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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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You are here: Home / Civil Rights / LGBTQ Rights / Gay Rights are Human Rights / Today in Gay: Georgia Megachurch Edition

Today in Gay: Georgia Megachurch Edition

by Imani Gandy (ABL)|  November 16, 201010:25 pm| 75 Comments

This post is in: Gay Rights are Human Rights

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Come out, come out, wherever you are!


On Sunday, a pastor at a Georgia megachurch made a shocking announcement to his congregation — (Is that what it’s called? A congregation? Parsonage? Parsnip? A parsnip in a pear tree? Hmmm…)

::clears throat::

On Sunday, a pastor in Georgia gave his pastor-people a shocker (Get your head of the gutter, honestly! I can’t take you anywhere!) — he announced that he’s gay.

::gasp!!::

When I read the news, I imagined a scene from that movie Keeping the Faith (the movie where Father Ed Norton and Rabbi Ben Stiller fall in love with Scientologist/shiksa Jenna Elfman). It’s the climactic scene in the synagogue where Rabbi Stiller tells his rabbit-people that he’s totally dating a shiksa and the rabbit-people are all, “Oy vey!” but it ended up being cool and everyone lived happily ever after. That’s what I imagined the scene to be, except with less Jews and more GAY:

Jim Swilley, the pastor of a Georgia megachurch, recently revealed to his congregation that he is gay. The 52-year-old father of four said that his wife, to whom he was married for more than 20 years, encouraged him to come out years ago, but at the time, he told her: “These words will never come out of my mouth.”

However, the recent spate of teen suicides, particularly that of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, prompted him to change his mind. “For some reason his situation was kind of the tipping point with me,” Swilley told CNN’s Don Lemon this weekend.

“There comes a point in your life where you say ‘How much time do we have left in our lives? Are we going to be authentic or not?'”

Way to go, Pastor Gay Guy! Let’s open up those lines of communication between the people and the Lord: “Excuse me, God? It’s cool if I’m gay, right? IT IS?! I KNEW IT! HEY YOU GUYS! WE CAN BE GAY AS ALL GET OUT NOW!! LET’S GET OUT THERE AND GAY LIKE A CHAMP!!“***

[image via Slap Upside the Head]

[cross-posted here at Angry Black Lady Chronicles]
***Hello, citizens! There’s a funny link here, but it’s barely noticeable, so I’m calling attention to it by telling you (especially if you like the football, American-style), to click the damn link. IF YOU WANT TO GAY LIKE A CHAMP, CLICK IT. Oh, and have a good evening. Smooches, ABL

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Previous Post: « Abandon all hope
Next Post: Open Thread: Snark Is Our Best Defence »

Reader Interactions

75Comments

  1. 1.

    funluvn

    November 16, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    If you can’t pray away the gay, but you still gotta pray, pray for them then.

    Nice to see some people who purport to do God’s work actually do.

  2. 2.

    arguingwithsignposts

    November 16, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    I’m always skeptical of nondenominational “bishops.” But good for him in some way.

  3. 3.

    lamh32

    November 16, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    Maybe I’m too cynical, but this seems like either a pre-emptive strike (aka if you don’t come out, I’m gonna tell everyone) or he have a partner who he so devoted to, that he can’t just NOT acknowledge him.

    In my warmest heart, though, I’m gonna hope is more of the I can’t live a lie/I gotta be me reasoning than the pre-emptive strikes.

    Still you can never tell with the “mega-christian gone gay” dudes. Good on him though.

  4. 4.

    NobodySpecial

    November 16, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    I’m surprised the coda of this story wasn’t ‘And they beat him to death with Gideon Bibles’.

  5. 5.

    Chukwu

    November 16, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    I can’t find the link, and I think this is the link you mean, ABL. If not, it’s awesome anyway. http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2010/10/tony-dungy-would-like-to-remind-you%e2%80%a6-it-gets-worse.html

  6. 6.

    hamletta

    November 16, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    @lamh32: Well, he said he came out after the spate of gay teen suicides, so until someone shows me evidence to the contrary, I’m going to take him at his word.

