Pray The Gay Away Analysis

In this weeks reading, we read “Pray the Gay away”, Pray the gay away looks at the lives of homosecualy men and women living/growing up in the bible belt. As we look at the lives of these indviduals (many who grew up with strong religious back grounds). We see how their family,friends and lifestyle were affected because they are gay. In chapter 1 we look at the power of christinaty and the affect is has on those living in the bible belt. We look at things like the “ Bible belt panopticon” and “how scriptures are powerful external authorites” (p29). Many people turn to the bible when they see something as being “sinful”. Chapter 2 looks at the coming out stories for many students and the toll their parents reaction leaves on them. Many of these …show more content…
Chapter 4 also know as the “ toxic closet” looks at having to hide who you are to your family,friends,work ect. As you can see in chapter 1-4 we see the indivdual lives of bible belt gays and how religion and church tears them down from living the life they want to live. We see how many people living in the bible belt are “ strict Christians” and “stuck in their ways” (p47). Many people living in the bible belt whether they go to church or not are very religious and have their core beliefs. “ Christian institutions exacerbate tension within fmailies by framin homosexuality as sinful behavior, and homosexuals as resonbilbe for destroying tradional family values” (p47). Many people who came out to their familes wanted to do so because they felt it was the right thing to do and would hope that their would be some type of acceptance. But in most cases we saw an uproar agasnt the individual coming out. Like the story of Elena whos aunt tried to blame her mother for letting her be gay. Or Joshua who’s parents drove to his college and took all of his belongings once they found out that he was still gay and seeing …show more content…
West virginia to be extact and just like john although growing up my parents didn’t go to church often. They are still set in their ways, I haven’t came out to my parents but I am out to my friends/coworkers ect. If I lived in the same state as my parents it would possibly be different. Reading this book made me think about if I would ever tell my parents even though I know their reaction. My parents and I have a very close relationship but we have often times had heated agruments about gay rights. I live in north Carolina while my parents live in west virginia and I have my own life here. But this past week we went on a family vacation. Of course I had to take my book with me so that I could complete my readings, but I found my self having to hide the book because my parents would have questioned me on it. I had to laugh at myself because I have been at work reading this book and other books for this class without a care in the world what anyone would say about it. It made me realize that although I am comfortable with my sexuality and with the world knowing my sexuality I haven’t come to terms with letting my parents know. im sure that could change in the future but for right now it is something I have wait until I am ready to