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Allies' Voices

Sunday School Surprise

January, 1998
By Maxine and Ralph Campbell, who live in Arizona

Our association in May with members of Family Fellowship was the highlight of our summer. It always gives us a boost that carries us throughout the year. We encounter many frustrations along the way as I'm sure you do also, but gradually we have been able to practice the skills learned at our conferences.

In a recent "scene" in a Sunday School class, one man said that the biggest problem we face in our country is "rampant homosexuality" and "our children are being corrupted and drawn into this evil lifestyle." Rather than be argumentative or confrontive, Ralph and I quietly walked out of the class. Everyone knew why we left. Of course, we left our daughter, Mary, behind in the class to be our "spy." She said that after we left, it was dead silence for about four minutes. Then she stood and said, "I have a gay brother whom I dearly love. He is not a threat to society. He is the most gentle human being I know. He did not choose to be gay. Our family is not humiliated by his being gay, in fact, we celebrate it."

Then one by one, about six other members of the class stood and said "I have two gay brothers." "I have a lesbian aunt." "I have a gay uncle." Etc. Etc. We did receive a number of telephone calls, one apology from the man who made the initial statement. We also had a long visit in our home with our young Bishop, with Brian present. We told him that if and when a similar incident occurs, we will react in exactly the same way, he can count on it, until sooner or later, people will realize that we will not tolerate bigotry.