Michelle - Gay/Lesbian Issues - Gay/Lesbian Issues - People/Relationships

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Expert Profile: Michelle

Expertise: I can answer/explore questions regarding: coming out; conflicts of faith for both the gay/lesbian person accepting their own sexuality as well as friends/family accepting the sexuality of someone they care about; coming out to your children; talking to your teens about being gay; coming out of a long term opposite sex marriage; history of marriage; legal recognition of same gender marriages; how ultra-conservative religious training/upbringing affects gays, lesbians, bi, trans people--especially teens; why living “out” is the hardest best thing a person can do; current dynamics of religious/political issues.

Experience in the area
I was raised in a conservative Christian church, and still am a Christian. From my earliest memories, I always had "crushes" on girls/women, but because of my background and training, believed homosexuality was a "sin" and that I was an abomination. I believed it was a "choice" and was determined to choose heterosexuality. I married a man (claimed to be a Christian, ended up being abusive), had three kids, and was married for 20 years. I attended a Christian college (had devastating crushes there) and at the age of 26 started writing and speaking for Christian groups across the United States and Canada. After fifteen years of teaching others to "remove the masks" I finally peeled away my last mask. I lost my church, my oldest friend, my career, and quite a few people I trusted and loved--but I gained my soul. You can't fool God. I used my experience and twenty-five years of biblical studies to understand how scriptures have been misused. I am now married to a woman (seven years) and active in the gay/lesbian community. I have made myself an expert on same gender marriage issues and legal cases. I am very active in local, state, and national politics

Organizations
HRC Equal Rights Washington Legal Marriage Alliance PFLAG

Publications
AGLOW Western Horseman Publisher's Weekly Two books and hundreds of articles for Christian publishers

Education/Credentials
2.5 years undergraduate 25 years professional writer/speaker (fifteen for religious publishers) 10 years of seminars & workshops

Ask a Question	View Past Answers	View Ratings

What do you like about this subject? I love this subject because I know there are others out there like me, like I was, who are just as lost, hurt, seeking answers. I don't ever claim to have all the answers, but I am pretty good at finding paths.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field? Anything and everything. I don't really believe in "experts"--only people who have gone this way before, who are still moving, still seeking, still learning.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject The CREATED conflict between faith and sexuality. I don't believe that God ever intended there to be a conflict--but being the human beings we are, we have created that conflict. Matrimony was not accepted by the church until the 1600's...it was a pagan ceremony which sought the blessings of Aphrodite-Mari. "The Church" forbid such wedding ceremonies until the mid seventeenth century.

Average Ratings
Prestige Points: 4050
Knowledge	9.93 Best of the best
Clarity of Response	9.94 Best of the best
Timeliness	9.96 Best of the best
Politeness	9.97 Best of the best
Number Of Questions (in Past 24 Hours)		1
Max Questions to be Asked (in 24 Hour period)		3
Total Questions (since joining AllExperts)		335

Recent Reviews from Users

Knowl	Clarity	Time	Politeness	Date
10	10	10	10	09/02/08
10	10	10	10	09/02/08
10	10	10	10	08/11/08
10	10	10	10	08/07/08
10	10	10	10	08/04/08

User Comments

I truly appreciate you helping me figure it out. Thank you very much Indeed. ^_^
(April on 09/02/08)

Thank-you for advice.
(Amber on 08/11/08)

Thanks for all your help Michelle, God Bless xx
(Pauline on 08/07/08)

Thank You :)
(Kaori on 08/04/08)

View All Comments

Ask a Question	View Past Answers	View Ratings

Recent Answers from Michelle

2008-08-29 confused.: Hi Lesley, No, it probably isn't all in your head...and I would say it might not be a bad idea to go ahead and volunteer and see what happens. It depends too, on where you want to be with your boyfriend...

2008-08-26 Girlfriend wanting to be out.: Hi sq...this is a one of those tough situation where I tell people that both people are "right" and no one is "wrong." It is very normal, natural, and healthy for your girlfriend to want to be out. I...

2008-08-07 Depressed and Confused: Hi Amber, sorry I didn't answer sooner, I was out sick last week. Thanks for writing to me. You are in a very difficult position...a painful one. If you are happily married, and you want to stay that...

2008-08-05 Bumping into my ex is self torture: Hi Pauline, you are welcome. I think our head usually does know...or maybe it is the gut...but the heart has a mind of its own. Pauline, personally, I wouldn't recommend the idea of anti-depressants...

2008-08-01 Bumping into my ex is self torture: Hi Pauline... thanks for writing to me. Yes, first and foremost, yes, you are being too hard on yourself. Three months feels like an eternity because the pain makes every day drag. But one thing I know...