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Celebrity baker Rav Bansal is a former contestant from The Great British Bake Off. He’s also gay. And Sikh.
This week, he shared a letter he received from someone claiming to be a “huge fan” but who was “deeply offended” to learn he was gay when he appeared on BBC’s Sunday Morning Live to talk about coming out to his South Asian parents.
“I recently saw a clip of you on the BBC where you opened [up] about being gay and Sikh, and I couldn’t have been more disappointed,” the letter states.
“I feel as though you are promoting a false image of being a person who can follow the religion, yet you promote a perverse lifestyle as if it is something you should be proud of. This is something you should have kept to yourself.”
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The letter goes on to scold 31-year-old Bansal for engaging in “lustful behavior” which the author says will result in him “no longer be supporting you if you continue to go down this path.”
“I have two young children and I don’t want them being exposed to this kind of inappropriate material,” the letter continues. “You are a public person and have a responsibility to behave in a way that won’t cause offense to people who may have looked up to you.”
The author concludes by writing, “I hope that one day you will get some clarity on this issue.”
When I decided to come out publicly I expected to be faced with some negativity. For the most part I have been able to ignore it, but this letter cut me a bit deeper. Annoyingly, it upset me more than I should have allowed it to. Religion should never be used to justify hate ???? pic.twitter.com/oWnRCWG8TS
— Rav Bansal (@RavSBansal) September 26, 2019
After sharing the letter with his 21K Twitter followers, Bansal was met with an outpouring of support from friends and fans, including some of his fellow Great British Bake Off co-stars.
He responded to the letter directly by writing: “To whoever wrote this, I hope one-day YOU will find clarity, for your children’s sake. Your word will only make me louder and stronger.”
To whoever wrote this, I hope one-day YOU will find clarity, for your children’s sake. Your word will only make me louder and stronger. ✊🏽
— Rav Bansal (@RavSBansal) September 26, 2019
He followed that up with another tweet this morning, letting everyone know he hasn’t let the hateful letter get the best of him, writing: “Hey beautiful people. Just to let you know, I am absolutely fine. All of the love and positivity that has come my way over the last day has been immense. Thank you all so much. Hate will never win!”
Hey beautiful people. Just to let you know, I am absolutely fine. All of the love and positivity that has come my way over the last day has been immense. Thank you all so much. Hate will never win! ????
— Rav Bansal (@RavSBansal) September 27, 2019
Related: Swedish orchestra turns antigay hate mail it received into a cantata of love
Cam
Another bigot using their religion as an excuse. No surprise there.
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rustyiam
It didn’t sound hateful but it did sound like they don’t agree with homosexuality! That’s their misfortune there are always going to be people like that in the world and there will always be people like this guy who need to use it to get likes and sympathy!
Scribe38
What is wrong with you, other than the bad case of trollize you have?
Kangol2
Many homophobes are very threatened by the presence of out gay and bi people, because they’re forced to deal with their own suppressed or latent queer desires. It sounds like this religious nut was probably in that category. I’m glad Rav Bansal received a lot of support, though. He deserves it.
Man About Town
I think I would have responded “How do you know your children aren’t gay?”
Rex Huskey
he had to come “out”???? give me a break!!!
karl schroeder
Such arrogance in those words – and I feel sorry for the children who have a father like him. He claims there was/is ‘lustful behavior’ – he is the one with children I would point out. It is best to ignore people like this – otherwise, you spend all your time feeling upset and giving them what they want – attention.