In the above video, David Stevens gets emotional as he describes the love he has for his gay brother and his partner and the struggles they have to face, along with the LGBT community, when it comes to misguided bigotry and discrimination.
Originally published on his personal blog, Stevens recounts going to his little brother’s wedding and the response he got after posting photos of the joyous day to his Facebook. One person in particular, a former co-worker and Baptist preacher, felt David had gone too far:
“Hey David, I am removing you from my friends list…sorry man, that latest post is way over the top! Homosexuals joining in “Holy” matrimony…I don’t think so??? The Holy Bible speaks out against homosexuality and speaks highly of Holy matrimony between a man and a woman. It’s nothing more than a slap in the face to those who choose God’s Word, for homosexuals to join in a Holy marriage. I’m only defriending you so I don’t have to look at your anti-God stuff anymore…nothing personal!”
Why do people insist it’s “nothing personal” immediately after personally insulting someone? David was hurt by his Facebook friend’s response, but eventually came to realize it wasn’t that big of a loss, and he sent the preacher man a letter to his church expressing “disappointment in his withdrawal.”
The incident lingered on his mind, however, and he put himself in his brother’s shoes, wondering how he would feel if the rejection came not “from a distant friend, but from a beloved family member”:
How about we take this to the next level?
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How many millions of gay kids (and adults) have had that exact thing happen to them? How many millions more will in the future? I’m sorry. I’m sorry for that pain. I’m sorry for that rejection. I’m sorry for that isolation.
I’m straight. Straight as a yardstick. Straight as an arrow. I am in your corner. If I could take on that pain for you, I would. I love you.
If you’re gay, I think that’s wonderful, and I’m truly happy for you. I wish you all the love and joy in the world.
If you’re straight, I think that’s wonderful, and I’m truly happy for you. I wish you all the love and joy in the world. And I charge you, I charge you to imagine the above scenario played out with YOU as the target of rejection. Imagine the people closest to you telling you, essentially, “You are fundamentally flawed and I want nothing to do with you.” Our LGBTQ brothers and sisters face this everyday. Please don’t forget that.
The poor, misguided soul is no longer in my life. That’s okay. My brother and his husband still are. I just hung out with my brother a few weeks ago, and it was a blast. He’s brilliant, he’s funny, and he’s kind. I couldn’t be prouder to call him my brother. I love him, and love wins, period.
We’d be proud to call David our brother any day.
Caleb in SC
I hate you to the very essence of your soul and hope you burn in hell . . . nothing personal.
Red_Dragon_888
Thanks for your thoughts.
2eo
Fuck your god, he isn’t even real.
2eo
What is it with the religious in general and hiding behind a veneer of being a dick while pretending to be nice, we have religious posters on here Dako, funnily enough another baptist who just last week attacked the family of a child abused by the Baptist church of America.
He’s also applying for a Visa for a man from Brazil who is a convicted sex offender over there, also a baptist.
Anti god is pro human.
jeepgrl1964
I love you and your stance, good for you and your brother, may you be blessed with love throughout your life!!!
These so-called religious people forget that LOVE was what Jesus taught, and Love is what we should share , not hate.
2eo
@jeepgrl1964: Give this a quick read. As someone who doesn’t believe in the No True Scotsman fallacy I posit these people are religious people, and they represent them as their book and system shows.
http://www.richarddawkins.net/foundation_articles/2013/9/26/they-weren-t-lacking-in-faith-they-were-lacking-in-kindness#
Skooter McGoo
It takes no religion to understand treat others as you want to be treated, it only takes being human. Bravo for the brothers and their love that breaks down all walls.
jckfmsincty
We all should have a brother like him.
Dakotahgeo
As a retired and ordained Christian minister, I wholly, totally welcome David, his little brother and his partner into a welcoming relationship with me and the church I represent. Please understand that not all “Christian” ministers are Christian! They were called into ministry by the church… real Christian ministers have a loving heart and welcoming spirit and were accepting the true call to ministry from God. Tremendous blessings to the newly married happy couple and to you, David! Shalom!
Pastor Dak!
Dakotahgeo
@2eo: LOLOL… You never cease to amuse me, Wacko! Ario doesn’t even have parking tickets to his credit, much less any other problems with the law. We are both good friends with the Federal Policia in Bauru and they have been a tremendous help in arranging Ari’s imminent move to the EUA! And fortunately, neither one of us is Baptist, thank God! I am a Mennonite and Ari is a non-practicing Catholic, but a practicing Christian. Thank you for giving us a stage to toot our horns from… Cheers!
mz.sam
No worries here. Homophobes and Haters are a**holes and will soon self-extinct as society marches towards acceptance and love.
2eo
@mz.sam: Indeed, you notice how they’re the same people who were attacking desegregation, and their parents were the same people who hated women so much they wanted to hit them with sticks for speaking out of turn.
When they die we get better.
2eo
@mz.sam: What’s the one thing they ALL have in common… religion, the one true poison.
MellowYellow42
The words were inspiring! Your brother is lucky to have you as a big brother! Cheers
Jeanluc
Dear David Stevens, ignore the Talibanic comments, from the ‘christian’ baptists, hindering the progress of human expansion. They are doomed by reason and logic, the very faculties our God and Creator, granted us to keep going and evolve. You may have lost bigoted and intellectually stagnant ‘friends’, but sir, you have gained the love and support from millions of brothers and sisters of your gay brother. Thank you for your testicular fortitude and may God keep blessing you, as he already has! Stay strong, we all love you!
Sincerely, Dr. Jeanluc Capri, Wellington New Zealand!
Harley
“The national government will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests. It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality. Today Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit. We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theater, and in the press – in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excesses during recent years.” – Hitler
The Speeches of Adolph Hitler, 1922-1939, Vol. 1 (London, Oxford University Press, 1942), pg. 871-872
Dakotahgeo
@Jeanluc: One cannot say it any better than you did, Dr. Capri! Thank you! Pastor Dak!
BigWoody
RELIGION=MYTHOLOGY
breslowilario
my buddy’s ex-wife makes *67 hourly on the laptop. She has been without work for five months but last month her pay was *13537 just working on the laptop for a few hours. More about the author…….
http://www.max61.com
snooptommy
I know my god loves me! everything personal…Amen!