as the slide says there are people in the world
the world
the world oh sorry if I’m not standing on the red
oh sorry if I’m not standing on the red
oh sorry if I’m not standing on the red dot just notice that there are people in
dot just notice that there are people in
dot just notice that there are people in the world who if they’re telling your
the world who if they’re telling your
the world who if they’re telling your story need to tell you 19 other stories
story need to tell you 19 other stories
story need to tell you 19 other stories first before they can get to the point
first before they can get to the point
first before they can get to the point I’m one of those people I want to tell
I’m one of those people I want to tell
I’m one of those people I want to tell you a story about a conversation I
you a story about a conversation I
you a story about a conversation I witnessed at a mosque which changed my
witnessed at a mosque which changed my
witnessed at a mosque which changed my life but to tell you that story I have
life but to tell you that story I have
life but to tell you that story I have to tell you another story first and I’ve
to tell you another story first and I’ve
to tell you another story first and I’ve only got 12 minutes and that story
only got 12 minutes and that story
only got 12 minutes and that story starts in late May early June of this
starts in late May early June of this
starts in late May early June of this year I got the opportunity to go on a
year I got the opportunity to go on a
year I got the opportunity to go on a trip to the United States with a
trip to the United States with a
trip to the United States with a delegation from arriving the UK I was
delegation from arriving the UK I was
delegation from arriving the UK I was the only one from Northern Ireland and
the only one from Northern Ireland and
the only one from Northern Ireland and we were going there to learn about
we were going there to learn about
we were going there to learn about American values we were gonna be
American values we were gonna be
American values we were gonna be traveling across Washington Florida and
traveling across Washington Florida and
traveling across Washington Florida and taxes meeting with everyone from guns
taxes meeting with everyone from guns
taxes meeting with everyone from guns rights lobbyists to religious leaders
rights lobbyists to religious leaders
rights lobbyists to religious leaders and LGBT groups people who span the
and LGBT groups people who span the
and LGBT groups people who span the spectrum of American values so the thing
spectrum of American values so the thing
spectrum of American values so the thing about these trips is that they offer you
about these trips is that they offer you
about these trips is that they offer you a number of perks right they offer you
a number of perks right they offer you
a number of perks right they offer you carrots they could dangle in front of
carrots they could dangle in front of
carrots they could dangle in front of you whenever the going gets tough when
you whenever the going gets tough when
you whenever the going gets tough when you’re in no one-hundredths meeting of
you’re in no one-hundredths meeting of
you’re in no one-hundredths meeting of the day with someone whose views you
the day with someone whose views you
the day with someone whose views you find absolutely reprehensible and you’re
find absolutely reprehensible and you’re
find absolutely reprehensible and you’re really struggling to stay the course so
really struggling to stay the course so
really struggling to stay the course so in our case they took us to Disneyland
in our case they took us to Disneyland
in our case they took us to Disneyland which I can confirm is definitely one of
which I can confirm is definitely one of
which I can confirm is definitely one of the happiest places on earth I was in my
the happiest places on earth I was in my
the happiest places on earth I was in my element damn they took us to NASA which
element damn they took us to NASA which
element damn they took us to NASA which as a Star Wars nerd I have to say
as a Star Wars nerd I have to say
as a Star Wars nerd I have to say competed and my heart for the title of
competed and my heart for the title of
competed and my heart for the title of happiest place on earth
happiest place on earth
happiest place on earth someone very helpfully pointed out to me
someone very helpfully pointed out to me
someone very helpfully pointed out to me because I was posting selfies of myself
because I was posting selfies of myself
because I was posting selfies of myself at that time long ago in Florida and
at that time long ago in Florida and
at that time long ago in Florida and vast hops and someone very helpfully
vast hops and someone very helpfully
vast hops and someone very helpfully pointed out that I seem to have more
pointed out that I seem to have more
pointed out that I seem to have more vests and rabb seen as but
vests and rabb seen as but
vests and rabb seen as but I know the theme of the conference’s
