Breaking Free from ABT: One Man's Journey

Does Anchorage Baptist Temple really do exorcisms to cast out the demon from gays? Yes, they do, and they set family members against each other. In an interview with The NorthView, RJ described his struggle to break free from ABT and come out as a gay man, a struggle that nearly tore apart his family. He shares his story in the hope that it will help others who are coming out or supporting a gay family member, and even help members of ABT.

"I sincerely hope people from ABT read it. Perhaps it will be a wake up call for them to stop ignoring the things going on around them and perhaps they will open up their hearts and experience a little more love."

Thanks, RJ, and happy birthday!
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This is an interview with RJ, a gay man raised in Anchorage Baptist Temple. RJ agreed to this interview in the hope that sharing his story and what he has experienced and learned will perhaps help others who may be walking a similar path or, at least, let them know they are not alone.

Editor: Let's start with the basics of your background.

RJ: My grandparents moved to Alaska in the 1950's. My mother and I were both born here. My grandfather was a minister. My father was a chaplain who worked in the ministry. In my early years, I lived with my father in Talkeetna and did my schooling through a Christian home school program. Our whole family was very involved in church. In the 1990's, when I was 11, we moved to Anchorage and became very involved with Anchorage Baptist Temple (ABT).

My father and step-mother both worked at ABT to offset the school bill as it is really expensive to go there. Both taught Sunday school. Sunday they drove busses to pick up kids for Sunday school. We attended Sunday school in the morning followed by church and church again on Sunday night. On Monday night we had bible study, Tuesday night was visitation, Wednesday we had church and Awanas, a Christian program sort of like the Scouts, Thursday night was prayer meeting, and Friday night was open gym or "Destination Unknown," a youth activity. And, of course, I had school Monday through Friday. Saturdays we would often go to Reverend Prevo's house for dinner or meet with other church people. For a long time, I looked up to my father and I looked up to Prevo so much.

Editor: How long did this last?

RJ: I went to ABT through 6th, 7th grades and was kicked out in 8th grade.

Editor: What happened in the 8th grade?

RJ: For years I believed everything I was taught. The church was my life. Then, I began to notice and to realize things about the people all around me at ABT and, at the same time, I began to suspect I was gay. I saw so much hypocrisy, too many holes, too much difference between what the church people were teaching me and how there were acting in their own lives. But we were not allowed to talk about it or to question. We had to pretend everything was good. The biggest sin was to question. Instead of providing an answer, they would ask "Why are you being blasphemous?" I began acting out and got kicked out of school several times.

Editor: How was it to realize you were gay, especially since you so looked up to your father, Prevo, and the youth ministers?

RJ: At ABT we were taught anti-gay propaganda. We were taught gay rights are special rights. ABT provides families with an anti-gay "educational" video by Focus on the Family to watch at home. There were also exorcisms which ABT called "demon warfare." The youth ministers and everybody else were taught this same anti-gay philosophy. I started to realize they were talking about me. The first time I kissed a guy I vomited a day straight over the conflict that it felt so right and I must be a horrible person - the worst thing I can be.

Editor: How were things going at home since your father and step-mother were so involved with ABT?

RJ: The whole gay issue tore me away from my family. There are generations of ministers on my father's side of the family and to this day they do not speak to me because I am gay. Before I came out, I remember my step-mother telling me that I was so like her brother except that he was gay and I would never be.

It was always made clear that it was not okay to be gay. My whole life began falling apart. When I was 13 I told my father I did not want to go to ABT church or their school. I told him I would go to church only if I could go to public school. He responded by locking me in my room with a board and nails. I kicked down the door and came flying through it like a hellhound with fists flying at my father. I got arrested for malicious destruction of property and went to McLaughlin for three days, followed by family court, a shelter, and foster care. My whole teenage time was spent bouncing between the Laurel shelter, foster homes, Convenent House, Maplewood, and my mom's house. I was on probation. Lori Rodriguez was my P.O. and she was a phenomenal case worker.

Editor: Wow. What happened after you were thirteen?

RJ: When I was 14, I came out to my mother. I said, "Mom, I think I'm bi." She said, "No, honey, I think you're gay." Later, she told me she thought I was going to be transgender. She told me I used to dress up with her make-up. My brother was a gay hate monger until I told him. When I was 15, I came out to my father in the Anchorage Daily News when they published a letter I wrote. He called me and asked, "Are you sure?" My step-mother said, "No, you're not gay. You're just confused." I moved to Palm Springs when I was 17. Palm Springs was my "gay education." My birthday there was a white party. What a way to turn 18! I made a lot of friends and learned about what that kind of gay life was like.

