Speaker urges LGBTQ acceptance

By Raegan Scharfetter

NE student Joseph Hudson listens to speaker Brent Beasley at the Nov. 16 seminar What Does Religion Say About Sexuality. Kaylee Jensen/The Collegian
NE student Joseph Hudson listens to speaker Brent Beasley at the Nov. 16 seminar What Does Religion Say About Sexuality.
Kaylee Jensen/The Collegian

Two speakers discussed how the LGBTQ community fits in with the Christian faith during the workshop What Does Religion Say About Sexuality Nov. 16 on NE Campus.

Ticily Medley, director of advising, counseling and testing on South Campus, presented videos representing people who believe it is impossible to be of Christian faith if they are part of the LGBTQ community.

Medley said people have different interpretations of Bible scripture.

“We have to keep in mind that it’s often a translation of a translation of a translation that we’re looking at when we are reading various interpretations of scripture,” Medley said.

Brent Beasley, who works with different foundations in the Fort Worth area, shared personal experiences as a former senior pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth that guided him into supporting the LGBTQ community.

“You can’t be in denial about who you are and that God doesn’t hate who you are as a gay person, but God values you and treasures you,” Beasley said.

NE student Kaylee Jensen said the subject is controversial and interesting to dissect.

“I think that this was a great way to gather students who have had their own struggles dealing with this issue and to be able to not be afraid to speak up about how they feel,” she said.

Beasley concluded the workshop by letting students know there are Christians and Christian churches that do accept and support the LGBTQ community, encouraging students to not lose hope.

The workshop was part of the Myth Busters series.