Group founded by gay bishop helps teens feel safe

Nashua Telegraph, NH ^ | August 10, 2003 | Alex Ortolani, Associated Press Writer

[schaketo]

CONCORD – Before Rev. V. Gene Robinson was making national headlines as the Episcopal Church’s first elected gay bishop, he helped Ryan Bolin deal with being young, Christian and homosexual.

“I had a real hard time reconciling being gay and being Christian at the time,” said Bolin, who met Robinson at Concord Outright in 1995. Robinson was working as assistant to the current Bishop Douglas Theuner when he helped launch Concord Outright.

Bolin, 17 at the time, said Robinson was very caring and respectful.

“He helped me out with the bigger picture. He made me feel very welcome and very safe,” he said.

Bolin, who now lives in Minneapolis, said it’s fantastic that Robinson was confirmed bishop of the New Hampshire diocese.

“He’s one of the most unassuming, quiet, nice people. To think that this kind of person would create such an international raucous is mind-blowing,” he said.

Concord Outright was started in 1995 and provides a meeting space for gay teens and their friends to meet and talk with two to three adult counselors about topics such as homophobic peers, drugs, relationships and families.

The group got negative publicity when Robinson’s confirmation was delayed, partly because of an allegation that its Web site was indirectly linked to pornography.

Martha Yager, co-chairwoman of the group’s board of directors, said the Web site had links to resources for people interested in issues surrounding homosexuality, but not porn. She said one of those links led to a bisexual page, which in turn linked to a porn site.

Yager said Robinson hasn’t been involved with the group since 1998 and had no role in developing its Web page.

Knox Turner, one of Outright’s founders, said Robinson got involved because he saw the need to give teenagers a safe space to talk and ask questions.

“This is an extraordinary man. He was so concerned about the kids. He understood the problems they were facing,” he said.

Turner and Robinson were both counselors from 1995 to 1998, when Robinson left because of his hectic schedule. Turner stayed on to work as the program’s administrator until 2000.

“(Robinson) was a great listener. The best facilitators are those people who listen really well . . . Gene was excellent at this. You know a person’s a good listener by virtue of the questions they ask,” he said.

Turner said Outright continues to help teens who are not receiving support either at home or at school. He can recall a number of incidents when the group helped teens who were depressed and even suicidal.

“We don’t have an agenda. We don’t try to change people’s minds. It’s so they can see there are well-adjusted gay adults who are there to listen,” Turner said.

The idea for Concord Outright came from Seacoast Outright, a support group for teens in Portsmouth. There are now nine loosely affiliated Outright organizations located in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Concord Outright meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Concord Unitarian Universalist Church.

[schaketo]

This organization has got to be a great place for pedophiles to go trolling. Notice some of the quotes above about how “caring”, “respectful”, “he made me feel very welcome and very safe”, etc. are played up. Shame on them and shame on the devils running the Episcopal Church for endorsing this pedophilia. Catholic priests are rightfully condemned and prosecuted for this type of activity. The Episcopal Church celebrates it.

[Paloma_55]

Unfortunately, being Christian and gay is like being Christian and alcoholic. The only difference being that nobody is trying to convince anyone that being alcoholic is OK.

Most people think that alcoholism is something that should be dealt with... that they should refrain from drinking to excess... that they should try to change their life for the better.

There are way more Christian alcoholics than there are Christian homosexuals. I have never seen a Christian alcoholic form an organization for Christian alcoholics and then proceed to tell them that they should embrace their alcoholism and share what it is to be like with other young kids so that those kids can drink without feeling guilty.

[an amused spectator]

Before Rev. V. Gene Robinson was making national headlines as the Episcopal Church’s first elected gay bishop, he helped Ryan Bolin deal with being young, Christian and homosexual.

Gene was behind Ryan all the way...

[HostileTerritory]

Few denominations call drinking alcohol an abomination. (There are some big exceptions, but obviously there's no consensus.)

Alcoholism is another concern... but then what's the analogy, it's ok if you have gay sex occasionally, but not to excess? I don't understand the alcohol analogy.

[demkicker]

Wow, your analysis is dead on! You need to keep posting the comparison. Thanks...

[gov_bean_ counter]

Gene was behind Ryan all the way...

Nah, don't think so. Didn't the lad describe him as being "unassuming"?

[demkicker]

Few denominations call drinking alcohol an abomination. (There are some big exceptions, but obviously there's no consensus.)

You're guilty of jumping to a knee jerk conclusion. Paloma_55 was talking about alcoholics, not demoninations who do/don't approve of drinking alcohol.

Alcoholism is another concern... but then what's the analogy, it's ok if you have gay sex occasionally, but not to excess? I don't understand the alcohol analogy.