I returned to Alaska and, since I had no place to stay, I told my father it was just a phase, moved back with him, and back into the closet. I tried to pray my gay away. I begged God. I would have given anything to be straight.

Editor: Is this when the exorcism took place?

RJ: Yes. I went back to ABT. They had been studying Bob Larson's "Deliverance" exorcism ministry. They had a class to teach how to cast out demons on Friday nights. There was a questionnaire to determine if I had done something to open a portal which leads to demonic possession. The questions were things like did I try to control the weather, change stop lights, read horoscopes, use tarot cards and, of course, have sex with a man.

Editor: What happened at the exorcism? Who was there?

RJ: The exorcism took place at ABT. There were others there as well. I sat down and started crying. The Board of Directors, deacons, classmates, and family prayed over us. They anointed us each with oil and tried to cast the demon out.

Editor: Wow. I don't know what to say. What happened next?

RJ: The reason I am telling you this is because I was in foster homes and shelters. I did not have anyone to look up to or with whom to talk. There wasn't gay TV. Everyone said AIDS was God's punishment. I want others to know they are not alone. When I was 19 I began developing a good group of friends, ones to last a lifetime. My friend Chris got me out of there. Tasha, who is another friend and a devout Catholic, said "Whether I agree with it or not, I don't understand how what people do in their bedrooms has anything to do with me." And, that gave me my first glimmer that maybe I was okay. They did social things with me when they knew I was gay. The father of one of my friends was a minister and he said "It's not my job to judge you. It is my job to love you. If God is angry at you about anything, it is probably because you used to be friends with him." I wonder, how can I have a relationship with God when everyone I know who follows him tells me I am the devil? When I do something wrong, I have a heavy conscious. But when I lie in bed with my partner, I feel no guilt. I know that being with him is right and I know God loves me.

Editor: Where are you now in your relationships with your mother, father, and ABT?

RJ: My mom is a great supporter. Mom was a cab driver and she took me to introduce me to Myrna's and the GLBT community. She comes for all my Imperial Court functions. Last summer she was at the Assembly hearings. She saw a guy carrying a sign that said "I was born Black. You chose to be gay" and asked to meet Prevo. She said to Prevo and the group with him "Do you remember my son? He grew up in your church. I watched your message of hate try to destroy him, to teach him to hate himself. My God is a God of love and healing. This message of hate is something you are going to have to answer to God for one day." Then my mom walked away. One of the men jumped up and said he did not want her to walk away angry and wouldn't she please eat with them. She agreed and had a hot dog with them. Then she stood up and said "I sat down and ate with you. Will any of you sit down and eat with my son?" She was met with silence.

My dad is still a struggle but we are starting to build a dialog. My father has made significant steps in my direction. He sent me some e-mails which I ignored. Then one came and the subject line said "I don't care that you're gay. I just want to talk to you." Considering where he started from, my dad has come a long way and I give him a lot of credit for it.

We have all made mistakes and ABT hates us now. I pity that church. You keep everything quiet, don't talk about the problems the people are actually having. There is no real community.

Editor: I know you are telling your story to hopefully help others. What final things would you like others to know who may be having an experience similar to yours?

RJ: Get out and talk to as many people as you can. Ask questions. Ask other religious leaders. Don't be afraid to talk about it. I don't think any one person can impose on us their particular interpretation of things. You have to have your own personal relationship with God. I wish I had spoken up sooner. I discovered a lot of people already knew I was gay and did not care. The people that are going to be there for you are going to be there for you.

Editor: Is it okay if people contact you if they are walking a similar path and want to reach out?

RJ: Yes. I can be reached via e-mail.

14 comments:

Colleen said...

RJ, you are a hero. I love you.
-Coho

Nikki said...

RJ, beautifully written! Amazing soul you have. Continue to let it shine.

Anonymous said...

RJ you amaze me everyday. You have many friends who love you for who and what you are. Love MA!

Anonymous said...

I love you Big Brother!

Stephen

Kittie said...

My heart breaks for anyone who goes through this but I'm glad RJ was able to overcome it, redefine his faith and become such a strong supporter of the GLBT community.

:)

Anonymous said...

What a moving account of your life story. It is absolutely heart-breaking to think you were cast out of your home into foster care. I am glad, however, to hear that your mother has been a strong and vocal support for you. I have to wonder why you lived with your father and step mom to begin with...your mom sounds as if you might have had a much better childhood in her care.

