Citipointe Christian College, in Brisbane, has done the unthinkable. The college has created a new enrolment contract which states, “We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual acts, bestiality, incest, paedophilia and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society.” To list homosexuality along with bestiality, incest and paedophilia is appalling and outrageous.
Regarding trans and gender diverse students, the document states “The College believes that by creating each person, God in his divine love and wisdom gifted them their gender, as male or female. The College therefore acknowledges the biological sex of a person recognised at birth and requires practices consistent with that sex.”
For many of us, these beliefs are nothing new; we’ve been battling against this level of appalling ignorance for decades because we know the devastation these have brought about in young and old LGBTQ lives.
Under the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill, soon to be reintroduced into the Australian Parliament, these cruel, harmful and ignorant beliefs and communications would be protected.
As I stated in our submission to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
To summarise my last 20 years of experience, I have estimated that I have worked with around 4,000 individual survivors of formal conversion “therapy”. Separate from this, the number of people who have experienced faith and sexuality/gender identity conflict I have worked with is incalculable. The outcomes have remained the same, including mental health issues, depression, suicidal tendencies, and attempts. Of course, even more tragic is the loss of lives through suicide; often young people gone in their prime, leaving family and friends devastated. The mental health and suicide impacts on LGBTQ people in Australia are disturbing and multiplied many times more than the general population. As I have been pointing out for years, if you are an LGBTQ person from a faith background, the risks are multiplied once more because of several factors. It’s impossible for us to count the cost of religious LGBTQ suicide.
And what is the source of all this trauma and unnecessary suffering? Churches, religious institutions, Christian leaders and family members where rejection of science, misinterpretation of sacred texts and cultural biases have pre-eminence.
Considering the tragic impacts that religion and religious individuals have had on the lives of LGBTQ people, do we want to further protect them legislatively from creating more tragedy, trauma, and harm?
Citipointe Christian College has been a source of tragedy, trauma and harm.
Download full submission HERE or read below:
For nearly twenty years. I was a Pentecostal minister and leader in the Assemblies of God (now Australian Christian Churches). I resigned from the ministry and came out as a gay man in the early 1990s. These two life experiences give me unique insights and understanding of both the Christian world and also the LGBTQ community. It is from the latter years as an advocate for LGBTQ people and equality that I want to address the unnecessary and problematic aspects of the proposed legislation.
The proposed legislation unnecessarily complicates situations in employment, service provider settings, and the corporate environment. It creates a minefield of complexities and potentially rolls back important progress in diversity, inclusion, and equality already been made in these sectors. Others can address these various situations better than I could, but I would like to highlight the impacts on LGBTQ people specifically.
The basis of each of these ex-gay/reparative/conversion “therapy” programs was the already outdated beliefs that homosexuality was unnatural, the result of poor parenting or sexual abuse and of course the religious belief that homosexuality is a sin. From the early 1970s, these organisations had been preaching that God could heal and deliver those who were willing from homosexuality and become heterosexual.
I began working with LGBTQ people from Christian backgrounds in 2000. I set up an online Yahoo group called Exex-gay[1] which was a support network for gay men and women who’d been a part of formal Christian “ex-gay” organisations, more commonly referred to these days as conversion “therapy”. At its peak, the group had nearly 400 members. Until this point, I’d had no contact with fellow survivors of these programs and was unaware of how much harm had been caused[2]. The basis of each of these ex-gay/reparative/conversion “therapy” programs was the already outdated beliefs that homosexuality was unnatural, the result of poor parenting or sexual abuse and of course the religious belief that homosexuality is a sin. From the early 1970s, these organisations had been preaching that God could heal and deliver those who were willing from homosexuality and become heterosexual.
My daily interaction with this peer support group made me realise just how devastatingly affected these individuals had been because of the beliefs and practices of these ex-gay/reparative/conversion “therapy” organisations
In 2004, my autobiography, A Life of Unlearning, was released. Initially published in Australia, it became a bestseller and sold out twice. A Life of Unlearning detailed my over 20 year struggle to rid myself of my homosexuality through prayer, fasting, exorcisms, a residential conversion “therapy” program and 16 years of marriage. I believe the reason for the book’s popularity is that in certain Christian circles, I had become a well-known and popular preacher who preached regularly to congregations in the thousands in Australia’s growing megachurches. Then I just disappeared. Also, this was the first, and for a long time the only, Australian story of its kind, that had been told.
It was not uncommon for the correspondence to begin with the words “I have never written to an author before, but your story is my story”. For the rest of the email, sometimes many pages long, the reader poured out their hearts about their experience of years of inner turmoil, discrimination, and rejection by their churches, Christian friends and/or family. Most people had never shared these things with anyone before.
