In 2021, I was a 19-year-old bright-eyed freshman at CU. I was ready to tackle the world of college and move on to my new chapter in life. At the time at least, I seemed to be your average Christian college student at a Christian university. However, I was holding a secret I thought would destroy my reputation here at CU. I was a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and part of me feared I would never fit in at a Christian institution, despite being Christian myself.
I have felt unable to speak out about my experiences due to some of the opposition I faced in the past. While I have experienced different levels of prejudice and vitriol, I have also found some of the greatest people who support me as I am and have helped me grow in my walk with Christ—students and professors alike. These students and professors have shown me what it is like to walk in radical acceptance and inclusion as a Christian—radical acceptance of myself and others through the radical love of Jesus.
While some may have negative and opposing opinions of me and my beliefs, I truly don’t care anymore, because I know my God is for me and that His love knows no bounds. I know my sins have been forgiven and my life has been redeemed. I hope others too will know the kind of love that is found through Jesus that is not rooted in legalism, out of context verses and tradition. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I know Jesus loves me as I am, no strings attached. The true Jesus who calls us His own if we are within Him is the one I hope others can know as I have.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
