14.

At the gay marriage demonstration we were addressed by a 14 year-old school girl who had come out to her peers.

She spoke sadly of the way the word gay was used by the students at her school.

"That's so gay!"
She said it meant lame.

She also spoke of being called a fagot and the homophobia of her generation.

She said that many people at her school were locked in the closet out of fear.

The crowd was very quiet during her speech and you could sense the shock and sympathy.

When I got home I felt a sense of frustration at not being able to reach these young gay people.
How could I help them from so far away?

So I have decided to write a message here for them to read:

You must never think of yourself as lame or sick.

It may seem incredible now but everyone else is wrong and we are right about the naturalness and goodness of our homosexual feelings.

It took me thirty years to realize this.

But it is absolutely true.

When you are attacked or abused by others it is best to think of them as driven by fear.

Homophobia means fear of homosexuals.

If you can think of them as ignorant and fearful it may help you to maintain your own self-image as a loving and worthwhile person.

It is important that you know that there are older people like myself who love and support you.

It is so easy to feel alone.

There is a whole community of gay people who have worked through these issues and emerged better, stronger people for it.

My prayer for you is that you will do the same.

And when you see Christians on the television telling you you're condemned by God don't believe them.

There are plenty of Progressive Christians who support and affirm gay people.

God loves you.
He accepts you as you are.
You are welcome at his table.
You will enter heaven when you die.
And you will partake of eternal life.

You have nothing to fear from God.
Cry out to Him.
And He will hear.

Don't let fear win.

You are beautiful, unique people.
Each and every one of you.

 Know that you are loved.