Immediately, I began receiving an avalanche of emails and letters from readers. It was not uncommon for the correspondence to begin with the words “I have never written to an author before, but your story is my story”. For the rest of the email, sometimes many pages long, the reader poured out their hearts about their experience of years of inner turmoil, discrimination, and rejection by their churches, Christian friends and/or family. Most people had never shared these things with anyone before. They’d never come across anyone who would understand or could relate. My story had triggered their buried pain, shame and trauma.
I created an excel spreadsheet of the stories with a dozen columns of harmful outcomes and noted when each individual experienced mental health issues, thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and was experiencing long-term impacts, to name a few. It wasn’t uncommon for a person to have ticks in several columns.
From these interactions, it wasn’t long before patterns of harm became obvious. I created an excel spreadsheet of the stories with a dozen columns of harmful outcomes[4] and noted when each individual experienced mental health issues, thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and was experiencing long-term impacts, to name a few. It wasn’t uncommon for a person to have ticks in several columns.
It didn’t matter if they had been involved in formal conversion “therapy” organisations or informal counselling with pastors or church leaders in local congregations; the outcomes were identical. Or even being a part of a Christian family that clearly communicated an openly gay or trans child was in total conflict with their Christian faith and would never, ever be tolerated or accepted, had the same outcomes.
Soon after this, I co-founded Freedom2b, which was a support network for LGBTQ from Christian backgrounds, particularly from Pentecostal, Evangelical and Charismatic backgrounds. Three hundred and fifty people of the 1,600 members posted their stories on our forum[5]. Once again, the same patterns of harm and tragic outcomes were blatantly obvious. It didn’t matter if they had been involved in formal conversion “therapy” organisations or informal counselling with pastors or church leaders in local congregations; the outcomes were identical. Or even being a part of a Christian family that clearly communicated an openly gay or trans child was in total conflict with their Christian faith and would never, ever be tolerated or accepted, had the same outcomes.
After six years running Freedom2b and working with these individuals in Australia, I founded Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International (ABBI)[6]. We work on overcoming ignorance and misinformation about sexual orientation and gender identity within religious contexts through consultation, workshops, seminars and dialogue. Even though this has meant focusing on a different level, the one-on-one contact with individuals experiencing faith and sexuality/gender identity conflict has continued.
Of course, even more tragic is the loss of lives through suicide; often young people gone in their prime, leaving family and friends devastated. The mental health and suicide impacts on LGBTQ people in Australia are disturbing and multiplied many times more than the general population. As I have been pointing out for years, if you are an LGBTQ person from a faith background, the risks are multiplied once more because of several factors. It’s impossible for us to count the cost of religious LGBTQ suicide.
To summarise my last 20 years of experience, I have estimated that I have worked with around 4,000 individual survivors of formal conversion “therapy”. Separate from this, the number of people who have experienced faith and sexuality/gender identity conflict I have worked with is incalculable. The outcomes have remained the same, including mental health issues, depression, suicidal tendencies, and attempts. Of course, even more tragic is the loss of lives through suicide; often young people gone in their prime, leaving family and friends devastated. The mental health and suicide impacts on LGBTQ people in Australia[10] are disturbing and multiplied many times more than the general population. As I have been pointing out for years[11], if you are an LGBTQ person from a faith background, the risks are multiplied once more because of several factors. It’s impossible for us to count the cost of religious LGBTQ suicide[12].
And what is the source of all this trauma and unnecessary suffering? Churches, religious institutions, Christian leaders and family members where rejection of science, misinterpretation of sacred texts and cultural biases have pre-eminence.
Considering the tragic impacts that religion and religious individuals have had on the lives of LGBTQ people, do we want to further protect them legislatively from creating more tragedy, trauma, and harm? This Religious Discrimination Bill is a definite step backwards. If passed, this Bill will unleash unnecessary adversarial conflicts and disharmony which I know we will all come to regret.
Should you require any additional information or clarity, I am happy to assist.
Sincerely
Anthony Venn-Brown OAM
Founder and CEO of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International (ABBI)
Author of the bestseller ‘A Life of Unlearning – a preacher’s struggle with his homosexuality, church and faith’. Honoured to be voted one of the 25 Most Influential Gay & Lesbian Australians (2007 & 2009), winner of 2015 ACON’s Health and Wellbeing Award and awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the LGBTIQ community (2020).
