Garry Corbett
M.Div. (Nazarene Theological Seminary)
Ph.D. in Psychology
In my early years, my views on LGBTQ+ issues were heavily influenced by the conservative teachings of the Church of the Nazarene and the cultural context of the time. However, through my encounters with LGBTQ+ individuals, both personally and professionally, I began to see the deep pain and conflict they experienced. Perhaps most shocking has been the discovery that a disproportionate number of these individuals were raised in church-going homes. These encounters, coupled with my academic pursuits in psychology, gradually led me to question and ultimately transform my beliefs.
My real first encounter with the LGBTQ+ community occurred early in my career as the director of a program working with “street kids.” These were 16 to 18-year-olds who had been expelled from school and were part of the juvenile correction system. One afternoon, as I was engrossed in paperwork at my desk, I noticed a girl, “Karen,” sitting alone by the window in my office. She often sought solace there between her classes, and today was no different. I heard her softly singing to herself, and the melody caught my attention. It was a familiar tune from my own Sunday School days— “Come listen to my tale of Jonah and the Whale…”
Curious, I asked Karen where she had learned that song. She glanced up and told me about her upbringing in a devout Church of the Nazarene family. As she shared her story, a mix of nostalgia and pain filled her eyes. Raised in a very religious home, Karen had been an active participant in her church’s youth programs. She was on the Bible quiz team, attended church camp, and sang in the youth choir. In many ways, she was like every other Nazarene kid. However, she had always felt different.
From a young age, Karen realized she wasn’t attracted to boys but to girls. This realization brought immense confusion and fear. When she was 14, she confided in her parents about her feelings, hoping for understanding and support. Instead, her world turned upside down. Her parents, desperate to “fix” her, grounded her from all activities except school, church, and a barrage of appointments with Christian counselors. The pressure and isolation were overwhelming.
To escape her pain, Karen began sneaking alcohol and drugs. She became involved in fights at school and was eventually expelled. This was the breaking point for her parents, who told her to leave home and not return until she “straightened herself out.” With nowhere to go, Karen ended up on the streets, surviving through theft and, eventually, prostitution.
As Karen recounted her story, tears streamed down her face. She expressed a deep sense of despair, saying she wished she hadn’t been born this way. Despite all the counseling and countless hours of praying, nothing changed her feelings. She loved her family dearly but felt their shame and rejection profoundly. They wanted her to be someone she wasn’t, and in trying to be true to herself, she had lost everything she held dear.
Experiences like this showed me that members of the LGBTQ+ community often face unique and profound struggles, particularly when they come from religious homes.