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John Shore

John Shore

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The Smith Family Chronicles 1: Jane Smith Comes Out To Her Evangelical Father

Posted: 02/25/11 11:42 AM ET

I get a lot of letters from LGBT folk about their terribly difficult relationships with Christians in their families and lives. The last such letter ("Help: I Want to Come Out to My Loving Evangelical Father") inspired me to create, via xtranormal.com, a weekly episodic series called The Smith Family Chronicles, debuting here. (I used xtranormal to create Christian vs. Non-Christian: Who Gets Into Heaven?)

Tune in here every Friday morning for a new episode of The Smith Family Chronicles.

The Smith Family Chronicles on Facebook.

 
 
 

Follow John Shore on Twitter: www.twitter.com/johnshore

I get a lot of letters from LGBT folk about their terribly difficult relationships with Christians in their families and lives. The last such letter ("Help: I Want to Come Out to My Loving Evangelical...
I get a lot of letters from LGBT folk about their terribly difficult relationships with Christians in their families and lives. The last such letter ("Help: I Want to Come Out to My Loving Evangelical...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Chester Erickson
(R) moderate
01:45 AM on 03/02/2011
Well everyone, this has been an interesting discussion, but I'm afraid I've solved the dilemma so we can all get back to whatever it is we were doing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/01/grant-storms-arrested-masturbating_n_830000.html

This guy is a pastor, so he's pretty clearly Christian, and he has neatly showed us the way to go (among other things he's been showing):

If you are gay, be a Christian. You are saved.

If anyone tells you that the Bible says it's bad, tell them that you have Jesus on your side and it doesn't matter what you do because you are saved just the same as they are with all their sins.

If everyone else can sin their little hearts out and get to heaven, you can too. The only other Christian who has the right to criticize your sins is one who doesn't have their own. Everyone else can shut the hell up and worry about their own salvation and maybe why they do bad stuff if Jesus is really in their heart.

See? Problem solved, get back to work.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mabo
Conservative...dialogue welcome!
03:57 PM on 03/01/2011
Sounds like Mr. Shore's answer to the writer of the letter "Help! I want to come out to my loving Evangelical father" is , "Sorry, but he is a spiteful hater who will kick you out of his house and disown you if you do."
After watching this and his last video with the robotic, talking bears...I am still not impressed with his take on Christians. He seems to care more about putting them into a little box than try to understand them and their beliefs.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Hpotterfan77
The Liberal Leaning Deist!
04:24 PM on 03/01/2011
As someone who has an evangelical mother in law, I understand this perfectly. And no, I don't believe all Christians are like this but there are a great number that are. I believe in "a" God and that Jesus existed though I'm not sold on the whole son of God thing...but I just don't believe that a book made by a bunch of men should dictate an entire religion.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mabo
Conservative...dialogue welcome!
06:10 PM on 03/01/2011
If I believed that it were just "a book made by a bunch of men"...I would have a problem with it as well. While I realize that it was written by men...I also believe that it was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And, if someone believes in God and who He is...why would they not believe that He, as powerful as He is, be able to protect His Word and ensure that it is an accurate representation of what He wants the world to know?
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gingerred
Proud lesbian conservative
02:21 PM on 03/01/2011
a bit over written and over dramatic. But As a Lesbian Christian I have seen it.
12:16 PM on 02/27/2011
It does not seem possible to really believe in God, a God of ALL, and do evil to others or reject others. It seems our awareness of a God of love connects us to everyone and to all of the universe. I wonder if by driving away those we love, our children, our friends, we are in fact creating an abyss between oneself and God.
11:04 PM on 02/26/2011
Sadly, the father in this clip represents far too many (but certainly not all) Christian parents. The father likely drove the daughter to her sexuality. The clip assumes that sexuality is genetically predetermined, but there is little scientific evidence to support this (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19961060). Genetic predisposition - absolutely, but only manifested under given environmental factors (and especially poor relationships with a father).
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alterego55
"Always intended to be a factual statement"
12:19 PM on 02/27/2011
The motivation really doesn't matter. The same 2,000 year old book of myths that Christians use to justify their position on gay sexuality says we should not be eating lobster. I like lobster. If you try to take my lobster away, you will find a claw inserted where the Sun don't shine. If you keep trying to oppress the GLBT population, don't be surprised if you find a foot or two up there.
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alterego55
"Always intended to be a factual statement"
12:27 PM on 02/27/2011
I can understand how you came to the conclusion you did from the link you provided. It was because you didn't read the entire abstract. You saw this statement as conclusive:

"In 1993, linkage between homosexuality and chromosomal region Xq28 based on molecular approaches was reported. Nevertheless, this was not confirmed in later studies."

You probably stopped there, because the abstract also goes on to discuss later studies:

"Recently, a wide search of the genome has given significant or close to significant linkage values with regions 7q36, 8p12 and 10q26."

