Justin Lee (activist)

Justin Lee
Lee in 2010
NationalityAmerican
EducationWilliam G. Enloe High School
Alma materWake Forest University
Occupation(s)Author, speaker, LGBTQ Christian activist
Known forTorn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate
SpouseMichael
Websitewww.geekyjustin.com

Justin Lee is an American author, speaker, YouTuber, and LGBTQ Christian activist known for his focus on building bridges between groups who disagree.

He is the author of Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate and Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree With and Maybe Even Change the World, and the director of a 2009 documentary, Through My Eyes, which explores the struggles of young gay Christians.[1][2][3]

He is the founder and former executive director of the Gay Christian Network, which he ran from 2001 to 2017, and Nuance Ministries, which he has run since 2017.[4]

Background

Lee grew up in a conservative Christian home and continued identifying as an evangelical even after coming out as gay. According to The New York Times, "Justin Lee believes that the Virgin birth was real, that there is a heaven and a hell, that salvation comes through Christ alone and that he... is an evangelical Christian."[5]

In 1997, after struggling to reconcile his own faith and sexuality, Lee posted his story online and heard from others who were similarly struggling. This led him to be more outspoken on behalf of LGBT Christians.[6][7]

Involvement with the Gay Christian Network

In August 2001, Lee launched the Gay Christian Network (GCN), first as a small online community of gay Christians, and then as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to provide resources and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians. The organization was notable for its welcoming of "Side B" gay and bi Christians who abstain from same-sex sexual relationships, despite Lee's own "Side A" (affirming) views.[8] In an interview for CNN, Lee explained:

We're just trying to get people together who experience attraction to the same sex, however they have handled that, and who love Jesus and say, OK, you are welcome here, and then let's pray together and figure out where God wants us to take it.[9]

In 2007, Lee discussed the organization's origins as an online community:

The Internet has made a huge difference in creating a movement [...]. What at first might have seemed a little fringe group is then able to gain momentum as people meet others and discover they’re not alone.[10]

By 2016, the organization had grown to the point that its conference was being promoted as "the largest annual LGBT Christian event" with an attendance of "1,500+ LGBT Christians and allies."[11]

In 2017, Lee and the GCN board of directors announced in a joint statement that he would be leaving the organization "due to irreconcilable differences about the direction and future of the organization," and that the organization's name would soon be changing.[4][12][13] The organization later rebranded as Q Christian Fellowship, though Lee has distanced himself from the new incarnation, calling it "an entirely different organization."[14]

After his departure from GCN, Lee said he intended to continue doing LGBT Christian activism and announced the formation of a new nonprofit called Nuance Ministries.[15][12]

Fight against reparative therapy

Lee has been an outspoken critic of the "ex-gay" or "reparative therapy" movement.

In his book Torn, he discussed his own experience with the "ex-gay" movement in the 1990s, writing that "therapy can't make gay people straight...what's typically happening is behavior change, not orientation (that is, attraction) change."[1]

In 2006, he appeared on the Dr. Phil Show to argue that attempting to change someone's orientation does not work.[16]

In 2012, Lee held a public conversation with Alan Chambers, then the president of "ex-gay" organization Exodus International, in which Lee argued that Exodus was hurting people and being dishonest about their results. Chambers then admitted that

The majority of people whom I have met, and I would say the majority meaning 99.9 percent of them, have not experienced a change in their orientation or have gotten to a place where they can say that they could never be tempted or are not tempted in some way, or experience some level of same-sex attraction.[17]

A year later, when Exodus announced that they would be closing, Lee wrote, "As a Christian, I grew up believing groups like Exodus could make me straight. Even years after I realized that didn't work, I continued to hear from friends and family who pushed me to keep trying to change my orientation. Exodus's announcement today is the acknowledgement many of us have been waiting to hear for a long, long time."[18]

"Side A"/"Side B" dialogue

Lee engages in frequent public dialogues with Spiritual Friendship co-founders Ron Belgau and Wesley Hill in which Lee takes a "Side A" position (arguing for monogamous same-sex relationships) and Belgau or Hill takes a "Side B" position (arguing for celibacy).[19][20][21][22]

Other notable details

Lee is recognizable for his baldness and noticeable lack of eyebrows due to alopecia areata, a condition he has had since childhood.[23]

