Casting directors for the upcoming season of Survivor must hate the show’s viewers, because they’ve decided to cast a pair of Broadway-dancing, self-proclaimed “Christian boyfriends” to talk about their Christian relationship for the duration of the show’s upcoming season.
31-year-old Joshua Canfield is a Christian, and has appeared in Broadway’s “Wicked”. 31-year-old Reed Kelly is also a Christian, and has appeared in Broadway’s “Spider-Man”, though you probably recognize him as Clay Aiken’s ex-boyfriend. Both are Christian.
Canfield and Kelly, both Christian, talk about how Christianity is the foundation of their relationship in their first teaser clip for the show below. “Staying out of leadership positions” is their strategy for winning the show, which they probably haven’t heard revolves around winning leadership and furthering yourself by fighting for leadership positions.
But who needs to be a leader when you’re following the Almighty Leader above, right boys?
Check out the couple’s first on-camera interview below. Did we mention they’re both Christian?
http://youtu.be/ktVyM0Gy5pY
barkomatic
Well, if they aren’t trying to convince us they’re straight or working against the human rights of other gays then why make a big deal about them being Christian? I’m only against the religious people who deny my right to marry someone I love or otherwise try to pass laws that discriminate against me.
I didn’t bother to watch the video, so I take it back if they are spouting off about being ex-gay or Republican.
trtoosure
Wow, I’m a card-carrying, scream-it-from-the-rooftops atheist and even I’m bothered by how condescending this piece is. They mention their religion once, for 5 seconds. What’s the big deal? Did I miss the memo where gays are supposed to be as derisive of Christians as some Christians are of gays?
Franco C.
Barf.
Kieran
To hate Christians because of the homophobia of some Christians is as childish, ignorant and bigoted as a hate-filled homophobe who hates ALL gay people. You don’t fight bigotry by becoming a bigot yourself. We’re supposed to judge people as individuals.
imperator
@trtoosure: Agreed, it’s not as if they were prattling on non-stop about how they thank ‘God’ for bringing them together, and they’re going to trust ‘God’ to get them through, and they’re going to play according to their all-important Christian values and not lie or cheat, and how it feels so right to be on “Blood vs. Water” because they’re bathed in the blood of the lamb! They attribute the strength of their relationship, at least in part, to having the same religious background, and they sat as much plainly and briefly. What is with the editor’s obsessive sneering?
Can we at least wait five minutes until we’ve seen how they behave with other people before we assume that they’re going to be obnoxiously ramming their beliefs down everyone’s throats?
imperator
@imperator: *say as much, rather.
Dawson
My issue with these reality shows is how they are feeding to middle America how and what we are. For people still coming to terms with all things gay, and based on different polls we are still not accepted in many parts of the U.S. (let alone the world) there familarity with GLBT is often what they see on T.V. Not long ago we saw with Prop 8 that we were ahead at the polls and when the election results came in we saw people voted differently. That was in progressive California. In Mississippi, for example where was the outroar within the State about businesses allowed to openly discriminated against the GLBT community?
It is shows like ‘Big Brother’, ‘Survivor’ & ‘Amazing Race’ for example that believes that gay men are either Broadway dancers or screeming queens. Why the gay community is not asking for a more fair representation is another question.
Some may say they don’t watch these shows or find them silly but that isn’t really what we should be concentrating on. Rather it is how network T.V. is still finding our community the butt of the joke (no pun intended). CBS has a strong, strong history of depicting the gay community on reality shows as the most extreme part of our community.(let’s not even talk about Bravo! or Project Runway).
So now the shocking thing is that gays can be Christians. Wow, really? Why because gays are sinners or what? Is that what CBS is saying? That is the new twist? How about gay doctors, lawyers, sports stars, construction workers etc. No middle America doesn’t want to see that, right CBS?
Atldeuce
Ugh. Unwatchable. What’s next? Pamela Anderson on Jeopardy?
I can just see them making a bug quiche and sarongs out of palm fronds.