You need to reconsider your nonsensical statement. If one is an alcoholic, it is never okay to "occasionally" drink... Duh, I thought everyone knew that. Guess not!

[freekitty]

Oh, give me a break. This is bs.

[kajun2]

LOL!!!!!

[Litany]

He made me feel very welcome and very safe,” he said.<p. The Great Deceiver--the Evil One--Lucifer--Satan-- strikes again.

[Agnes Heep]

As the good Bishop would say: "Get behind me, Satan."

[mountaineer]

“He helped me out with the bigger picture. He made me feel very welcome and very safe,” he said.

I learned so much from him. The movies he showed me and the clubs he took me to were especially helpful, too. I learned all kinds of new stuff, and he introduced me to all of his friends, all of whom took a special, personal interest in me. It all was so very super!

[EdReform]

"There are now nine loosely affiliated Outright organizations located in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont."

Homosexual Activists Solidify Hold on Schools

"...With a three-year grant worth $121,575 from the Vermont Department of Health, Outright targets middle and high school kids. Kathy Hoyt, Vermont Secretary of Administration, proudly asserted that Outright Vermont "developed a training program for public schools that was designed to support diversity and safe schools for Vermont’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth."

As in Massachusetts, however, "safety" has begun to bleed into "sex." That’s the serious charge leveled by Nancy Sheltra, a six-term state representative and founder of Vermont’s pro-family organization, Standing Together And Reclaiming the State (STARS). According to documents provided to AFA by STARS, Outright Vermont has gone lightyears beyond the simple purpose espoused by Hoyt.

For example, Outright used taxpayer money to provide "safer sex activities" and "parties" for teens. These events included, according to Outright’s own documents, "demonstrations, guided practice & skill evaluation" for the use of prophylactics, and the distribution of free condoms, lubricants for sexual intercourse between males, "dental dams" for oral sex between lesbians, and latex gloves for mutual masturbation.

The number of such items requested by Outright Vermont for distribution to teens was mind-boggling: 5,000 condoms, 750 dental dams, 750 latex gloves, and 2,000 packets of lubricant.

Outright also spent monies on youth retreats, including the "recruitment of youth participants," which utilized mailing lists and youth-related meetings to stir interest in the gatherings. Kids who expressed an interest in attending were transported - again using state money - to the retreat site, where youth and adult staff again taught kids how to engage in homosexual sex practices. Outright’s own quarterly report said, "All retreat participants practiced and were evaluated on their (prophylactic) barrier use skills and were given a variety of barriers to take home. Participants joined in role plays."..."

Choice4Truth

[HostileTerritory]

Paloma_55 was talking about alcoholics, not demoninations who do/don't approve of drinking alcohol.

You need to reconsider your nonsensical statement. If one is an alcoholic, it is never okay to "occasionally" drink... Duh, I thought everyone knew that. Guess not!

I really don't have anything to say to someone who has missed the point of what I wrote on so many levels.

[txzman]

The abuse of alcohol, like the abuse of money, sex, or anything else is a sin in God's eyes. Why? Because it removes Him as the primary focus in one's life.

These sins will never change, and homosexuality will always be one of them. it simply is not part of God's plan for us and is said so in his Word. It may be hard, but we didn't create the universe.

[Redwood71]

"Unfortunately, being Christian and gay is like being Christian and alcoholic. The only difference being that nobody is trying to convince anyone that being alcoholic is OK."
_____________________________________________

Agree, but let's take it a step further. It repeatedly states in the Bible that "lying" with the same sex is a sin. Sins can be forgiven by God. But that only can be used for a sin that you do not repeat, and repeat on purpose. At that point, asking for forgiveness has nothing to do with the sin at hand. You have now knowingly, and purposely, chose to disobey and mock God. And that's not a sin that can be forgiven, at least, by man. Illicit sex is one thing. Flaunting it to God is another. This is why adultry is so bad as you have broken your promise, in your vows, to God. Asking for forgiveness is a vow to be sorry and not want to do it again. A chemical dependency is one thing, celibacy is another. And, until someone can come up with proof that homosexuality is not a learned behavior, and is inherited, then it can be determined not to do it in the eyes of God. So much for the Christian homosexual.

[verity]

Gene was [closely?] behind Ryan all the way...

[JesseHousman]

..."You know a person’s a good listener by virtue of the questions they ask,” he said.

Yes, I'm certain that virtue is the appropriate term here.

[JesseHousman]

...Gene was [closely?] behind Ryan all the way...

Now let's be fair and balanced here.

Gene's "partner" may be the daddy figure and Gene may be the mommie. Therefore, Gene is a wide receiver.