Abi Hastings

A Christian Advocating LGBT+ Rights

I was never told that homosexuality was a sin. I have no recollection whatsoever of that ever being outright said to me, my parents are generally circumspect in voicing their beliefs and are very generous in addition to that. I certainly never witnessed them, or any of their friends, treating a member of the LGBT+ community any different than they would any other acquaintance. And yet aged 11, upon seeing two girls kiss in a shopping centre, I had a reaction of disgust sufficient that I ended up gagging into a bin. I had internalised, and I still cannot pinpoint the source, although it was probably an amalgamation of scriptural teaching, hushed conversations and society in general, that homosexuality was wrong and disgusting, and I could not understand it. Some of my friends, when I voiced this complete lack of ability to understand, said that was what characterised my heterosexuality: of course I couldn't understand how a boy could love a boy and vice versa, because I was straight; it should be repulsive. I know now that all of us were speaking from wilful ignorance and utter lack of awareness or empathy.