Black Pegasus
As soon as I read “gay christian” I stopped reading. You can miss me with the bullsh*t
Ogre Magi
@barkomatic: Being a gay christian is like being a black KKK member
Ogre Magi
@Kieran: Why would any LGBT person want to associated with a religion that has spent the past 2000 years persecuting their own kind?
Jonty Coppersmith
Gay Christians are like black members of KKK.
Aromaeus
White male gay christians. barf
Tackle
I have no problem with someone/ anyone being GLBTQ and Christian. And the few who I have met have been decent, honest well-rounded people, who are just trying to live their lives just like the rest of us.
@Ogre Magi: And it’s not that thst religion has been persecuting US for the past 2000. yrs.
It has been man’s misuse, misinterpretation, misinformation and out right lies about Christianity, the bible, teachings etc…
And I think it’s far fetched to use the analog of gay Christians and Black KKK members. While there are plenty of LGBTQ Christians, have you or anyone else ever seen a Black KKK member??
Stefano
Tackle : what is the percentage of gay christians in the US in 2014? Because You said : “…there are PLENTY of LGBTQ Christians…” do you know where i can find the information ?
Masc Pride
Nice. I’ll definitely be checking these guys out.
@trtoosure: Agreed! Why shouldn’t these guys be able to express their views and live openly just like anyone else? If someone came out and said Christianity is only for heteros, bet every bitter theophobic queen would be up in arms and whining about discrimination.
@Aromaeus: R@cist much?
enlightenone
@Ogre Magi: Don’t think we’ll ever get a satisfying, convincing answer!
Tackle
@Stefano: Ok, Using conservative estimates, something like this : From the 2010 census, there were 308 million people counted living in the US. Out of 308 million, at least 75% claim to be Christian, which comes to around 231 million people. It is estemated ( conservatively) that the LGBTQ community makes up at least 3.5% of the US population. That would come to around 8 million LGBTQ Christians. That’s plenty of us.
You can check with the US census. ..
NoCagada
RELIGION KILLS
Xzamilio
@Kieran: No it’s not AS bad. Last I checked, I’m not saying that because I think Christianity and other religions are superstitious nonsense that they shouldn’t be able to marry, or adopt children, or use the bathroom of their choice, or deny them every right afforded to them under the US Constitution. Yeah, religion is nonsense and I will continue to say it’s nonsense, especially to people like you who love to forget the heinous atrocities carried out because of religion,then and now.
Xzamilio
@Tackle: Bullshit! There’s always that stupid excuse of “they’re misinterpreting the scriptures” nonsense. That is just more proof of how illogical it is to think some all-powerful god created this doctrine that no one can seem to follow correctly because everyone thinks they have the right interpretation and the others are taking it out of context. The bible is nothing but a re-translated, re-edited, redacted book that does not even stand up to the test of time.
And quite frankly, the only people who say the bible is good are the ones who haven’t read it, as far as I’m concerned.
stranded
I forget, are they performers by trade? lol.
As far as this post, I agree with the others, wtf is up with the snark? If you’re gonna have the balls to post this anti Christian post, then at least put your name and not “Queerty Editor”
1stsurvivorjohn
I can’t tell whether #survivorthemusical will get trounced by John Rocker and his girlfriend who looks like she could break Josh and Reed in half with just her steely gaze or if these gay wonder twins will orchestrate his ouster. Either way, these two will definitely be entertaining in a Paris is Burning kind of way. You know where they can hide their hidden immunity idols? In the purses that fell out of their mouths during their interview. I thought they were auditioning for the Birdcage ll. Now if Agador could get me a couple of pirins I might be able to watch this trainwreck of a minstrel show backstab their way to the million.
robirob
Reality TV goes for over the top characters who will cause and create drama the viewers get exited about. Big shocker, I know.
You know why these reality shows are so successful? Because of people who are outraged and tell everyone why these reality TV shows and the people who are in it are so disgusting and bad. The ones ranting on and on why reality TV stars like the Kardashians are still famous are as much to blame for the Kardashian’s success as the fans.
