I have a similar story. My religious Southern Baptist biological family kicked me out of their house when I was 15 years old because I refused to marry the much older man they'd picked for me. I had told them I wanted to go to college and that was when they informed me of my upcoming marriage. I hadn't a clue they were planning that. I t…
I have a similar story. My religious Southern Baptist biological family kicked me out of their house when I was 15 years old because I refused to marry the much older man they'd picked for me. I had told them I wanted to go to college and that was when they informed me of my upcoming marriage. I hadn't a clue they were planning that. I told them I wouldn't marry him and came out as LGBTQ. They quite angrily kicked me out. So at age 15 I was suddenly homeless... but within 3 blocks of leaving my parents home I felt profoundly relieved to be away from them and their religion. The non-religious friends and their families that I stayed with were far kinder to me than any of the religious people had been, the religious people who had known me all my llife.
Before age 15 I had begun reading about art and art history - quite against my parents wishes - and was beginning to be aware that there were many artworks and poems etc far older than the bible. There is a reason many of the religions forbid education, forbid women's education particularly - the religious men can remain in control of our bodies and minds that way.
We can fight such misogyny, bigotry and hatefulness by education by reading widely by learning more about the real world and doing that all of our lives - and by sharing what we learn.
I suspect there are many who share a similar story. In the end, your unfeeling parents did you a favor. We have a wonderful granddaughter who is LGBTQ, and neither her parents nor we would dream of turning our backs on her. And we are all atheists.
I’m so sorry you went through this. At 17 my southern baptist parents tried to have me locked in a nut house for I’m guessing being a normal teen (I didn’t sleep around, drink, smoke, dope, skip school or sneak out) and refusing to go to their church that didn’t fit my beliefs.
I'm sorry you went through it too. It seems that for the religious sorts like we encountered everything that is real-world normal they are offended by and seek to control because their beliefs are so fragile that they freak and can't
handle it if someone doesn't reflect their beliefs 100%.
So true. And the MAGA Republicans want to not only keep such child bride abuse going and make women's healthcare and contraception unavailable - they also want to do away with no fault divorce and make child labor possible again. I hope all Republicans are voted out of power in coming elections.
Sue, I just watched a show on HULU last night about child brides in America. A number of them came from very religious families. They weren't as lucky as you and didn't get away.
Yes the whole child-bride thing that religious Republicans support is absolutely horrible too many ways to list here. I was indeed very lucky to get away. They were very angry when I came out LGBTQ and kicked me out on a reactive whim... after they calmed down they tried to force me into the marriage anyway. They tried the "pray away the gay" so called therapy as well as exorcisms in attempts to force me into that marriage. But I didn't succumb and even went to the police to get them to stop the abuse. It was a years long struggle back in the 1980's and
early 90s but they and their church were so horrible that even Southern Baptist anti-gay Oklahoma court system recognized what they were doing to try to force a marriage was wrong and granted me a lifelong victims protective order. So yes, I was very lucky indeed. And I have gone on to live quite happily with a partner of 28 years and over 2000 miles away from Oklahoma.
Oklahoma. I'm not surprised. I lived there too. That's not where the pastor said those things. That was in Virginia. But it was very hard on me living in Oklahoma being a liberal. I can't imagine being gay and living there. I'm so happy you got to a more accepting place and are living a happy life with your partner of 28 years. I hope that one day, the rest of the country gets educated and stops being so mean.
I’m so glad you stood up for yourself, as bad as the falling-out with your family must have felt in the moment! Love from your bisexual brother-in-atheism!
I have a similar story. My religious Southern Baptist biological family kicked me out of their house when I was 15 years old because I refused to marry the much older man they'd picked for me. I had told them I wanted to go to college and that was when they informed me of my upcoming marriage. I hadn't a clue they were planning that. I told them I wouldn't marry him and came out as LGBTQ. They quite angrily kicked me out. So at age 15 I was suddenly homeless... but within 3 blocks of leaving my parents home I felt profoundly relieved to be away from them and their religion. The non-religious friends and their families that I stayed with were far kinder to me than any of the religious people had been, the religious people who had known me all my llife.
Before age 15 I had begun reading about art and art history - quite against my parents wishes - and was beginning to be aware that there were many artworks and poems etc far older than the bible. There is a reason many of the religions forbid education, forbid women's education particularly - the religious men can remain in control of our bodies and minds that way.
We can fight such misogyny, bigotry and hatefulness by education by reading widely by learning more about the real world and doing that all of our lives - and by sharing what we learn.
Thanks for sharing this Jess!!
I suspect there are many who share a similar story. In the end, your unfeeling parents did you a favor. We have a wonderful granddaughter who is LGBTQ, and neither her parents nor we would dream of turning our backs on her. And we are all atheists.
💚💚💚💚💚💚
GOOD BLESS YOU AS WELL!!!
I’m so sorry you went through this. At 17 my southern baptist parents tried to have me locked in a nut house for I’m guessing being a normal teen (I didn’t sleep around, drink, smoke, dope, skip school or sneak out) and refusing to go to their church that didn’t fit my beliefs.
I'm sorry you went through it too. It seems that for the religious sorts like we encountered everything that is real-world normal they are offended by and seek to control because their beliefs are so fragile that they freak and can't
handle it if someone doesn't reflect their beliefs 100%.
Yes it’s for sure a control thing
Their beliefs are fragile if they can't withstand someone else who thinks differently.
Yup like their masculinity
So very true what you say.
Your story makes me sad and angry. It *should* be illegal for parents to marry their underage child to a grown man.
Should be, but isn’t.
So true. And the MAGA Republicans want to not only keep such child bride abuse going and make women's healthcare and contraception unavailable - they also want to do away with no fault divorce and make child labor possible again. I hope all Republicans are voted out of power in coming elections.
Republicans also attack books and education. Basically, they want to keep women barefoot and pregnant. Easy to control.
Sue, I just watched a show on HULU last night about child brides in America. A number of them came from very religious families. They weren't as lucky as you and didn't get away.
Yes the whole child-bride thing that religious Republicans support is absolutely horrible too many ways to list here. I was indeed very lucky to get away. They were very angry when I came out LGBTQ and kicked me out on a reactive whim... after they calmed down they tried to force me into the marriage anyway. They tried the "pray away the gay" so called therapy as well as exorcisms in attempts to force me into that marriage. But I didn't succumb and even went to the police to get them to stop the abuse. It was a years long struggle back in the 1980's and
early 90s but they and their church were so horrible that even Southern Baptist anti-gay Oklahoma court system recognized what they were doing to try to force a marriage was wrong and granted me a lifelong victims protective order. So yes, I was very lucky indeed. And I have gone on to live quite happily with a partner of 28 years and over 2000 miles away from Oklahoma.
Oklahoma. I'm not surprised. I lived there too. That's not where the pastor said those things. That was in Virginia. But it was very hard on me living in Oklahoma being a liberal. I can't imagine being gay and living there. I'm so happy you got to a more accepting place and are living a happy life with your partner of 28 years. I hope that one day, the rest of the country gets educated and stops being so mean.
Grew up in Oklahoma. Also not surprised.
💚💚💚💚💚💚
I share your hopes for the country... and thank you.
I’m so glad you stood up for yourself, as bad as the falling-out with your family must have felt in the moment! Love from your bisexual brother-in-atheism!
Thank you!!! 💚💚
GOOD BLESS YOU AS WELL!