Comment: Gay, Christian and a former preacher, I'm coming out to help anyone hurt by Folau, writes Andre Afamasaga, a senior adviser at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission
Being a gay Christian of a Pacific Island ethnicity was never easy. But this year it got harder. Israel Folau’s Instagram post in April, claiming hell awaited unrepentant gay people, led to his sacking by the Australian Rugby Union and a drawn-out legal battle. After its settlement this month, Folau and his supporters espoused a narrative of “vindication” and “victory”.
I am using this article to publicly come out because I am troubled by a growing resentment towards LGBTIQ+ people. As a gay Samoan man and former pastor, I worry about the pain caused by the Folau saga and that Christianity will be characterised by politicking and gatekeeping rather than Jesus' love.
While homophobia in Pacific Island nations can ultimately be traced back to our colonial history, our leaders have ensured that discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people remains entrenched. Lines between church and culture have converged into a set of untouchable rules and assumptions. Pacific diasporas in Australia or New Zealand cannot decipher where today’s accepted norms originated from and why.
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