Phil snider

in a recent speech addressing the springfield, missouri city council, a minister delivered a message with a clever twist..  he warned that biblical principles, societal morality, and the institution of marriage were threatened if the the ordinance adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected minorities was approved. 

as he was finishing his speech, phil snider did an 'oops!' stating that he was reading from the wrong speech, using instead the language of anti-segregationists from the 1950's and 1960's who warned that the wrath of god would come upon americans if segregation was outlawed.  phil's speech effectively exposed the methods by which anti-gay advocates were using the bible as a justification for their views and as a scare tactic to those who disagreed with them.  it was a twist that alfred hitchcock would have relished.


phil snider's speech has had a huge impact on me.  as a gay man, i have been reminded of the anti-gay sermons in my early years, the efforts of well-meaning people to persuade me to change, the fear of hell, and the shame i experienced while in reparative therapy when i was in my early 20's.  it was wrong to be me.

but i have also been reminded of the transformation i have experienced over the years with the help of supportive friends, insightful therapy, and the love and support my wife, donna,  consistently has given me.  they have given me the courage to shed a lifetime of shame, to hold my head up high with pride, and to enjoy a life of freedom to be my true self.   i am deeply grateful to be at a place of peace and contentment.  the transformation over the years into a person who loves himself and is loved by others just for who i am.