I know the theme of the conference’s
I know the theme of the conference’s bridges I felt like burnin got one to be
bridges I felt like burnin got one to be
bridges I felt like burnin got one to be quite frank and then we got to go to
quite frank and then we got to go to
quite frank and then we got to go to this beautiful beachside resort called
this beautiful beachside resort called
this beautiful beachside resort called Cocoa Beach and sip cocktails on the
Cocoa Beach and sip cocktails on the
Cocoa Beach and sip cocktails on the beach it was absolutely wonderful and
beach it was absolutely wonderful and
beach it was absolutely wonderful and you’re probably thinking where do I sign
you’re probably thinking where do I sign
you’re probably thinking where do I sign up for this trip the signs of music it’s
up for this trip the signs of music it’s
up for this trip the signs of music it’s a free Jolley which was that I thought
a free Jolley which was that I thought
a free Jolley which was that I thought it was when I looked at the itinerary
it was when I looked at the itinerary
it was when I looked at the itinerary but I had to go through hell to get
but I had to go through hell to get
but I had to go through hell to get these perks I realized that really the
these perks I realized that really the
these perks I realized that really the Disneyland of mass at the deal with
Disneyland of mass at the deal with
Disneyland of mass at the deal with these were all carrots they were
these were all carrots they were
these were all carrots they were dangling in front of us whenever I find
dangling in front of us whenever I find
dangling in front of us whenever I find myself less than 10 feet away from the
myself less than 10 feet away from the
myself less than 10 feet away from the chief orangutan in the White House el
chief orangutan in the White House el
chief orangutan in the White House el Trump people ask me what’s the hardest
Trump people ask me what’s the hardest
Trump people ask me what’s the hardest thing about standing 10 feet away from
thing about standing 10 feet away from
thing about standing 10 feet away from Donald Trump I think it was seeing how
Donald Trump I think it was seeing how
Donald Trump I think it was seeing how badly his vehicon was applied the next
badly his vehicon was applied the next
badly his vehicon was applied the next part of the trip
part of the trip
part of the trip oh I did redeem my conscience when I got
oh I did redeem my conscience when I got
oh I did redeem my conscience when I got to Florida I should say and we got these
to Florida I should say and we got these
to Florida I should say and we got these lovely protesters who in case you can’t
lovely protesters who in case you can’t
lovely protesters who in case you can’t see you’re holding a stop Trump sign and
see you’re holding a stop Trump sign and
see you’re holding a stop Trump sign and they were right up my alley I thought
they were right up my alley I thought
they were right up my alley I thought they were fantastic our next visit was
they were fantastic our next visit was
they were fantastic our next visit was the place called the National Rifle
the place called the National Rifle
the place called the National Rifle Association though the gold rates
Association though the gold rates
Association though the gold rates lobbyists who come white in the wake of
lobbyists who come white in the wake of
lobbyists who come white in the wake of every mass shooting and defend the right
every mass shooting and defend the right
every mass shooting and defend the right of Americans to bear arms and for a
of Americans to bear arms and for a
of Americans to bear arms and for a number of people in the group this was
number of people in the group this was
number of people in the group this was the most difficult part of the trip they
the most difficult part of the trip they
the most difficult part of the trip they find it very difficult to sit there and
find it very difficult to sit there and
find it very difficult to sit there and listen and exchange views which was what
listen and exchange views which was what
listen and exchange views which was what the whole trip was a fight bite excuse
the whole trip was a fight bite excuse
the whole trip was a fight bite excuse me for me though the hardest part of the
me for me though the hardest part of the
me for me though the hardest part of the trip was when we got the Orlando and
trip was when we got the Orlando and
trip was when we got the Orlando and they told us we were gonna be visiting a
they told us we were gonna be visiting a
they told us we were gonna be visiting a mosque you asked yourself why would I
mosque you asked yourself why would I
mosque you asked yourself why would I find it hard to visit a mosque well for
find it hard to visit a mosque well for
find it hard to visit a mosque well for those of you who don’t have gaydar I’m
those of you who don’t have gaydar I’m
those of you who don’t have gaydar I’m gay and don’t are you gonna ask okay
