Fridae

Gay but not happy?

That was the slogan of Choices, a Singapore ex-gay ministry affiliated to Church of our Saviour and US-based Exodus International which advocates reparative therapy for gay men and lesbians. The Singapore group attracted a uproar from members of the gay community when they hung a huge banner outside their church several years ago.

Safehaven a gay affirmative Christian group is launching a 18-session support programme to help gay Christian men reconcile their sexuality and their faith. Set up in 1998, the group has some 80 regular members.

Miak, one of the organisers of the programme, told Fridae: "Safehaven started out as such a support group and while some of us have reconciled our faith and our sexuality, many are still struggling. Others might seek to escape from the struggle by not confronting it, and burying it deep within."

"It is not an easy journey, and there are no simple answers. I know, I am still searching," he said.

Although the upcoming workshops are for gay men, Safehaven hopes to start separate groups for lesbians and transgendered persons in the near future.

Session info
For the first six sessions, we welcome new members to join in. As the topics from Session 7 onwards are more private, we will close the support group. For members who want to go through the fundamentals - the seven biblical passages, and the various areas we are going to touch on, you are welcome to join in.

Sessions 1-6
1. Intro - basic rules of the support group
2. What does the Bible say about being gay
3. Our struggles as gay Christians
4. Guilt
5. Why are we gay - different perspectives
6. Coming Out - hiding in 2 closets (one as a gay person, and one as a Christian)

Sessions 7-12
7. Sex
8. Relationships: LongTerm/Short Term, Monogamy/Open
9. Relationships: Family

Sessions 13-18
9. Self Image/Self Esteem
10. Growing up and growing old
11. The Future.
12. Conclusions/Closures/ General Sharing

The group meets every Friday, starting 15 July at 7.30pm. For venue enquiry and other information, please email miak@pacific.net.sg.