    For us Lutherans, assuming the best about people’s intentions falls under the rubric of the 8th Commandment about not bearing false witness, but it’s also good mental hygiene.

    Not all megachurches are all homophobia all the time, no matter how much it might seem that way.

  7. 7.

    Mnemosyne

    November 16, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    I heard part of this on NPR over the weekend (yes, I am a middle-aged white woman, why do you ask?) and it was interesting because he said the best thing about it was how supportive his children have been. Apparently one of his sons is in a punk band (can’t remember the name of it) and they had been a bit estranged, but now his son is a huge cheerleader for him.

  8. 8.

    General Stuck

    November 16, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Meh, call me when one comes out as a liberal.

  9. 9.

    Mnemosyne

    November 16, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    @lamh32:

    Maybe I’m too cynical, but this seems like either a pre-emptive strike (aka if you don’t come out, I’m gonna tell everyone) or he have a partner who he so devoted to, that he can’t just NOT acknowledge him.

    I dunno, reason #2 doesn’t seem like a terrible reason to come out, and sometimes people need the support of a partner before they feel comfortable telling other people. I certainly wouldn’t think the worse of someone if they didn’t come out until they had a steady relationship.

  10. 10.

    Joseph Nobles

    November 16, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    If you can’t pray away the gay, honey, love the gay you’re with.

  11. 11.

    Punchy

    November 16, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    I hope he moves to the North, b/c being gay and religious in Georgia is like being full dressed Muslim in the Cedar Rapids airport.

  12. 12.

    MikeJ

    November 16, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @funluvn:

    If you can’t pray away the gay,

    I’m more interested in Fuck the Pain Away (that version of the video in honour of Don Knotts night on TCM.)

  13. 13.

    BethanyAnne

    November 16, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    @MikeJ: I *love* that “Shoes the Full Version” is the top suggested video next to that. :)

  14. 14.

    J. Michael Neal

    November 16, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    @Punchy: You realize that Cedar Rapids is the home of the second oldest mosque in America, right? It’s not exactly the best choice for this comment.

    Iowa is a strange, and kind of wonderful, place. I realize that, as a Minnesotan, I’m not supposed to say that.

  15. 15.

    wasabi gasp

    November 16, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    Welcome to Kilochurch

  16. 16.

    BethanyAnne

    November 16, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    This looks like a vaguely open thread. I’m getting a car tomorrow. Anyone know a good site for lefty bumper stickers?

  17. 17.

    The Moar You Know

    November 16, 2010 at 11:14 pm

    That took some courage. If his congregation doesn’t kill him, they’ll desert him in weeks, leaving him unemployed and destitute.

  18. 18.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    November 16, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    Well!

    I almost don’t know what to do with good news on my Balloon Juice! And/or with ABL using her ranty powers for joy!

    And yet there it is! What a nice thing to see. I know that this gentleman will be greeted with all manner of “too little, too late,” and, on the flip side, “you’re gay? EWWWWWW!” — I hope he’s also greeted with a lot of “Good on ya!”

    Because good on him!

  19. 19.

    Axe Diesel Palin

    November 16, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    http://www.npr.org/2010/11/14/131312723/out-of-the-closet-in-the-pulpit-of-a-megachurch

    NPR covered this on Sunday. But, what stood out to me was a side comment that was made. Listen to the whole interview, but at around 5:17 he explains why he didn’t face his sexual identity sooner. He says something like: “I come from … an Apocalyptic end of the world … kind of thing … I never thought long term … [I believed] this is all going to be over with soon and I’ll go to heaven…”

    I’ve often wondered how much of the current GOP short term thinking, from Science denial (global warming, peak oil, etc.) to policy choices favoring short term profits over long term investments is really driven by the Evangelical base who believes that long term planning is not needed because the end of times is near.

