marriage Archives • Your Other Brothers

My Sexuality is a Gift from God

by Dean Samuels | May 14, 2019 | Lifestories | 29

God could have prevented my attraction to men. Whatever your beliefs on causation, I believe God is powerful enough to have adjusted whatever needed adjusting to have prevented my attraction to men. Since this did not happen, I can only determine one reasonable possibility: my sexuality was something God wanted for my life. Therefore, I see it as a gift.

Wounded Sparrow Seeking Home: Intro to a Queer, Married Pastor

by Ben Rutkowski | Apr 23, 2019 | Lifestories | 33

I like men in more than just a friendly way. I am a man who is attracted emotionally and sexually to other men. I am also married to a woman, attracted only to her out of all the women on earth. Somehow, it works. I am queer. And for much of my life, that has terrified me.

The Hidden Blessings of Our Sexualities

by Eugene Heffron | Mar 26, 2019 | Musings | 30

I’ve been traveling and meeting so many other likeminded gay or same-sex attracted (SSA) individuals for the past few years. In my many interactions, I’ve picked up on so many commonalities. I have rediscovered the age-old truth that God can take the seemingly darkest, hardest things in our lives and use them for something incredibly good.

How My Best Friend’s Relationship Affects Me

by Matthew 'Áshįįhí | Mar 5, 2019 | Lifestories | 3

One day, we finally grabbed lunch together, and I just poured out my heart to my best friend. I pleaded for him to take his relationship slowly and not to forget about me. While saying that, something just clicked in my brain. I started tearing up; right then and there, I asked my best friend to forgive me for being a jerk.

I Wanted to be Ex-Gay

by Eugene Heffron | Jan 15, 2019 | Lifestories | 24

I hadn’t wanted orientation change out of a desire to please God. I’d wanted to be straight because I simply wanted to be normal. I had been scared. I was internally homophobic, hating myself and especially other gay men.

Finding Hope in Fantasy

by Dean Samuels | Nov 27, 2018 | Lifestories | 12

My daughter had been injured by an accident — something that had no one to blame or fault. And in that time, I needed to know that it was all going to be all right. I needed to know that it would work out. I needed hope. And I needed to restore my faith in that hope.

What’s a Same-Sex Celibate Partnership?

by Eugene Heffron | Nov 14, 2018 | Musings, Popular | 94

A same-sex celibate partnership is an intimate coupling between two same-sex attracted or gay-identifying individuals. Bonded for life in a way similar to marriage but, of course, minus the sex. I have already seen a few celibate couplings form between guys. I’ve been mostly watching from a distance, but other times I’ve contacted those folks to ask questions. Sometimes I view them with a lot of envy.

Should I Let My Daughter Put Makeup On Me?

by Dean Samuels | Oct 23, 2018 | Lifestories | 10

I love being a girl-dad. At the end of the day, my wearing some makeup or playing pretend with my daughter will not come to define her conception of gender.

YOBcast Episode 041: Why Side B

by YOB | Sep 14, 2018 | Podcast | 40

Why do we choose a traditional, “Side B” sexual ethic as men who follow Jesus? Do we choose this life solely for our convictions or in spite of them? Do we live out a gay/SSA celibate life with joy or in angst and suffering? Tom welcomes Ryan and Matt for a discussion on why we’re Side B, as opposed to “Side A” (gay-affirming), and where these labels even come from.

A Personal, Vulnerable Conversation

by Dean Samuels | Sep 7, 2018 | Lifestories | 6

Henry and I had a great, heartfelt talk. But a realization hit me as we were talking: I don’t want to share this conversation with anyone else. What we talked about that day was personal. Vulnerable.