gay and don’t are you gonna ask okay
gay and don’t are you gonna ask okay and I hear that myself for much of my
and I hear that myself for much of my
and I hear that myself for much of my life because of what religion taught me
life because of what religion taught me
life because of what religion taught me about people like me and when I stopped
about people like me and when I stopped
about people like me and when I stopped hearing myself I started hearing
hearing myself I started hearing
hearing myself I started hearing religion but I was intrigued by this
religion but I was intrigued by this
religion but I was intrigued by this mosque because it was an Orlando and a
mosque because it was an Orlando and a
mosque because it was an Orlando and a geared of the week that we were in
geared of the week that we were in
geared of the week that we were in Orlando 49 gay people were slaughtered
Orlando 49 gay people were slaughtered
Orlando 49 gay people were slaughtered so I forty nine people were slaughtered
so I forty nine people were slaughtered
so I forty nine people were slaughtered and a gay nightclub called pulse and
and a gay nightclub called pulse and
and a gay nightclub called pulse and this mosque Adelaide the response to
this mosque Adelaide the response to
this mosque Adelaide the response to that tragedy as it condemned it I was
that tragedy as it condemned it I was
that tragedy as it condemned it I was intrigued by that this was at a time
intrigued by that this was at a time
intrigued by that this was at a time when Christian churches in Orlando were
when Christian churches in Orlando were
when Christian churches in Orlando were refusing to burry some of the dead
refusing to burry some of the dead
refusing to burry some of the dead because they were gay so they have a
because they were gay so they have a
because they were gay so they have a church come right and our mosque
church come right and our mosque
church come right and our mosque inviting condemned this was a big deal
inviting condemned this was a big deal
inviting condemned this was a big deal one of the victims of pulse had always
one of the victims of pulse had always
one of the victims of pulse had always stuck with me was Brandon marques McCool
stuck with me was Brandon marques McCool
stuck with me was Brandon marques McCool she was alone when he was eight with her
she was alone when he was eight with her
she was alone when he was eight with her gay son that latent pulse supporting him
gay son that latent pulse supporting him
gay son that latent pulse supporting him and when the gunman released his bullets
and when the gunman released his bullets
and when the gunman released his bullets she threw herself in front of her son
she threw herself in front of her son
she threw herself in front of her son and he survived but she didn’t so I
and he survived but she didn’t so I
and he survived but she didn’t so I decided that I would go into this mosque
decided that I would go into this mosque
decided that I would go into this mosque with an open mind I did and we met with
with an open mind I did and we met with
with an open mind I did and we met with this lovely man called Bassam it was one
this lovely man called Bassam it was one
this lovely man called Bassam it was one of the leaders in the mosque and we
of the leaders in the mosque and we
of the leaders in the mosque and we talked about everything and eventually
talked about everything and eventually
talked about everything and eventually passive and I had a conversation about
passive and I had a conversation about
passive and I had a conversation about LGBT rights and what Muslims think of
LGBT rights and what Muslims think of
LGBT rights and what Muslims think of gay people and difficult thorny subject
gay people and difficult thorny subject
gay people and difficult thorny subject but we had a really pleasant
but we had a really pleasant
but we had a really pleasant conversation but he never knew what was
conversation but he never knew what was
conversation but he never knew what was about to happen next there was a young
about to happen next there was a young
about to happen next there was a young man on our trip they all called Mahmood
man on our trip they all called Mahmood
man on our trip they all called Mahmood young Muslim man and he was listening to
young Muslim man and he was listening to
young Muslim man and he was listening to the exchange between passive and I and
the exchange between passive and I and
the exchange between passive and I and when we finished talking he spoke up in
when we finished talking he spoke up in
when we finished talking he spoke up in a dress Bassam and he said my best
a dress Bassam and he said my best
a dress Bassam and he said my best friend was gay he was Muslim and he
friend was gay he was Muslim and he
friend was gay he was Muslim and he committed suicide and at this point
committed suicide and at this point
committed suicide and at this point Mahmud burst into tears and he said I
Mahmud burst into tears and he said I