... and:

"Deviation in the proportion of X chromosome inactivation in mothers of homosexuals seems to favor the presence of genes related with sexual orientation in this chromosome."
08:27 PM on 02/27/2011
I was referring to "heritability estimates between 0.27 and 0.76". This means that between 1/4 and 3/4 of the variation in sexuality is genetic and the rest environmental. Identifying "X chromosome inactivati­on" is simply attempts to identify what genes make up the 25 - 75%.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ZENNEPHI
10:15 PM on 02/26/2011
...."For in that day will I turn the Hearts' of the Children to there fathers, and the hearts of the

fathers to there Children, less the entire Earth will be utterly Smitten with a Curse at his Coming..."
[NKJV 1612 Thomas/Nelson tranc]-Tynsdale



..."Fathers' and Sons', Make Love and Guns,,,Families together Kill Someone without Love, Love,Love..."
...[Beloved Elton John]-Arista/Rhino Records & Tapes
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DomainDiva
Aviation SaaS Entrepreneur and Technical SME
05:21 PM on 02/26/2011
In tears over a cartoon.
02:47 PM on 02/26/2011
I came out to "Christian" parents in 1991. 20 years later, they have a grandson they have never met, and we have no relationship(their choice) all due to their religion. I've tried over the years only to be told that I'm an abomination and I'm going to hell. Their loss.
10:43 AM on 02/28/2011
How sad. I am reminded of a statement of the Indian philosopher Krishnamurti (who had been groomed since childhood to take over the Theosophical Order of the Eastern Star but dissolved the organization when he was 27): "Religions don't bring people together. They tear them apart."

Your family is a prime example. Sounds like you have created a life with love, not hate. Your parents' loss indeed. What a cruel religion.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
01:15 PM on 02/26/2011
I used to be a bigot....but I found out a dear friend was gay...guess how long it took for me to not be a bigot??? .....about the length of time it takes to snap your fingers....I was a bigot no more. I became a tolerant person - one who cares about LGBT, and I support them...
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alterego55
"Always intended to be a factual statement"
03:02 PM on 02/26/2011
Good for you. Don't you feel better having shed some of your Christianity?
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SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
08:31 PM on 02/26/2011
RockyMissouri never mentioned Christianity. He said it was being a bigot that he shed.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Chester Erickson
(R) moderate
08:07 PM on 02/26/2011
I used to think it was wrong or unnatural to be gay too, even after I had gay friends. It's not that I disliked anyone, I just couldn't get my head around how it could possibly work.

Then I grew up and realized that the world is a lot bigger place than the space between my ears.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
12:46 PM on 03/01/2011
Believe me, when I say that I understand..... Even though we may not be gay, we are still their friends, and must support them.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
12:33 PM on 02/26/2011
There is NOTHING WRONG with being gay....period.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
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bayonet division
Choose this day whom you will serve.
05:15 AM on 03/01/2011
It is sin...period.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
12:52 PM on 03/01/2011
The Creator loves us, regardless...... If you are a Christian, you are commanded by Jesus to love one another - LOVE one another....whether you like it or not....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
GlassMask
Comedian/Curmudgeon
02:04 PM on 03/01/2011
There is nothing wrong with sin...period.

For Lent, instead of giving up a pleasure, I always look for a new sin to commit... ^_^
11:07 AM on 02/26/2011
She is a cartoon lesbian and has a cartoon Daddy. Not real Bogus lie.
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alterego55
"Always intended to be a factual statement"
03:02 PM on 02/26/2011
Were you skipping school the day they explained metaphor in English class?
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
EmmaDarian
All in all, I'm loving every rise and fall (RHCP)
11:54 AM on 02/28/2011
Well, if it makes you feel any better, which would be terrible on its own, those cartoons represent a reality that many people have experienced.

I think the last four words are supposed to mean that a scenario like that has never happened in real life, which, as I've said, is not true. If you don't know that already, it's not too late to learn.
08:14 PM on 03/03/2011
When you live a "lie" for most of your life. You don't compound the lie with hate. She wants be loved.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ninetailedfox
banning people.....so childish
09:41 AM on 02/26/2011
I came out but not as a lesbian. I came out as a Pagan to my Mom years ago. She wasnt happy when I decided to wear my Pagan necklace to my neice's graduation.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
12:45 PM on 02/26/2011
I'm sorry....sometimes us moms act in awful ways...your niece probably thinks you're cool..
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nicholas Rowley
12:17 AM on 02/27/2011
What's on the necklace?

