Happy Easter to those who celebrate and happy Sunday to those who don’t!

When I was barely 20 years old, I wrote an email to my grandparents (an EMAIL!!!) sharing with them that the truest form of me including loving and being loved by women. “I am gay, grandma and grandpa. I hope you choose to still love me and I hope God still loves me, too.” That was the last sentence in the email I sent. They instantly called me and reassured their love for me and repeatedly said that NOTHING changes in my relationship with them and they were sorry I was so scared to tell them. The weight of what felt like the world was lifted from my shoulders and from that phone call on I felt confident enough to share with everyone else in my life. For the most part, everyone was so incredibly supportive and validating.

“So, are you still a Christian?”

That’s a question I would be asked MANY times over the following years. Each time this question was asked, I answered it differently. My response started off as “Well… of course?” and these days my response is: “Nope, but I sure as shit love Jesus and His people.” The idea of Church and religion has changed so much for me since even before I “came out”. It changed the moment my beautiful mother lost her life to a nasty battle with ovarian cancer. Being gay has solidified for me that “the church” that is so incorrectly displayed on news channels, radio stations, podcasts, etc. is not something I want to be a part of. Now, loving Jesus, His people and simply being a GOOD human? Count me IN! If your religion causes you to HATE people simply because they are gay, I do not want it at all. Over the recent years I have grown deeper in my relationship with who I THINK Jesus was and is. To me, Jesus is loving, kind, generous, gracious and empathetic to ALL people. Maybe your version of Jesus is different, but the Jesus I know and love is good. Like my mom always told me, “Honey, if it’s not good, it ain’t God.”

So, Happy Easter. He has Risen, even for me.
Even for you.
Even for the convicts and criminals.
Even for the drug addicts and homeless.
Even for those who identify as gay and lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.
Even for the outcast, the poor, the thieves, liars, alcoholics, and so on.

So if you are reading this and “the church” has pushed you away from religion, I don’t blame you. I won’t even try to convince you of anything other than what you believe. But I believe when He rose, He rose for you, too.

Happy Easter 2024. Here is to less religious trauma and more understanding that I can be gay and love Jesus, too. Because Jesus loves ME, this I know.

Talk later,

Chance Colleen.