Mahmud burst into tears and he said I did everything I could to save him but I
did everything I could to save him but I
did everything I could to save him but I couldn’t and he told us the story of how
couldn’t and he told us the story of how
couldn’t and he told us the story of how this young Muslim man couldn’t live with
this young Muslim man couldn’t live with
this young Muslim man couldn’t live with being Muslim and being gay he felt that
being Muslim and being gay he felt that
being Muslim and being gay he felt that the only option he had was die by
the only option he had was die by
the only option he had was die by suicide
suicide
suicide we were all crying in the markets I
we were all crying in the markets I
we were all crying in the markets I think by that point we’re all morning
think by that point we’re all morning
think by that point we’re all morning for this young Muslim man that we never
for this young Muslim man that we never
for this young Muslim man that we never met and I that we would never get the
met and I that we would never get the
met and I that we would never get the chance to meet you know when I left
chance to meet you know when I left
chance to meet you know when I left religious education at 16 I swore that I
religious education at 16 I swore that I
religious education at 16 I swore that I was done with religion and I was never
was done with religion and I was never
was done with religion and I was never going back to it and I was never gonna
going back to it and I was never gonna
going back to it and I was never gonna have another conversation that I
have another conversation that I
have another conversation that I couldn’t help with another person of
couldn’t help with another person of
couldn’t help with another person of theistic Ian when I was in that mosque
theistic Ian when I was in that mosque
theistic Ian when I was in that mosque at day and I was there in the heart
at day and I was there in the heart
at day and I was there in the heart about American values so the hands are
about American values so the hands are
about American values so the hands are getting schooled on my own culture I am
getting schooled on my own culture I am
getting schooled on my own culture I am Muslim because what I realized was that
Muslim because what I realized was that
Muslim because what I realized was that I couldn’t run away from religion
I couldn’t run away from religion
I couldn’t run away from religion anymore within the LGBT community we
anymore within the LGBT community we
anymore within the LGBT community we have a saying that we tell people we
have a saying that we tell people we
have a saying that we tell people we tell them it gets better and what I
tell them it gets better and what I
tell them it gets better and what I realized that day was that it gets
realized that day was that it gets
realized that day was that it gets better for some of us it gets better for
better for some of us it gets better for
better for some of us it gets better for those of us who live long enough to see
those of us who live long enough to see
those of us who live long enough to see it get better I realized that I couldn’t
it get better I realized that I couldn’t
it get better I realized that I couldn’t run away from religion anymore because
run away from religion anymore because
run away from religion anymore because religion ships high LGBT people are
religion ships high LGBT people are
religion ships high LGBT people are treated in the world it ships the laws
treated in the world it ships the laws
treated in the world it ships the laws and how they treat LGBT people which we
and how they treat LGBT people which we
and how they treat LGBT people which we can see from the lack of equal marriage
can see from the lack of equal marriage
can see from the lack of equal marriage in this country and it ships high we
in this country and it ships high we
in this country and it ships high we LGBT people feel about ourselves the
LGBT people feel about ourselves the
LGBT people feel about ourselves the first lesson I learned about being gay
first lesson I learned about being gay
first lesson I learned about being gay was that it was evil and that I was
was that it was evil and that I was
was that it was evil and that I was going to hell for it and I learned that
going to hell for it and I learned that
going to hell for it and I learned that from the Bible
from the Bible
from the Bible there were times that I would cry in my
there were times that I would cry in my
there were times that I would cry in my bedroom as a teenager Bartling with God
bedroom as a teenager Bartling with God
bedroom as a teenager Bartling with God asking him not to send me to hell
asking him not to send me to hell
asking him not to send me to hell because I was so convinced that I was
because I was so convinced that I was
because I was so convinced that I was going there you this taxes Bible I know
going there you this taxes Bible I know
going there you this taxes Bible I know for so many people it offers them hope