H. Jeff Perry said...

Dear RJ...I knew we were similar in so many ways, but I had no clue. I too was raised in foster care and shunned from my family. Not because I came out as gay openly, I didn't even know what gay was, but because I was differant and made the mistake of trying to be me and admitting that I was in love with my best friend when I was 15 years old. I too was raised in the church. When i went into foster care it was only an extension of that. I was actively involved most every day of the week...taught sunday school and youth group. When I was about 18 I told my foster parents that I thought I might be gay. They were wonderful loving people and didn't make me feel bad, just told me all men went through a stage and that I would grow out of it. But never letting me forget that I would burn in hell for the rest of eternity if I acted on such a perversion! I to prayed until my knees bled asking God to forgive me and make me better. I too would have done ANYTHING to be straight! I couldn't be gay, I couldn't lead a life like that!

Well only through the help of close friends and some of my family including my real mother who had never really been in my life did I finally grow to try to accept who I was. It took many years and of course as you are strong I have grown strong and accept who I am and what I am, and when i lay with a man I do not feel guilt or shame for who I am.

I do hope that your story reaches others in our situation and that too know that God does not hate! And that "NO SIN IS GREATER THAN ANOTHER"

I do have a hard time finding my relationship with God as I once did, but I do still believe everything loving that I ever learned about the Lord. I hope some day that hypocricy and hate will come to an end and that all people will be accepted for who they are and what they are. Black/white, gay/straight and others!

Thanks for the tears and the reminder of the strength that we have in ourselves and out friends!

Much love...see you at the club house Kid!!

Just Jeff

Susie said...

I am so sorry that you have been through so much pain and misery, and none of it had to be that way. I'm glad you are at a point where you can tell your story, because I think it can help you and help others in similar situations. I'm also glad that you have developed some good friendships with people who care and support you, regardless of your sexual orientation, which is as it should be.
One thing that I hope for you is that you don't give up on God, just because one church TOTALLY misrepresents Him and His love for you. There are plenty of us Christians out here who believe what the Bible says when it says that we are ALL ONE in Jesus Christ. Jesus never made comments about anyone's sexual orientation, because it didn't matter to Him. Hey, if God didn't make homosexuals, there wouldn't be any!

Maria said...

RJ, I salute you! May your strength and courage continue to shine a beacon. Love from Cape Town.

GrainneKathleen said...

RJ, many blessings to you on your continued path to self-acceptance and love. You are very brave and compassionate for speaking out and wanting to reach out to others in the lgbt community, and to continue the task of changing the hearts and minds of people who are not accepting of others - whether because of sexuality, race, class, etc.- one person at a time. I am so glad that you have so much support and are advocating for yourself. I am sure that you are a source of strength to many around you. God bless, much love and appreciation, and many blessings on your continued journey!

Bo said...

RJ: Some of the most bigoted people I know are heavily involved in Christian churches. Many organized religions are more about control than love. I am glad you were able to find a personal relationship with a loving god who created you in his image. Thank you for your strength and for reaching out to others with your experience. Bo

N Crowley said...

Seems to me that you were the same person you were the day *after* you came out as you were the day before. You were lovable the day before, you're the same person the day after - what's not to love?

I saw a birthday mention at the beginning of this post, so Happy Birthday from me, as well. (and many moooooorrrre... - sung in a silly voice of course)

p.s.
your mom ROCKS!

Lynne said...

RJ, my son went through the same thing having grown up in a Bible Church and when she...oh yeah, there's been a change there too...when she realized while she was in college that she was a lesbian (she got kicked out of the very "Christian" school), she was very upset to realize she was one of those "horrible people" the church always talked about. As a family we got through that, and over the years he has become the wonderful man he was meant to be. I'm very proud of him and the activist work he has done in the transgender community. His identical twin sister accepts him as her identical twin brother, and he has a wonderful wife and a wonderful life. Hang in there. You're going in the right direction, and maybe your father will learn and grow from this. You and God can do this together. He hasn't gone anywhere. The support of your friends and mom is worth it's weight in gold. I wish love and a happy life to you.

*Brittany Rose* said...

RJ.
I knew about some of the things that you have gone thru but I didnt know it was to that extent. Honestly I knew you were this strong, and I knew that you stood up for something that you KNOW is right. I was raised knowing that my Uncle was gay, so my family taught me that blood is blood no matter what the circumstances are. True family isnt defined by blood in my eyes. Its someone you couldnt imagine living life without that person in it. Your my family babe and I love you to the moon and back. Your mom kicks ass by the way! Your my dancing partnet for life! XOXO

B

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