  20. 20.

    suzanne

    November 16, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    I think it’s cool that his wife encouraged him to be honest. I hope they’ve managed to maintain a good relationship, because lots of women in that community would do anything to avoid the humiliation. Good for her.

  21. 21.

    The Moar You Know

    November 16, 2010 at 11:18 pm

    Welcome to Kilochurch

    @wasabi gasp: You win, I’m out.

  22. 22.

    Peter J

    November 16, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    I’m surprised the coda of this story wasn’t ‘And they beat him to death with Gideon Bibles’.

    There was a prisoner who died after trying to swallow and then choking on a Gideon’s Bible. To my knowledge that’s the only death involving a Gideon’s Bible.

  23. 23.

    BethanyAnne

    November 16, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    @BethanyAnne: Hey, I’m talking to myself! I forgot about unamerican.com. “Arm the Homeless” tee-hee

  24. 24.

    Reggie Syriac

    November 16, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    This is Pastor Swilley’s son’s band:

    http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/08/black-lips-arrests-police-law/

    They aren’t terrible, music-wise.

  25. 25.

    ulee

    November 16, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Seems like a good thing Angry Black Lady. Not quite sure why you are so negative about this. Maybe stop being angry for an evening, open a beer, count the good things.

  26. 26.

    Larry Signor

    November 16, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    @General Stuck: That’s it isn’t it? “You can call Me Al“, but don’t call me liberAl.

  27. 27.

    Ash Can

    November 16, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    Hats off to this guy and his family. Credit where credit is due. I hope there aren’t too many knuckle-draggers in their community who bother them.

  28. 28.

    Comrade Mary

    November 16, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    @MikeJ: I LOVE that song and video. (You did know Peaches was Canadian, right?)

    But have you seen this version? (Oh yeah, NSFW and maybe not safe for some cherished childhood memories, too.)

  29. 29.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    November 16, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    @ulee: In this case, I think I’m safe in saying that she’s ranting joyfully. Still ranting, just with happiness.

    Also, if I remember correctly, her drink is less beer and more whiskey. (Gin? I don’t remember correctly, apparently).

  30. 30.

    Mumphrey

    November 16, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    It wouldn’t shock me to see most of his congregation leave. It also wouldn’t shock me if he drew a lot of new members in. There are lots of liberal evangelical Christians in the U.S., though the reactionary ones make the most noise. There are even evangelical churches that explicitly welcome gays, not to “cure” them, but to have them be part of the congregation just as they are…

  31. 31.

    Larry Signor

    November 16, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    @ulee: Here’s to ulee:))

  32. 32.

    MikeJ

    November 16, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    @Comrade Mary: A Peaches video is NSFW? I’m *shocked*.

    I was always a bit puzzled by “suckin’ on my titties like you want me…” No ma’am, I was just being polite.

  33. 33.

    Angry Black Lady

    November 16, 2010 at 11:49 pm

    @Mnemosyne: i can imagine that his son feels some sort of connection to his father now that they are both “other.” not that punk is necessarily “other” by anything other than choice, but it’s not like people dressed in punk gear don’t get the side eye as much as anybody else. well maybe not as much, but you get my point.

  34. 34.

    SiubhanDuinne

    November 16, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    @Mnemosyne #7: I heard the same NPR interview and I have to say, I was impressed. He came across as very thoughtful and sincere. I didn’t pick up on any weaselly stuff. Mind you, I’m not going to start going to his church or anything, but if for some bizarre reason I were forced to choose a church to attend within 30 miles of where I live, it would probably be Bishop Jim’s Church of the Here and Now or wheverthehellitscalled, just on the strength of the fact that I like the way he came across in that interview.

    Yeah, I’m also a middle-aged white woman.

    Okay, I’m old.

    And white, and a woman.