Books

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Lee, Justin (2013-05-14). Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate (Reprint ed.). Jericho Books. ISBN 9781455514304.
  2. ^ "IMDb listing: Through My Eyes". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 September 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ Justin Lee. "My Books" (website). GeekyJustin. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  4. ^ a b Justin Lee (19 July 2017). "Statement on GCN" (website). Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  5. ^ Neela Banerjee (December 12, 2006). "Gay and Evangelical, Seeking Paths of Acceptance". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  6. ^ Cohen, Todd (28 August 2009). "Accepting his sexuality, he now helps others". Triangle Business Journal. p. 12.
  7. ^ Fairyington, Stephanie (February 2007). "Virgin Marys". OUT. pp. 46–49.
  8. ^ Murphy, Tim (17 June 2008). "The Believers". The Advocate. pp. 52–58.
  9. ^ Transcript of 18 December 2006 episode of Anderson Cooper 360
  10. ^ Jeff McMillan, Gays, lesbians join the chastity movement, Associated Press, 31 May 2007
  11. ^ Gay Christian Network. "GCN Conference". Archived from the original (website) on 2015-09-18. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  12. ^ a b Eliel Cruz (2 August 2017). "What's Next for LGBTQ Christians?" (website). Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  13. ^ Eliel Cruz. "Founder of Gay Christian Network Parts Ways from Organization". Archived from the original (website) on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  14. ^ Justin Lee. "Frequently Asked Questions" (website). Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  15. ^ Justin Lee. "Nuance Ministries" (website). Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  16. ^ Dr. Phil (19 October 2005). "Dr. Phil Episode 601" (website). Dr. Phil. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  17. ^ Chambers, Alan; Chambers, Leslie (2015-09-29). My Exodus: From Fear to Grace. Zondervan.
  18. ^ The Gay Christian Network. "Gay Christian Network Applauds Decision to Shut Down "Ex-Gay" Ministry". The Gay Christian Network. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  19. ^ BiolaUniversity (2015-05-11), How Do We Love? A Thoughtful Dialogue on Sexual Differences, archived from the original on 2021-12-15, retrieved 2017-11-06
  20. ^ "Building Bridges at Pepperdine and Seattle Pacific". Spiritual Friendship. 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  21. ^ "The Great Debate". Ron Belgau. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  22. ^ "The Great Debate: Justin's View – Justin Lee". geekyjustin.com. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  23. ^ The Gay Christian Network. "GCN Radio transcript 29 February 2008". The Gay Christian Network. Archived from the original (website) on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  24. ^ "Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate • Geeky Justin". Geeky Justin. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  25. ^ "Talking Across the Divide by Justin Lee | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2018-12-11.

Read other articles:

Geomagnetically induced current

Ground level manifestation of space weather Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) are electrical currents induced at the Earth's surface by rapid changes in the geomagnetic field caused by space weather events. GICs can affect the normal operation of long electrical conductor systems such as electric transmission grids and buried pipelines. The geomagnetic disturbances which induce GICs include geomagnetic storms and substorms where the most severe disturbances occur at high geomagnetic lati...

 

Éric Ciotti

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ciotti. Éric Ciotti Éric Ciotti en 2023, lors d’un congrès du PPE. Fonctions Président des Républicains En fonction depuis le 11 décembre 2022(1 an, 3 mois et 22 jours) Élection 11 décembre 2022 Vice-président François-Xavier Bellamy Secrétaire général Annie Genevard Prédécesseur Annie Genevard (intérim)Christian Jacob Questeur de l'Assemblée nationale En fonction depuis le 16 janvier 2018(6 ans, 2 mois et 17 ...

 

Nottingham Forest Football Club 2007-2008

Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento stagioni delle società calcistiche inglesi non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Nottingham Forest Football ClubStagione 2007-2008Sport calcio Squadra Nottingham Forest Allenatore Colin Calderwood Presidente Nigel Doughty Football League One2° (promosso in Football League Championship) FA CupSecondo t...

Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

Opera house in Baku Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet TheaterAddressNizami küçəsi 95BakuAzerbaijanConstructionOpened28 February 1911Years active1911-presentArchitectNikolai BayevTenantsAzerbaijan State Academic BalletAzerbaijan State Academic OperaWebsiteoperabalet.az The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (Azerbaijani: Axundov adına Azərbaycan Dövlət Akademik Opera və Balet Teatrı) is an opera house in Baku, Azerbaijan. Formerly known as the Mailov Theatre (...