for so many people it offers them hope
for so many people it offers them hope and it offers some salvation but for me
and it offers some salvation but for me
and it offers some salvation but for me and offered a prison sentence and I
and offered a prison sentence and I
and offered a prison sentence and I think it’s aciem for a lot of other LGBT
think it’s aciem for a lot of other LGBT
think it’s aciem for a lot of other LGBT young people LGBT suicide rates are
young people LGBT suicide rates are
young people LGBT suicide rates are through the roof this is the percentage
through the roof this is the percentage
through the roof this is the percentage of trials Rhys alone in the UK who have
of trials Rhys alone in the UK who have
of trials Rhys alone in the UK who have attempted suicide in the last in the
attempted suicide in the last in the
attempted suicide in the last in the over the course of the last year I’m
over the course of the last year I’m
over the course of the last year I’m before we see these numbers play out in
before we see these numbers play out in
before we see these numbers play out in Northern Ireland locally and we know
Northern Ireland locally and we know
Northern Ireland locally and we know this from challenged with services who
this from challenged with services who
this from challenged with services who say they see a player among their young
say they see a player among their young
say they see a player among their young people
what do we do about this I feel the only
what do we do about this I feel the only answer is the change religious teaching
answer is the change religious teaching
answer is the change religious teaching on homosexuality and LGBT issues and I
on homosexuality and LGBT issues and I
on homosexuality and LGBT issues and I don’t mean we buried Christians and
don’t mean we buried Christians and
don’t mean we buried Christians and shout at them or berate Muslims and
shout at them or berate Muslims and
shout at them or berate Muslims and shout at them we need to do the one
shout at them we need to do the one
shout at them we need to do the one thing that I didn’t want to do and I
thing that I didn’t want to do and I
thing that I didn’t want to do and I left at school at 16 we need to have
left at school at 16 we need to have
left at school at 16 we need to have conversations difficult conversations
conversations difficult conversations
conversations difficult conversations and fight for the hearts and minds of
and fight for the hearts and minds of
and fight for the hearts and minds of those who oppose us I’ve studied this
those who oppose us I’ve studied this
those who oppose us I’ve studied this and when you ask people like megan
and when you ask people like megan
and when you ask people like megan phelps roper he was one of the member of
phelps roper he was one of the member of
phelps roper he was one of the member of the Westboro Baptist Church a hate group
the Westboro Baptist Church a hate group
the Westboro Baptist Church a hate group in America when he asked people like
in America when he asked people like
in America when he asked people like this when you ask former neo-nazis the
this when you ask former neo-nazis the
this when you ask former neo-nazis the most extreme people when you ask them
most extreme people when you ask them
most extreme people when you ask them what changed your mind
what changed your mind
what changed your mind what means you about in your views
what means you about in your views
what means you about in your views they’ll tell you the same thing it was a
they’ll tell you the same thing it was a
they’ll tell you the same thing it was a conversation someone who they were
conversation someone who they were
conversation someone who they were opposed to struck up a conversation and
opposed to struck up a conversation and
opposed to struck up a conversation and they learned that that person was not
they learned that that person was not
they learned that that person was not who they thought they were they got the
who they thought they were they got the
who they thought they were they got the point where they could no longer hold
point where they could no longer hold
point where they could no longer hold those views people tell me this isn’t
those views people tell me this isn’t
those views people tell me this isn’t gonna happen there is no way the
gonna happen there is no way the
gonna happen there is no way the churches will change their teaching or
churches will change their teaching or
churches will change their teaching or the mosques will change their teachings
the mosques will change their teachings
the mosques will change their teachings you’re mad and I would have agreed with
you’re mad and I would have agreed with
you’re mad and I would have agreed with them but six weeks ago I was out in the
them but six weeks ago I was out in the
them but six weeks ago I was out in the gay bar not this one
gay bar not this one
gay bar not this one with my friend Jordan he was a free from
with my friend Jordan he was a free from
