There was a time when I didn't care a whole lot about the larger "gay community". When I was in college, I dreamed of either being a youth minister, or running a non-profit organization...probably one that worked with youth. I knew that I was gay, but I had handled it really well on my own. I learned that I could win people over with my natural charm. It had worked with my roommate. He was initially very uncomfortable with my being gay, but he and I grew very close as we lived together for a year. I believed that these militant homosexuals were the ones that were giving the rest of us a bad reputation. If they could just stay off the parade march routes and off the television, then life might be more comfortable for the rest of us.

Then, I hit a situation where my natural charm and wit didn't win people over. They didn't believe that I was as sanctified as I believed that I was. I was shocked. I realized that life will never be comfortable for me unless it is comfortable for everyone else. So what to do?

It started slowly. I got a call from a mentor, asking if I would be willing to serve on the board of a local chapter of Lutherans Concerned/North America. The chapter had a lot of new people and a lot of challenges. At one time, the chapter provided worship experiences for people who couldnt' go to church elsewhere. However, there were getting to be so many RIC churches in the area that a special worship wasn't as needed. The chapter was going through an identity crisis, and I didn't know how to handle it.

Eventually, I got more involved with LC/NA. I decided that I should go to the big assembly. I felt it was my duty, and we could have fun in Baltimore. In short, we loved it.

FAST FORWARD SEVERAL YEARS

This week, I began my work as the Associate Director of Lutherans Concerned/North America. I'm way past the days where I just want a comfortable life for myself. I know that I cannot be comfortable while others suffer. I'm helping the organization education and advocate for the full inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the Lutheran Church. I'm also working with them to help the organization become an anti-racist organization. There are so many ways that we exclude people. LC/NA works with one, but they recognize that there are intersections of oppression. We suffer in many ways.

I never thought that my sexual orientation would become my job. In a way, I'm still uncomfortable with it. However, I know that my telling my own story, I can encourage others to tell their stories.