  35. 35.

    arguingwithsignposts

    November 16, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    @Angry Black Lady:

    but it’s not like people dressed in punk gear don’t get the side eye as much as anybody

    in rural west Texas (outside Amarillo – yeehaw) in the ’80s, there was a lot of side eye, esp. if you were one of only three in an entire school district.

  36. 36.

    Angry Black Lady

    November 16, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    @ulee: i’m not angry about it at all! i think it’s fantastic news.

    i see how it can get confusing, though; i write under two names on my blog. this post is written by “stopthemadness.” most of my posts are written by me qua stopthemadness. (golly, i’m a dork! did i say qua? 4srs?)

    if john lets me stick around, i may have to go with “ABL” or something, so the Angry and Black part isn’t so prominent in my non-angry (and non-black ??) posts.

    :D (to prove my non-angriness.)
    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: you get me, but that’s not surprising since you’re my sister from another mister.

  37. 37.

    Hob

    November 16, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    @MikeJ: I’m constantly getting in trouble that way.

  38. 38.

    Angry Black Lady

    November 16, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: i figured. punks in philly got the side eye, and it was philly, FFS.

  39. 39.

    MikeJ

    November 16, 2010 at 11:53 pm

    @Angry Black Lady: As a white punk, I can see now that yes, it was completely by choice. When I was 15, it felt like it was inborn, a part of me. I realise nobody *made* me listen to Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, but if I had spent my days in high school rather than my nights in bars would have been a very different person. Probably a republican or something equally vile.

  40. 40.

    Andy K

    November 16, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    @Angry Black Lady

    That link….Is full of teh win.

  41. 41.

    BethanyAnne

    November 16, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    oooo, still shopping for stickers, and found one that fits this thread: “Jesus had two daddies”

  42. 42.

    Yutsano

    November 16, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    I read this, I still think he r doing it wrong. You’re supposed to be caught with the live boy FIRST. Then you’re supposed to pray for forgiveness, pretend to straighten up while still diddling boys on the side, THEN come out as a drug addled pure sinner that Satan himself would be proud of.

    I keed I keed. This guy has Pelosi sized huevos. And his wife is even more awesome about it.

  43. 43.

    Angry Black Lady

    November 16, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    @Andy K: I KNOW! it slays me every time.

  44. 44.

    Angry Black Lady

    November 16, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: AGREED! (I really need stop reading the comments from the bottom up….)

  45. 45.

    Andy K

    November 16, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    @Angry Black Lady:

    Makes me want to root for the Jets.

    THAT is sooooo wrong….

  46. 46.

    arguingwithsignposts

    November 17, 2010 at 12:00 am

    @MikeJ:

    I realise nobody made me listen to Black Flag and the Circle Jerks,

    All you wanted was a Pepsi? Just one pepsi, and they … wouldn’t … give … it … to … you.

  47. 47.

    MikeJ

    November 17, 2010 at 12:05 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: I’m not crazy!
    You’re the one that’s crazy!

  48. 48.

    ulee

    November 17, 2010 at 12:09 am

    Angry Black Lady—I’m glad you’re not really angry. But still I recommend that beer, either Heinken or a Pub Brew. And if it must be whiskey, Jim Beam is a solid choice. It has served me well over the years.

  49. 49.

    YellowJournalism

    November 17, 2010 at 12:15 am

    @MikeJ: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, baby. TCM has been on a roll when it comes to what they’re showing as of late. I’ve been a big fan of their series on movie moguls and the start of Hollywood. They’ve also shown a bunch of rare-to-find silents afterward, so I’ve been in PVR heaven.

    ETA: This pastor is awesome. The part about becoming closer to his son and the son being his cheerleader is extremely heartwarming.

  50. 50.

    Yutsano

    November 17, 2010 at 12:21 am

    @YellowJournalism: My biggest sign the universe hasn’t given up hope yet: Wazzu beat Oregon State last week. I fully recognize this is news only you and I will probably appreciate.

