people are lovely and accepting. It’s been a relief to see my youth pastors engaged in conversations surrounding the intersectionality between queerness and faith. I’m not out to everyone there, but I won’t stop going if I’m not accepted. Jesus fought for the marginalized and oppressed, and I believe that He would have uplifted queer voices. There’s no love in homophobia, so if God is love, how can there be any justification for hatred?
I’m going to continue to be my authentic self. I’m going to carry on being gay and fighting this system that supposedly won’t allow me to exist because I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know that I am loved by Christ, and I know that there is hope for queer Christians.
Photo of Ruby