[1] Yahoo Groups – Exex-gay – a support and discussion group for guys and girls who have had or are having faith/sexuality conflict https://web.archive.org/web/20080602094436/http:/groups.yahoo.com/group/Exex-gay
[2] Conversion therapy survivors – testimonials not found on ‘ex-gay’ organisations’ sites. https://www.abbi.org.au/2012/05/conversion-therapy-survivors-2/
[3] KILLING US, DRIVING US CRAZY – The experience of LGBTI people from faith backgrounds. Presented at The National LGBTI Health in Difference Conference 11-13 April 2018, Sydney, Australia. https://www.abbi.org.au/2018/04/lgbti-people-from-faith-backgrounds/
[4] KILLING US, DRIVING US CRAZY – The experience of LGBTI people from faith backgrounds. Presented at The National LGBTI Health in Difference Conference 11-13 April 2018, Sydney, Australia. https://www.abbi.org.au/2018/04/lgbti-people-from-faith-backgrounds/
[5] Freedom2b Forum – Telling our stories https://freedom2b.org/forums/our-community-g2/telling-our-stories-f13/
[6] Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International (ABBI) https://www.abbi.org.au/
[7] LGBTIQ+ National Health – SNAPSHOT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION STATISTICS FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE April 2021 https://www.lgbtiqhealth.org.au/statistics
[8]What are we doing for LGBT people of faith and religion? https://www.abbi.org.au/2006/04/lgbt-people-of-faith/
[9] LGBTQ Religious Suicide – Why we’ll never be able to count the cost https://www.abbi.org.au/2021/09/lgbtq-religious-suicide/
[10] LGBTIQ+ National Health – SNAPSHOT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION STATISTICS FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE April 2021 https://www.lgbtiqhealth.org.au/statistics
[11]What are we doing for LGBT people of faith and religion? https://www.abbi.org.au/2006/04/lgbt-people-of-faith/
[12] LGBTQ Religious Suicide – Why we’ll never be able to count the cost https://www.abbi.org.au/2021/09/lgbtq-religious-suicide/
Hello Anthony – Stop what?
I guess one can quote scriptures from Paul’s teaching on sexuality, and you would ignore them or have an opinion like “they are not relevant, today”. As an advocate for homosexual lifestyle how do you response to scriptures like: ‘Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory’ (1 Cor 10v31) A Christian’s living, behaviour, is meant to bring glory to God; I read this as meaning Christians (those who acknowledge the biblical God and Jesus as the Son of God) should live and behave in a manner which brings glory to their Creator. I was reading Paul’s writing to the Corinthians the other week –.——The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body (1 Cor 6v13). the person who is sexually immoral sins against (their) own body………….don’t you know your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit…(v’s 18&19). And I thought of you. How can you teach against what appears so clear. Why should the college not have such statements of faith to which one agrees to? Do you advocate the one who use to steal and becomes a christian, should continue to steal and attend a learning institute on Christianity? You can say you have come ‘out’ and can still be Christian, but I am not convinced from scripture that this correct.
Hi Stephen…Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. There are several questions that your comments raise.
What do you mean be “homosexual lifestyle”?
“but I am not convinced from scripture that this correct.” I’m not sure that you are ready to be convinced or be open to the possibility of a different approach. Have you listened to or read these https://www.abbi.org.au/audio-resources/homosexuality-christianity-church1/ and https://www.abbi.org.au/audio-resources/what-does-the-bible-really-say-about-homosexuality/
Acts 15 tells us that the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the gentiles signaled God’s acceptance of them. When God poured the Spirit out on me, he demonstrated his acceptance of me. Just as circumcision is not required of the gentile, a heterosexual orientation is not required of me. My heart is purified by faith.
Anthony, thank you for your response: homosexual lifestyle – by this I mean; way of living. Lifestyle is speaking to the elements of life such as; home, consumption, work, hobbies, how one spends their time etc..Lifestyle is the way of life you have established. Why I am commenting because I don’t agree with your highlighting of Citipointe Christian college’s enrollment wording.
Your Quote: The college has created a new enrolment contract which states, “We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual acts, bestiality, incest, paedophilia and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society.” To list homosexuality along with bestiality, incest and paedophilia is appalling and outrageous.
Regarding trans and gender diverse students, the document states “The College believes that by creating each person, God in his divine love and wisdom gifted them their gender, as male or female. The College therefore acknowledges the biological sex of a person recognised at birth and requires practices consistent with that sex.”
Why should this be stopped? Is there more than male and female? Christians accept the Bible’s account of creation; He made them male and female – unless you are saying this is limiting God’s creation.
As one who spoke the words of Jesus in the Assembly of God, you know doubt have read Jesus’ allegory recorded in John’s gospel chapter 15; Jesus as the true vine. I was with some men from church discussing and was drawn to the description Jesus used to describe his disciple – branches. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing”. Aware of your response to me; I wondered about the word ‘fruit’. But, before fruit there is a branch; the fruit of the vine is found on a branch. The vine is Jesus, the vine dresser is the Father and disciples of Jesus (the vine) are branches, from which fruit is nurtured. I hope your fruit is of Jesus quality; for within the fruit their is a seed (in grapes there are many seeds).