  51. 51.

    Lancelot Link

    November 17, 2010 at 12:35 am

    Good for Pastor Swilley!
    I really like the list on his blog
    http://www.bloginthenow.blogspot.com/
    of all the things the bible calls “abominations”, and the fact that he never preached anything against gays when he was in the closet.

    ps – Immediately to my left is a stack of LPs; the one at the front is an old gospel album featuring… Martha Wash pre- Weathergirls.

  52. 52.

    ricky

    November 17, 2010 at 12:49 am

    Has he studied what this does to collection cohesion?

  53. 53.

    Mnemosyne

    November 17, 2010 at 12:52 am

    It will be very nice when we finally get to a world where we recognize that the urge to raise a child and the urge to fuck someone of the opposite sex are not, in fact, the same urge. It will save a lot of people a lot of heartache.

  54. 54.

    Porlock Junior

    November 17, 2010 at 1:04 am

    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther:

    Thanks for straightening it out. On first reading (not a very careful one) I didn’t quite see what ABL’s attitude was, but it seemed hostile. Went back and re-read it with your posting in mind, and I now see it perfectly (IMO).

    Which proves you’re right. IMO.

  55. 55.

    ricky

    November 17, 2010 at 1:05 am

    @Mnemosyne:

    Shoot, after my first young ‘un I knowed I couldn’t ever want three in one night. Haddn’t everbody else already?

  56. 56.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    November 17, 2010 at 1:22 am

    @Porlock Junior: Your opinion is correct, sir. For I am always right.

    Much like my sister from another mister, ABL. Ahem. Sisters in correctness!

  57. 57.

    Cliff

    November 17, 2010 at 1:36 am

    Tonight Molly has had some small success with the kennel training, slowly overcoming her fear of the kennel, she much much prefers the couch, esp when I pull the blanket over her so she can stay warm since I’m a cheap ass and its not super cold yet.

    http://mollymaesden.blogspot.com/2010/11/hey-light-fire-already.html

  58. 58.

    Yutsano

    November 17, 2010 at 1:43 am

    @Cliff: PUPPEH!! She knows she haz Daddy wrapped around her paw! Also.

  59. 59.

    Winston Smith

    November 17, 2010 at 1:48 am

    Meanwhile, in other religion news, the US Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has elected a new president. They bypassed the usual selection — the vice president — to elect the biggest dickhead they could find. One of his positions is that “the repeal of Proposition 8 would be like Roe v. Wade.”

    The vice president of the USCCB is a liberal, and the new president admitted that the Bishops weren’t voting FOR him, but against the liberal.

    The USCCB is currently trying to install the second biggest dickhead in the Council as the new vice president.

    Just when you thought the USCCB couldn’t possibly get any worse…

    Sigh. So it’s nice that something positive happened this week.

  60. 60.

    ricky

    November 17, 2010 at 1:53 am

    @Winston Smith:

    How many degrees of Bacon at work here?

    http://catholicknight.blogspot.com/2010/04/attention-all-gay-catholics.html

  61. 61.

    Porlock Junior

    November 17, 2010 at 2:12 am

    @Mumphrey:
    “It wouldn’t shock me to see most of his congregation leave. It also wouldn’t shock me if he drew a lot of new members in.”

    And if he loses pretty much the whole congregation (sadly, because we’d like to see his followers see the light, too) he may end up thanking God for it. You can do great things with a congregation that you’ve shrunk to nothing:

    http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/2010/10/preached-down-to-four.html

  62. 62.

    p mac

    November 17, 2010 at 2:18 am

    God, that’s a blast from the past.
    I’d forgot just how funny ‘It’s Raining Men’ is.

    Halleluia!

  63. 63.

    Cliff

    November 17, 2010 at 3:11 am

    @p mac:

    LOL, seriously I just searched it and came up with this LOL!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi2t58CRmbU

    edit:Really, I’m not kidding, I actually LOL’d!!!

