maliainthemargins

[maliainthemargins]

It's uncomfortable to examine your beliefs critically.

It's uncomfortable to admit you may have gotten it wrong.

It's uncomfortable to realize your words have done harm and apologize.

It's uncomfortable to feel the gap grow between yourself and those you were closest to because you started to defend strangers.

It's uncomfortable to accept love from a community you once rallied against and to show up and humbly ask for them to accept you into that very community.

But if motherhood has taught me one thing, it's how to get uncomfortable so that my kids will never have to feel discomfort around me because of who they are or who they love. So they always know they are deeply loved and accepted for who they were created to be.

I would face fire for my kids.

I will also face fire for those whose parents family, friends, and churches won't.

This pride month, if you need a stand-in friend, sister, or mom.

If you need someone to face fire with you, to

give you a hug, to listen to you vent, to

discuss faith and sexuality or gender

with you.

I won't pretend to know it all.

Not anymore.

But I will be there for you.

Last pride month, I whispered support to my new growing circle of amazing humans.

I kept my own queer identity quiet.

I cried as I felt stones hit me, tossed by people I loved as I defended others, knowing that even if they didn't realize it, those stones were aimed at me as well.

This pride month, I'm with you. Loudly.

I'm off the fence.

I still flinch when I see those hands raised with stones.

But they won't make me hide anymore.

I will never be able to undo damage I caused in the name of my faith.

But I can work to be a kinder, more loving human as I move forward.

If any of this resonates with you. If you've grown up in faith circles and are finding it harder to reconcile the faith you know and love with the hate being spewed...you can choose to get uncomfortable and change course moving forward as well.

Also...this is a great read from another writer who has been on a similar journey: https://open.substack.com/pub/marykatherinebackstrom/p/wishing-all-the-homophobes-a-super-762?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5bbej6

[maliainthemargins]

Gamer kitten would like to know what your favorite cozy games are on steam 🐱🎮

[maliainthemargins]

Today's virtual therapy fit brought to you by pride month! 🖤🩶🤍💜🏳️‍🌈🌈 And obviously, during pride month coming from a very conservative southern Baptist family...we've got a lot to unpack today. 😒

[maliainthemargins]

This is one of the most unhinged books I've read in a while. It's like the Mandy Moore movie, Saved, and Juno had a baby. It was chaos. I loved it. Finished it in 24 hours.

[maliainthemargins]

It's time again ☀️