with my friend Jordan he was a free from a free presbyterian DP Fulton family in
a free presbyterian DP Fulton family in
a free presbyterian DP Fulton family in County legendary Boyd that londonderry
County legendary Boyd that londonderry
County legendary Boyd that londonderry Gary thing I hear thoughts I’m we were
Gary thing I hear thoughts I’m we were
Gary thing I hear thoughts I’m we were right there with his mom two years a
right there with his mom two years a
right there with his mom two years a Scottish free P who goes to church every
Scottish free P who goes to church every
Scottish free P who goes to church every Sunday and she was out in this bar
Sunday and she was out in this bar
Sunday and she was out in this bar supporting her case on just like Brenda
supporting her case on just like Brenda
supporting her case on just like Brenda and marques McCool was like impulse at
and marques McCool was like impulse at
and marques McCool was like impulse at night supporting her case on don’t tell
night supporting her case on don’t tell
night supporting her case on don’t tell me there’s no hope because for too many
me there’s no hope because for too many
me there’s no hope because for too many LGBT young people that is the only thing
LGBT young people that is the only thing
LGBT young people that is the only thing they have that keeps them living and by
they have that keeps them living and by
they have that keeps them living and by the way that free presbyterian mother
the way that free presbyterian mother
the way that free presbyterian mother went in the works the next day and told
went in the works the next day and told
went in the works the next day and told everyone that right this amazing thing
everyone that right this amazing thing
everyone that right this amazing thing she’d been too called a drag show
she’d been too called a drag show
she’d been too called a drag show nine
nine
nine if you had told me that I’d be sitting
if you had told me that I’d be sitting
if you had told me that I’d be sitting in a gay bar with one of the impious
in a gay bar with one of the impious
in a gay bar with one of the impious these disciples drinking cocktails and
these disciples drinking cocktails and
these disciples drinking cocktails and watching a drag show I told you you were
watching a drag show I told you you were
watching a drag show I told you you were mad so what can you do if you thought
mad so what can you do if you thought
mad so what can you do if you thought you’re here to see listen passively to
you’re here to see listen passively to
you’re here to see listen passively to me rant on no I’ve got a job for you if
me rant on no I’ve got a job for you if
me rant on no I’ve got a job for you if any of you are uncomfortable with the
any of you are uncomfortable with the
any of you are uncomfortable with the thought of someone like me please come
thought of someone like me please come
thought of someone like me please come up to me after this event and talk to me
up to me after this event and talk to me
up to me after this event and talk to me I won’t bite your head off I won’t call
I won’t bite your head off I won’t call
I won’t bite your head off I won’t call you homophobe we’ll just have a
you homophobe we’ll just have a
you homophobe we’ll just have a conversation and I’ll show you that I’m
conversation and I’ll show you that I’m
conversation and I’ll show you that I’m human just like you if you are
human just like you if you are
human just like you if you are comfortable with the thought of someone
comfortable with the thought of someone
comfortable with the thought of someone like me have a conversation with someone
like me have a conversation with someone
like me have a conversation with someone who hasn’t and try to change their mind
who hasn’t and try to change their mind
who hasn’t and try to change their mind because you could be saving a life
because you could be saving a life
because you could be saving a life finally I’d like to send a message to
finally I’d like to send a message to
finally I’d like to send a message to all LGBTQ young people are currently
all LGBTQ young people are currently
all LGBTQ young people are currently struggling especially those from faith
struggling especially those from faith
struggling especially those from faith backgrounds for I knew the plans I have
backgrounds for I knew the plans I have
backgrounds for I knew the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to
for you declares the Lord plans to
for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to
prosper you and not to harm you plans to
prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future
give you hope and a future
give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11 this talk is in memory of
Jeremiah 29:11 this talk is in memory of
Jeremiah 29:11 this talk is in memory of the pulse 49 and all LGBT people who
the pulse 49 and all LGBT people who
the pulse 49 and all LGBT people who died by suicide thank you very much
”
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