 

Laura Mennell

Canadian actress Laura MennellMennell, photographed in 2009Born (1980-04-18) 18 April 1980 (age 44)[1]Surrey, British Columbia, Canada[1]OccupationActressYears active1996–presentRelativesAlan Young (cousin) Laura Mennell (/mɛˈnɛl/; born 18 April 1980) is a Canadian actress known for her roles in Thirteen Ghosts, Alphas, Haven, Loudermilk, The Man in the High Castle, Watchmen and Batwoman. In 2011/2012 Mennell co-starred on the Sci-fi television series Alphas. La...

 

Modena Football Club 1934-1935

Questa voce sull'argomento stagioni delle società calcistiche italiane è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Voce principale: Modena Football Club. Modena Football ClubStagione 1934-1935Sport calcio Squadra Modena Allenatore Richard Klug Presidente Serie B2º posto nel girone B. Maggiori presenzeCampionato: Nebbia (29) Miglior marcatoreCampionato: Brossi, Meucci (13) StadioCampo di vial...

Trat province

Province of Thailand Province in ThailandTrat ตราดProvince FlagSealMotto(s): เมืองเกาะครึ่งร้อย พลอยแดงค่าล้ำ ระกำแสนหวาน หลังอานหมาดี ยุทธนาวีเกาะช้าง สุดทางบูรพา (The city of half a hundred islands. Precious rubies. Sweet salacca. Fine Thai ridgeback dogs. The Naval Battle of Ko Chang. The far end in the East.Map of Th...

 

Keuskupan San Miniato

Keuskupan San MiniatoDioecesis Sancti MiniatiKatolik Katedral San MiniatoLokasiNegaraItaliaProvinsi gerejawiFirenzeStatistikLuas691 km2 (267 sq mi)Populasi- Total- Katolik(per 2010)170.142158,000 (92.9%)Paroki91InformasiDenominasiGereja KatolikRitusRitus RomaPendirian5 Desember 1622 (401 tahun lalu)KatedralCattedrale di Ss. Maria Assunta e GenesioKepemimpinan kiniPausFransiskusUskupAndrea Migliavacca[1][2]PetaSitus webwww.sanminiato.chiesacat...

 

ATP Buenos Aires 1975

ATP Buenos Aires 1975 Sport Tennis Data 10 novembre – 16 novembre Edizione 46a Superficie Terra rossa Montepremi 50 000 $ Campioni Singolare Guillermo Vilas Doppio Paolo Bertolucci / Adriano Panatta 1974 1976 L'ATP Buenos Aires 1975 è stato un torneo di tennis giocato sulla terra rossa. È stata l'46ª edizione del torneo, che fa parte del Commercial Union Assurance Grand Prix 1975.Si è giocato a Buenos Aires in Argentina dal 10 al 16 novembre 1975. Indice 1 Campioni 1.1 Singol...

內閣總理大臣

  关于与「內閣總理大臣」標題相近或相同的条目页，請見「內閣總理大臣 (消歧義)」。 日本國內閣總理大臣內閣總理大臣紋章現任岸田文雄自2021年10月4日在任尊称總理、總理大臣、首相、阁下官邸總理大臣官邸提名者國會全體議員選出任命者天皇任期四年，無連任限制[註 1]設立法源日本國憲法先前职位太政大臣（太政官）首任伊藤博文设立1885年12月22日，...

 

Pierre Rolland (cyclist)

French road bicycle racer Pierre RollandRolland at the 2013 Critérium du DauphinéPersonal informationFull namePierre RollandBorn (1986-10-10) 10 October 1986 (age 37)Gien, FranceHeight1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[1]Weight67 kg (148 lb; 10 st 8 lb)[1]Team informationCurrent teamRetiredDisciplineRoadRoleRiderRider typeClimberAmateur teams2005–2006Super Sport 352006Crédit Agricole (stagiaire) Professional teams2007–2008C...