You have the right and the option to ignore what you don’t like. You have the right and the option to focus on the kind of entertainment you like.
Stop trying to control stuff that is out of your control otherwise it will control you.
offbeatoh86
“Religion is like a penis. It’s fine to have one and it’s fine to be proud of it, but please don’t whip it out in public and start waving it around.” – Unknown
Billysees
@Tackle:
“I have no problem with someone/ anyone being GLBTQ and Christian. And the few who I have met have been decent, honest well-rounded people, who are just trying to live their lives just like the rest of us.”
“…It has been man’s misuse, misinterpretation, misinformation and out right lies about Christianity, the bible, teachings etc…”
“And I think it’s far fetched to use the analog of gay Christians and Black KKK members….”
Very good comment, especially the part about “It has been man’s misuse…about…the bible, teachings etc…”
We’ll come to understand that when we realize that not everything in the bible is ‘divine’ truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
For example, the majority of gay-unfriendly commentary in the NT comes from a man named Paul, who described his own writings and understanding in the following manner —
1. …our knowledge is partial and incomplete…
2. …we see things imperfectly…
3. All that I know now is partial and incomplete…
It is actually refreshing to now think of scripture when we become aware that the ‘times’ and ‘culture’ when it was prepared would not have revealed the multitude of positive values we now know that ‘all’ LGBT folk bring to the table.
Here’s my response to a great summary of some of those values written by a frequent contributor to the comment sections of Queerty that I copied last year —
@Charles175: 13
Hi Charles,
May I emphasize, from your comment No. 13 above, the following expressions or thoughts of yours that I think especially stand out ? —
1. “…this does not diminish the purpose for those of us who are born gay. We bring the gifts of a unique form of intelligence…”
2. “It is these gifts that bring the unique creativity and genius that makes the world a better place, a brighter place to live in.” (this one is terrific)
3. “…they can never replace the natural inborn gifts and talents that we bring to this world.”
Thanks for putting these things in words that everybody needs to know and remember.
Sep 2, 2013 at 2:49 am
Full story here: http://www.queerty.com/look-out-boxer-orlando-cruz-posts-nude-photo-on-facebook-20130831/#ixzz2diR7gHFD
From that same article, here is another of Charles175 comments —
Charles175
Wow, what an all around loving guy this is. He’s got a lot going for him and lucky the guy he proposed to. The photograph was done very tastefully and it also reflects his dedication to his partner. Is refreshing to see that not everyone is into the hedonistic “lifestyle”. I have hopes that they will be able to stay together and gray together. Having someone to love and share your life with to me, is the dream I’ve always had but will never experience. This because I am dying from ALS or as it is commonly called, Lou Gehrig’s disease. But that’s okay, I still have happiness in my heart as I interact on a regular basis with others around me in this nursing home.
Sep 1, 2013 at 12:03 am
Here it is nearly one year later and I’m sure we all are hoping and praying that Charles 175 is still with us.
Please read the several, great, heart-felt comments from that article by Charles175.
Stefano
@Tackle : Thank you for your estimation but you maid a mistake…you assumed that 75% of gays are christians wich is not true because you don’t have any idea of how many gays are christians. I saw i study on the internet suggesting that 60% of gays are atheists but i’m not sure if It is a good study or not. My point is that you don’t have any idea.
@Xzamilio : i’m with you on this. My mother-in-law and my sister-in-law who are very religious, don’t even know the bible better than me…and i’m an atheist ! It is strange, isn’t It?, because they go to church every sunday…are they listening? Maybe i should ask them. LOL
Stefano
@Tackle : …and you forgot also another thing…It is not because you are consider as a christians in theory it means that you are practicing your religion and really beleive in god. See? There are things you have to consider or study before jumping to conclusions.
