On the topic of LGBT sodomites:
My older brother has identified himself as gay on and off for the last decade or so, we were really close ever since we were kids. He started talking about being bi or gay when he was like 17 and i never thought it was for real. Always knew it was just trying to be different or part of a group ("marginalized", "oppressed" group blah-by-frickin-dah. You know how it goes) point is, i always knew it wasnt HIM, it was a mistake he was making for dumb reasons.
Well ive always been a very outspoken person (to a fault even) and never shied away from speaking my mind on things i really believe strongly about. A year ago i was sharing memes that were not very supportive (lets just say) of the LGBT agenda or participants. This was during "pride" month. *throws up in mouth* needless to say he was kinda mad at me. I told him you know how i feel. Ever since i became Christian (something a younger me would've never thought id become, and certainly my brother when we were younger was a big part as to why i was so anti christian to begin with) id been very open about my values and faith. Of course he wanted to fight me on it as he (along with many others who have known me for a long time) was shocked at my conversion. So we debated. And i explained to him why and how i had been convinced of the validity of the Orthodox Faith & Church.
After many arguements, discussions, debates, videos sent, articles sent, books recommended, he started to say to people how he wasnt "comfortable" identifying as "Gay" and started talking about many negatives & downsides in the "gay community" such as grooming, child abuse, mental illness, etc etc etc. Eventually he started telling people he was "Ex-Gay". I even started seeing him like some various Orthodox-themed posts on instagram, to my surprise!
Needless to say i was very happy to hear and see this. Recently he sent me a picture and an instagram handle for a girl he was about to go on a first date with! I was extremely happy to see this change occur, and still pray for my brother Anthony to stay out of that sin for good, and to find life in Christ.
Please if you would feel inclined, pray for my brother. And know that if you're in a similar situation with a loved one, keeping your mouth shut and your thoughts to yourself is not always the right answer. Sometimes being called a homophobe or a bigot or having uncomfortable conversations is worth it. Sometimes people act a certain way or become proud of their sins because the world celebrates sin, and they start to identify with their sin as is the case with "Homosexuals". They stop seeing it as something (wrong) they're doing, and instead see it as who they ARE. ("born this way" smh...) But those people may just start to rethink their position if you're able to provide a counter argument that is based in truth; not condemnation of the sinner, but of the sin. Showing people the effects that sin has on their lives, and what that sin is keeping from them, is important and eye opening for anyone, especially people involved in such a harmful one as the one my brother was in.
Hope this is a a story that can give some of you the courage to speak your minds even if the whole world disagrees.