 

A7 polytope

Orthographic projectionsA7 Coxeter plane 7-simplex In 7-dimensional geometry, there are 71 uniform polytopes with A7 symmetry. There is one self-dual regular form, the 7-simplex with 8 vertices. Each can be visualized as symmetric orthographic projections in Coxeter planes of the A7 Coxeter group, and other subgroups. Graphs Symmetric orthographic projections of these 71 polytopes can be made in the A7, A6, A5, A4, A3, A2 Coxeter planes. Ak has [k+1] symmetry. For even k and symmetrically ri...

Eurovision Song Contest 2005

International song competition Eurovision 2005 redirects here. For the junior contest, see Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005. Eurovision Song Contest 2005AwakeningDatesSemi-final19 May 2005 (2005-05-19)Final21 May 2005 (2005-05-21)HostVenuePalace of SportsKyiv, UkrainePresenter(s)Maria EfrosininaPavlo ShylkoDirected bySven StojanovicExecutive supervisorSvante StockseliusExecutive producerPavlo GrytsakHost broadcasterNational Television Company of Ukraine (NTU)W...

 

Administrative divisions of Haiti

The administrative divisions of Haiti (Haitian Creole: divizyon administratif Ayiti) are concerned with the institutional and territorial organization of Haitian territory. There are many administrative divisions which may have political (local government), electoral (districts), or administrative (decentralized services of the state) objectives. Administrative divisions As of 22 July 2015[update], Haiti is divided into the following:[1][2] 4 regions being No...

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (soundtrack)

2016 film score by Steve JablonskyTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Music from the Motion Picture)Film score by Steve JablonskyReleasedJune 3, 2016GenreFilm scoreLength68:51LabelParamount MusicProducerSteve JablonskySteve Jablonsky chronology Keanu(2016) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows(2016) Deepwater Horizon(2016) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 2016 film of the same name...

Об'єднання Республіки Молдова та Румунії

Об'єднання Республіки Молдова та Румунії Дата створення / заснування 1980-ті[1] Країна  Молдова і  Румунія Столиця Бухарест Кількість населення 24 150 000 осіб Мета проєкту або місії унія Площа 272 261 км²  Об'єднання Республіки Молдова та Румун�...

 

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council

Government regulatory agency Pakistan Medical and Dental Councilپاکستان میڈیکل اینڈ ڈینٹل کمیشنAbbreviationPM&DCFormation1962; 62 years ago (1962)FounderWajid Ali Khan BurkiHeadquartersMauve Area, Islamabad-44000Region served PakistanPresidentProf. Dr. Rizwan TajParent organizationMinistry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Higher Education Commission (Pakistan)Employees 232Websitepmdc.pkFormerly calledPMC (Pakistan Medica...

 

Saut à ski masculin sur tremplin normal aux Jeux olympiques de 2022

Pour des articles plus généraux, voir Saut à ski aux Jeux olympiques de 2022 et Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 2022. Tremplin normal individuel hommes Généralités Sport Saut à ski Organisateur(s) CIO et FIS Éditions 16e Lieu(x) Zhangjiakou Date du 5 au 6 février 2022 Nations 20 Participants 53 athlètes Site(s) Ruyi des neiges Palmarès Tenant du titre Andreas Wellinger Vainqueur Ryōyū Kobayashi Deuxième Manuel Fettner Troisième Dawid Kubacki Navigation Pyeongchang 2018 Milan-Cortin...

Metroid Prime

2002 video game 2002 video gameMetroid PrimeNorth American and PAL region box artDeveloper(s)Retro StudiosPublisher(s)NintendoDirector(s)Mark PaciniProducer(s)Shigeru MiyamotoKensuke TanabeKenji MikiAkira OtaniMichael MannProgrammer(s)Mark JohnstonArtist(s)Todd KellerComposer(s)Kenji YamamotoKouichi KyumaSeriesMetroidPlatform(s)GameCubeWiiRelease November 18, 2002 GameCube NA: November 18, 2002JP: February 28, 2003EU: March 21, 2003AU: April 3, 2003 Wii JP: February 19, 2009 Genre(s)Action-ad...

 

A Stranger Is Watching

1977 novel by Mary Higgins Clark For the film, see A Stranger Is Watching (film). This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.Find sources: A Stranger Is Watching – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2023) A Stranger Is Watching First edition coverAuthorMary Higgins ClarkLanguageEnglishGen...