Stefano
@Tackle : you confuse “conditional probability” and “marginal probability”.
drivendervish
It doesn’t really bother me that these boys choose to live their life based upon a pack of lies. It’s quite possible that other similarly deluded people will come to see that you can be a Christian without hating on the gays. It may even occur to some of them that Jesus said something about loving your neighbor as your brother? Christians are pretty much incapable of hearing anything that is said by a non-believer but maybe these guys can get their attention. Disclaimer! I have never watched the show and am not going to start!
BJ McFrisky
If there’s one word that makes gay men quake with disgust, it’s “Christian” (despite 95% of all world charity being Christian-based).
Mention that Islam wants us all beheaded, and it’s time for a tolerance parade praising Mohammed. Because Muslims, ya know, just need to see how FABULOUS we are to be convinced of our right to live.
Charlie in Charge
1. There is one reference to them being Christian in the vid. The context is that that they are happy to have similar interests and careers. One can imagine that for gay Christians it might be hard to find someone of the same faith that you also click with on all other levels.
2. People tend to square off on issues as if there are exactly two sides and they are diametrically opposed, i.e. “gays vs Christians.” Here are two gay Christians that offer an alternate p.o.v. which will be great for a national audience to see. I’m religious (though not Christian) and the stereotype that all gays are atheists is not helpful.
Queer4Life
I don’t like reality shows to begin with (they are too scripted to be real), that said I def wont be watching this one. I think that this is offensive and disgusting. #WhiteWashGay
Xzamilio
@Stefano: You’d think it be strange, but in my experience, atheists tend to know holy doctrine better than those who claim to follow it. After all, it was reading and studying it that made some of us atheists in the first place. I wasn’t even through the first 6 chapters of Genesis before I was like “Nope. This is BS.”
Tackle
@Stefano: Thank you for your response. But I did n jump to any conclusion. I estimated. And estimates could be fact or fiction: Neither here nor there. Therefor you are correct. No one really knows. And everything you mentioned, ( Christian in theory. Conditional probability &
Marginal probability), I did consider. Yes How is it determined how, who or what a Christian is?
I know many times according to government census, it’s not based on dogmatic practice of going to Church regularly. Reading the bible and praying daily. Believing in a certain % of the bible, or practicing a certain amount of rules, laws or tenets of the bible.
The government/US census can be lenient, tolerant, permissive and non-indulging in just requiring a, “belief in the bible” (percentage wise, who knows)/belief in god. Or many times, just asking a person what religion, or if they are Christian. But this would not be good enough for most fire & brimstone preachers.
And it all goes back to, who makes the rules and determines what?
So you are right, in that know one really knows the exact number. But in the US, a country of over 8 million LGBTQ people, safe to say it has to at least be over a million of whom would describe themselves as Christian.@Billysees: Interesting points made.
Nixter
@BJ McFrisky: TRUE that!
Billysees
@Kieran: 8/28 5:06 pm
Good comment.
@BJ McFrisky: 8/29 11:24 am
Very very interesting comment.
Billysees
@Tackle:
I should have done a better job of making my points.
“It is actually refreshing to now think of scripture when we become aware that the ‘times’ and ‘culture’ when it was prepared would not have revealed the multitude of positive values we now know that ‘all’ LGBT folk bring to the table.”
That paragraph should be clarified accordingly and in consideration of what was presented before it —
1. …our knowledge is partial and incomplete…
2. …we see things imperfectly…
3. All that I know now is partial and incomplete…
(1 Corinthians 13:9,12)
The above self assessment of Paul’s own writings is the evidence needed to show
that in his narratives, there is no infallibility or accuracy and there is no divine stamp of approval.
Therefore, it is necessary to judge and evaluate a matter based on all reasonable, ‘current’ attitudes, experiences and knowledge.
Cheer…
Tackle
That’s even better put. Wonderful comment to wake-up to, that’s why I believe that there is NO contradiction in one being LGBTQ and Christian. Bravo @Billysees: .