Yes, I have previously read your explanation(s) of how you justify the word ‘homosexual’ ; lets say you have not convinced me and am not happy at the way you spoke of Sy Rogers.
Jesus speaks of the vine dresser as being his Father (our Father). Branches get their ‘sap’ from the vine, to produce fruit of the vine’s kind; the vine dresser attends to the upkeep of the vine’s branches. I hope your lifestyle (is this fruit?) is a reflection of the vine, if you say you are one of his disciples. I am not convinced that Citipointe Christian College, can not ask its attendees to agree to such statements on their enrollment.
The whole allegory leans itself to much contemplation and personal examination – “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned”.
Regards Stephen
Dan, a ‘heterosexual orientation’ is not required – but what is required is being born again! Take a read of Jesus speaking to Nicodemus; “I say unto you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, (some translations ‘born again’, or ‘born from above’) he cannot enter the kingdom of God. It is not a matter of heterosexual or homosexual; it is am I born again; a new creation in Christ. I once was…………….lifestyle (you fill the blank) but not longer. Don’t corrupt the gospel
Regards Stephen
I am born again, Stephen, which is why I referred to my having received the Holy Spirit. Your failure to receive gay people does not mean that the Lord has not received them. The circumcision party – whom Paul spent a good portion of his ministry fighting against – also rejected individuals based on their failure to conform to their understanding f the Scripture. Please take your own advice and do not corrupt the Gospel. My reception by God is not corrupting the Gospel.
Hello Dan & Anthony, thanks for your replies
My understanding is that Paul is addressing the Jews who supported a physical identity. Not sure how this is supportive of ones sexually identity. Also my reading of scripture is that a person who becomes a Christian is identifying with his gospel (this is seen in the word – Christian). And I am unsure where I indicated I don’t ‘receive gay people’.
What I do struggle with is qualifying a statement such as; “I am a gay christian” when for me it should be just “I am a christian”.
When one is a true disciple (born again) identification is zero; for, as Paul stated; “It is no longer I who live but Christ”. Having had Jesus deal with my ‘sin’ I am to no longer identify with my personage but live from a new orientation; living as unto God.
This week I was reading 2 Cor chapters 5 & 6 and as I was, this correspondence with yourself and Anthony sat in my mind. There is much here which speaks to ‘identity’. Even now, in preparation for this reply, I have read on internet: ’10 reasons God loves Gay Christians’ and ‘What does the Bible say about Homosexuality – HRC’; my conclusion it is intellectual, maybe even ‘social’ but where does this stand when scripture speaks of ‘standing before Christ to be judged’ (2 Cor 5v10); a ‘spectacular ministry rather than a sincere heart’ (2 Cor 5v12).
How do you and I read the word ‘sin’, as used by Paul in 2 Cor 5v21? (For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be an offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ). For me, ‘sin’ is a word I use to identify my state; not my culture, not my sexual orientation, not circumcised or not, not my political belief etc.. Each person’s identity is the state of ‘sinfulness’ and Christ who did not share this state, became like one us as an offering to God, so we can be made right before God.
For me, Citipointe is within their rights to qualify their preference with a statement on their enrolment. They are speaking to sexual immorality (which I would hope abbi would support) and so does Paul in his writings; so why can’t they?
Anthony, you may say, this (statement) has been lifted out of an 1800’s piece of writing, but surely on a contract they can declare their thinking. One signs the enrolment contract, knowing the conditions. And, do you stand by your statement from above:
Quoted from above: Citipointe Christian College has been a source of tragedy, trauma and harm.
Through Christ, Christians no longer identify themselves as either Jew or Gentile; heterosexual or homosexual; poor or rich, for we are new creations and therefore any form of physical identifications does not count.
Written with prayer and good intentions, Stephen
Hello again, Stephen,
I’m sorry, but do you really expect anyone to believe that you no longer identify as heterosexual, because you’re a Christian? Bit of a stretch, I think. You’re only deceiving yourself. At least you didn’t deny I might be born again. That is a start. My “identity” as a gay man, who is a Christian is really no different than a Christian man who also acknowledges that he is also blond with blue eyes. It’s a statement of fact. I am gay and I’m a Christian. Your failure to approve of my self-designation is of no consequence. You are right that we will all be judged. For me, the fear of judgment passed when I stopped living under the bondage of legalism and embraced myself as I am, which was made possible by Jesus, who accepted me as I am. This was an experience I had when first coming to Christ, but as many foolish Galatians before me, I began attending church, where i was told I was not acceptable as I was. When I found religion, I lost my soul, as someone once said. This school’s policy is ridiculous all the way around. It is not about going out and doing whatever one pleases, as so many evangelical Christians seem to think gay theology is about, but rather discovering what it means to be gay and live a life that is submitted to Christ, rather than the church.