You are not alone

I have just returned from a vigil in support of LGBT youth, and against bullying, particularly homophobic bullying. It was held on the front lawn of the Norwalk, CT City Hall. The Mayor of Norwalk was there as was a huge crowd.

There were teens there as well as older people like me. The teens told the bravest stories. I am proud of them, and I want to remind them, and you, you are not alone. Even if all the humans in your life seem to desert you, God is still with you, and unlike human love, God's love is absolutely and totally unconditional, no strings attached, there for the taking and always with you.

Do not listen to anyone tell you anything different. No matter how convincing their argument to the contrary, walk away and remind yourself of this: God loves you unconditionally, just as you are. You are, just as all people are, created in the image and likeness of God and it takes every person ever born and ever to be born and not even ever born to even come close to portraying the image and likeness of God. So yes, I am saying, the image and likeness of God includes LGBTQQI persons. Or as one group's acronym says, GLOW - Gay, Lesbian, or Whatever! and that Whatever! includes even me, straight through no choice of my own.

If you need a safe place, there is the Triangle Community Center at 16 River St. in Norwalk, 203-853-0600. And if you want to hear from the lips of a clergyperson that you are beloved of God, call me, 203-866-8426. That's my confidential line. No one but I has access to messages left on that line.

And if your parents or friends are freaked, you just send them to me. You are not alone in this. You are not alone. Period. And I don't say that just because I went to a vigil tonight. This is what I have taught and preached even from before I went to seminary in 1994. So I way it one more time: You are not alone.