  64. 64.

    Cliff

    November 17, 2010 at 3:25 am

    @Cliff:
    and somehow that LOL ended up here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkrjYK4Gb9A&NR

    which I didn’t watch, cause Molly was doing hilarious dance moves to the audio.

  65. 65.

    Cliff

    November 17, 2010 at 3:32 am

    @Cliff:

    Seriously ROTFLMAO upon the second playing, first watching. Molly still doing silly dance moves to this hilarity.

    Way Way better than CSPAN. LOL

  66. 66.

    Cliff

    November 17, 2010 at 3:41 am

    @Cliff:

    if anyone actually gives a f’k the cspan hearing is Here:

    Problems in Mortgage Servicing From Modification to Foreclosure

    Tuesday, November 16, 2010
    03:15 PM – 06:00 PM
    538 Dirksen Senate Office Building

    http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.LiveStream&Hearing_id=df8cb685-c1bf-4eea-941d-cf9d5173873a

  67. 67.

    Winston Smith

    November 17, 2010 at 3:42 am

    @ricky: Oh, yeah, that reminds me of another bizarre and frustrating aspect of the USCCB move is that SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) lobbied against the liberal vice-president.

    Why? Because he was friends in seminary with a guy who later went on to abuse children. The guy who won? Well, he helped cover it up.

    Nice going, SNAP.

  68. 68.

    Cliff

    November 17, 2010 at 3:50 am

    @Cliff:

    Its the MERS hearing ya know it’s ’bout silly stuff like paperwork and signatures and stuff.

    and of course the dreaded ETC.. ETC.. as well.

  69. 69.

    WereBear

    November 17, 2010 at 6:06 am

    @BethanyAnne: AzureGreen.net

    Also lots of great pagan stickers, if you want to go for the full Monty.

  70. 70.

    SRW1

    November 17, 2010 at 6:50 am

    @Axe Diesel Palin:

    I’ve often wondered how much of the current GOP short term thinking, from Science denial (global warming, peak oil, etc.) to policy choices favoring short term profits over long term investments is really driven by the Evangelical base who believes that long term planning is not needed because the end of times is near.

    That is what really scares the hell out of me, because they may be able to block any action with that attitude until it is too late.

  71. 71.

    Mary

    November 17, 2010 at 6:55 am

    @suzanne: Yes. His wife has got to be one of the most compassionate people ever.

  72. 72.

    arguingwithsignposts

    November 17, 2010 at 7:17 am

    Realizing this is incredibly late, but from the pastor’s Q&A about his announcement, why he doesn’t post negative comments to his blog:

    Actually, there really aren’t that many negative comments that come in, relative to the ones posted which are positive and affirming, and those that are negative pretty much all say the same thing. There’s a lot of cutting and pasting of the same two or three Scripture passages, and, while I appreciate the effort of those who do the incessant cutting and pasting, I do have many, many Bibles, and I have read (and studied) those passages for many, many years. In other words, it‘s really not necessary to keep sending them to me. It would be redundant to post them all.

    emphasis added. a fine little snark there.

  73. 73.

    gelfling545

    November 17, 2010 at 9:56 am

    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: I have to agree with you. Good on him because anytime a person decides to live authentically it is good. He has a lot to lose and many people besides himself to consider so this cannot have been easy. Good on his wife, too, who apparently loves him for who he is, not who he “ought” to be.

  74. 74.

    EJ

    November 17, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Nice job linking to KSK. KSK isn’t just the funniest sports blog, but one of the funniest things about any subject on the web.

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  1. Lady Black says:
    November 17, 2010 at 1:29 am

    […] Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Today in Gay: Georgia Megachurch … @Angry Black Lady As a white punk, I can see now that yes, it was completely by choice. When I was 15, it felt like it was inborn, a part of me. I realise nobody made me listen to Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, but if I had spent my . […]

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