What flavour of pagan are you? :)
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nicholas Rowley
09:01 AM on 02/26/2011
Oh can we please not use xtranormal for things like this, it's like listening to a soap opera acted by Daleks.
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GrantS
I'm liberal through and through.
10:08 AM on 02/27/2011
The words spoken are meaningful but the way they are spoken are emotionless. In real life there would be more passion and the scene would take place over days and weeks.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nicholas Rowley
10:26 AM on 02/27/2011
"The words spoken are meaningful but the way they are spoken are emotionles­s."
Yes, that was the point I was making with the allusion to Soap Operas and Daleks. :)
12:15 AM on 02/26/2011
I think the majority of parents love their children including Christian parents. The Father your depicting in your venture is the exception rather than the rule and many parents like this father accept their children gay or straight in the end love wins the day. You can stack the deck against what the truth is and homosexuality is frowned upon in the scriptures. Its does say love thy neighbor as thyself and even your enemy is your neighbor. Nowhere does it say love thy neighbor as thyself except for homosexuals I know many Christians treat being homosexual like its some worst sexual sin. However, its all sexual sin outside of a man married to a woman. You can try but you can't make it not sin nor can you make any of the other sexual activities not sin. If your not after a Christian life then why does sinfulness even matter?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MatthewRobertson
I'm 26. I'm gay. I like film. I care about shit.
04:38 AM on 02/26/2011
Are you freaking kidding me? Ugh. I'm so tired of people saying "We love you but we hate your sin", which is essentially what you are saying. Why do I hate it? Because my sexuality is a part of me, just as your sexuality is a part of you. There is no splitting the two. So when you say "Oh I love you but I don't love you being gay" ALL I hear is "I actually hate you, but if its any consolation, if you weren't attracted to men, you'd be awesome." I know probably mean well...but as it has been said "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Usually the people with best intentions cause the most damage because they do not bother to step outside their comfort zone and consider the possibility that they are wrong.

Also, I don't know if you actually KNOW (as in are friends with, not the bagger at your local supermarket is gay kind of know) any gay people, but if you did, you would see that this story depicted here is far more prevalent than most people would like to admit.
11:50 AM on 02/26/2011
Matthew I didn't say I hated the sin. What I mean is as a Christian I cannot condone or support that particular aspect of a person's life. If I may ask you this question. How many Christian friends do you have that believe your lifestyle is a sin? I have many Homosexual people and their my friends. They know my take on the situation and beyond the fact that my beliefs don't allow me to condone homosexuality I don't condemn them. We all have sin its a fact of life. Jesus is both advocate and judge for me to treat you unjustly is sinful in itself. Jesus said to love the Lord with all your heart soul and mind, also love thy neighbor as thyself. All of Jesus laws and precepts hang on these two statements and perhaps you should hold so called Christian people to these laws. When you stop and communicate with some real Christians these precepts should show through the lives they live not only words, but in actions. That parent relationship featured in this article channels to much more than homosexuality it can be in regards to race,religion,certain friends and a host of other situations. I didn't mean to imply that its the exception to the rule only that it concerns much more than homosexuality and for that I apologize. I still say love conquers all, but with the total lack of communication love doesn't stand a chance to conquer.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
01:20 PM on 02/26/2011
I say your lifestyle is your business and no Christian (or anyone else!) has any business making your business, his.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ninetailedfox
banning people.....so childish
09:59 AM on 02/26/2011
I dont know how much of this is your own actual point of view, the fact that you were sheltered from this actual scenario, or perhaps that you assume (rather falsely) that this kind of thing hardly ever happens. Ive heard too many horror stories. I have a good friend whose cousin was beaten to death because his cousin was gay, and the people that did it were christians. So, you can say whatever you like on the computer, but the fact that these things happen doesnt escape me, along with the shooting in Uganda because the kid was gay.
12:18 PM on 02/26/2011
I was wrong to say its the exception rather than the rule. To say these people who killed your friend's cousin were Christians doesn't line up with Jesus teachings sounds like their Christian in name only. Have you taken the time to get to know some true Christians because you can hold them to these laws. Now it may be a little rough waters to start out and their not going to jump on board to say homosexuality isn't sin,but they otherwise should treat you right. Communication and the fortitude to agree to disagree and press on is no easy thing however,the relationships you may forge can be priceless. In this day and time everyone has to agree or all bets are off and its totally unrealistic and leads to the divided country we have today. Nothings changed when it comes to a divided house it can't stand and Rome is falling apart while the senate and the mob argue about what cuts will hold it up a little longer. If we all don't jump in and hold Rome up when it falls it falls on all of us Christians,Gays,Democrats,Republicans,Red,Black,White or Purple Ripple it doesn't matter even a rich mans money won't help.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
RockyMissouri
'You must be carefully taught to hate'...
01:25 PM on 02/26/2011
I'm so sorry...religions seem to inspire a lot of damage in their name..
07:56 PM on 02/25/2011
even though the characters speak with computerized voices and the body movements of robots I must say it touched me deeply. I felt terrible for that poor daughter, ostracized, by her father who, ironically enough, considers himself a follower of prince of LOVE, Jesus.
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alterego55
"Always intended to be a factual statement"
09:57 PM on 02/25/2011
I always thought he was the prince of peas.
11:41 AM on 02/26/2011
peas and love, dude.