Billysees
@Tackle:
“…that’s why I believe that there is NO contradiction in one being LGBTQ and Christian.”
That’s very very true.
‘God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform’. Those are the first two lines of the Hymn by William Cowper (1731-1800).
Also, “The wind blows wherever it wants to and we hear the sound of it but we don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going — so it is with everyone who is born of the spirit”…….Jesus
AxelDC
Well, bless their hearts!
tapril
being a christian means following the bible to the core and not use the bible for areas in your life that suites you. what do you gays do when you get to the script where God says, man shall not lay with a man like a women. do you guys just hop over that scripture and continue amd than claim to be a christian. i have nothing agains gay people as a person. its your choice and i cannot hate you for you life choice but dont claim to be a christian because you want to cover up the sin.
Billysees
@tapril:
“being a christian means following the bible to the core and not use the bible for areas in your life that suites you.”
To the core? Who does that?
Here are a few things to consider —
The word sin and its meaning is difficult to make. It’s not clear what it is, if it can be said that way. That will sound unusual of course to some.
The basic definition of ‘sin’ is that it is the breaking of God’s law. But what is God’s law? The word sin is thrown around too much and is erroneously attached to things that it shouldn’t be. Habit will do that. Perhaps we need to get some new habits. Maybe we need to say as the NT would declare — ‘all things are allowable, lawful and permissible’. I think that is where Gay and Lesbian issues belong.
Jesus liked to abbreviate things. He got the Ten Commandments for example and simplified them into two commandments, i.e. ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ and ‘love God with all of your heart and mind and soul’. No one had ever attempted to do that before.
I think it could be said respectfully that Jesus was something of a radical or an extremist of sorts. Very unconventional.
And —
The NT has all the important and progressive stuff, but even then, its applicability and importance towards every person is different.
Keep these in mind as you read the Bible —
1. Man’s ways are of the Lord, …….Proverbs 20:24
2. All things are allowable, all things are lawful, all things are permissible…..1 Corinthians 6:12…..1 Corinthians 10:23
Paul, the majority contributor to the NT, says this about his own writings and it may apply to other scriptures as well —
1. …our knowledge is partial and incomplete…
2. …we see things imperfectly…
3. All that I know now is partial and incomplete…
(1 Corinthians 13:9,12)
Those three points are exactly the reason it is necessary to judge and evaluate a matter or people based on all reasonable, ‘current or modern’ attitudes, experiences and knowledge.
The above is also the evidence needed to show that in Paul’s words, he reveals that there is no infallibility or accuracy of scripture. Even ‘inspired’ opinions are up for interpretation.
There isn’t always much that convinces that Jesus and scripture are clear about many things. Clarity in scripture is not evident to the casual reader.
There is a tremendous simplicity about the Christian experience and that it is the work of the ‘Spirit’ ‘in us’. That spiritual work does not need to be academic, intellectual, ecclesiastical, theological or any other activity for only the few.
The ‘just’, a genuinely good person, ‘lives by faith and faith alone’.
Seek the Kingdom of God ‘ABOVE ALL ELSE’, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t be afraid, little flock, for it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom………Luke 12:31,32
That thing called the ‘Kingdom of God’ is the simple situation of us striving to do good works and striving to live in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit in us.
That is also said in the following way —
“The Kingdom of God is not in ‘word’ (scripture verses), but ‘power’ (Spirit of God in us)……it’s not food and drink but ‘righteousness’ (good works and deeds) and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”….1 Cor 4:20 plus Rom 14:17
Work out ‘your own’ understanding or salvation as Paul would write.
Do your own thing. The ‘Spirit’ will help us do that.
1. … behold, the Kingdom of God is within us……….Luke 17:21
2. …the ‘Spirit of Truth’…will guide us into all the truth…he will declare to us the things that are to come…….John 16:13
Here’s a good example of ‘the things that are to come’ —
We can now see and give public recognition to the ‘positives’ and ‘greatness’ that LGBT’s bring into God’s creation.
Cheer…