Still Stace: My Gay Christian Coming-of-Age Story

This book was really relatable. I realized that I was bi three years ago, and I have really struggled with accepting the fact that I am bi while still being a Christian. I've been able to get over the internalized homophobia through the acceptance and support of my friends, but I still struggle with it sometimes. This book showed me that there are other LGBTQ+ Christians out there who have been able to accept that they can follow God and still love who they love. I hope to one day be able to reach the same self-acceptance as the author was able to.

I just finished listening to the audiobook of “Still Stace: My Gay Christian Coming-Of-Age Story” by Stacey Chomiak. It was heartbreakingly beautiful to read. Her story is not the same exact story as my own because I wasn't even able to fully realize that I'm gay until I was 35 years old! But if I had realized it when I was in middle or high school I have no doubt my experiences would have been very similar to Stace's.

Sometimes it was hard to listen to the parts where she was hearing such harmful, homophobic theology from her church and family and church friends. It was hard because I've heard those same messages my entire life. And that toxic, traumatizing theology is still hurting people, even killing people. It's still causing parents to think they can't accept their gay/queer children for who they are. It's still keeping them from attending and celebrating their children's weddings and marriages and relationships.

It was good to hear how Stace was able to finally get that peace from God, knowing that there was nothing sinful about her relationship with her girlfriend. I wish I could get this book into the hands of every LGBTQ youth who is wrestling with these things. I wish I could make every parent of an LGBTQ person read this and have it open their eyes.