As parents we are not required to provide our children with the coolest toys or the latest fashion. We don’t have to give in to their every whim or overlook it when they misbehave. There is, however, one thing that any good parent should do. That is love. Love your children unconditionally. No matter who they are or what they do. Especially when the only thing they did “wrong” was be themselves. The LGBT community has come a long way in the past few years, but the fight is not over. Too many teens are disowned from their parents after they come out. The Ali Forney Center, a group who aid and shelter homeless LGBT youth, is now seeking to buy the Atalh Worldwide Church in Harlem. The “church” was headed by James Manning and has hosted some very hateful and distasteful statements on their sign, demonizing the LGBT community. Acclaimed Broadway/TV/Film (and webisode) actor Neil Patrick Harris is one of many people who are calling on others to donate to the AFC to help them buy the church.
AFC Founder and Executive Producer Carl Siciliano underlines the reasons for wanting to buy the church on the organization's website:
"The biggest reason our youths are driven from their homes is because of homophobic and transphobic religious beliefs of their parents. Because of this, it has been horrifying for us to have our youths exposed to Manning's messages inciting hatred and violence against our community. It has meant the world to us that so many Harlem residents have stood up to support our young people, and are now urging us to provide urgently needed care at the site of so much hatred. If we are able to obtain the space it would truly be a triumph of love over hatred."
“I am ecstatic to imagine a future where our Harlem corner will be a home of compassion, not hatred. We have a homeless problem in New York City. The de Blasio administration is working hard to remedy this, but LGBT young people are especially vulnerable with the shelter system. They need protection.
Love Not Hate coordinator Stacy Parker Le Melle also spoke up and the what the AFC does and how buying the church would be “poetic justice”:
“The Ali Forney Center is a beacon, but they need more space for transitional housing and job training. I can't imagine a better use for that property. Who needs more luxury condos? We need to care for the most vulnerable in our midst. When the ATLAH story broke on Thursday, immediately I heard from neighbors: wouldn't it be amazing if an LGBT group could acquire the property? What if it were the Ali Forney Center? We all knew that this would be poetic justice. We need to care for those kicked out of homes, often on religious-based grounds. We need to care for those most vulnerable to ATLAH's hate speech.”
Editorializing from here on out. As a parent myself, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my daughter. No matter what. There is no bullet I wouldn’t take. No poison I wouldn’t drink. No limb I wouldn’t lose. No beat of my heart that I wouldn’t stop to make sure my daughter had the best life possible. As I look at my toddler I can not fathom how anyone could ever raise a child only to throw them out of their lives when they reveal who they are. No matter what you personally believe or who your child grows up to be, they need us to love them.
As a father I find parents turning their backs on their kids appalling. No parent is perfect, and I deeply hope that some of these parents will reach into their hearts and accept their children for who they are. Until that day I thank God for places like the Ali Forney Center, who provide a safe and welcoming home to the disenfranchised LGBT youth. As a Christian I find Atlah’s messages of hate to be some of the most disgusting and disturbing things I have ever read. These messages do not represent the God that I believe in and I can’t think of any better use of this church than to provide sanctuary for these kids.
For more information about the AFC and or how to donate to the fund click the link here.
© 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
