Who Would Jesus Hate?

From gay evangelical Azariah Southworth.

HomoQuotable - Azariah Southworth

"Outing Jonathan [Merritt] was not an easy decision. I mulled it over for more than a year and discussed it with friends. Those conversations always ended in, 'Yeah, it’s probably not a good idea.' So, what changed my mind? I was tired of the lies. I was tired of hearing Jonathan say that being gay is not 'God’s best.' Meanwhile he enjoys the company of men. Jonathan’s approach to LGBT people and issues may be less extreme than that of the late Jerry Falwell, but in the end the results and message are the same: Your sexual orientation is a sin and you need to change with God’s help. It’s all lies — and the conversation not only needs to change but the leaders as well. I’m tired of my humanity as a gay man being invalidated by hypocritical leaders like Jonathan, who then expect my support in return." - Azariah Southworth, writing for Salon.

Southworth says he's plagued with guilt that he didn't warn Merritt in advance, presumably to give him a chance to come out on his own. The above-linked essay contains some frank revelations of how Southworth first hooked-up with Merritt at a Chicago conference for evangelicals. Recommended.

Southworth: Why I Outed Jonathan Merritt

Outed Christian Author Jonathan Merritt: Yes, I Had Sex With Azariah Southworth But I Swear I Am Totally Not Gay!

"In 2009, I was contacted by the blogger [Azariah Southworth] in response to an article I wrote about just that--that Christians must love people who experience sexual brokenness. We corresponded several times by email and text for a couple of weeks, some of them inappropriate. When I was traveling through a city near him, we met for dinner because we'd corresponded so recently. As we were saying goodbye, we had physical contact that went beyond the bounds of friendship. I was overcome with guilt, knowing I had put myself in an unwise situation. We never saw each other again and we ceased contact after a period of time.

"When I returned home, I saw a Christian counselor to address the events in my life and sort through my childhood and what I believed God wanted for me. I also began to acknowledge to myself that I have sin in my past, sin for which I accept responsibility. Inappropriate texting, inappropriate actions are inappropriate no matter who the other party is. These were my decisions and no one else's. It's from my brokenness, that I feel I can now be transparent, honest, and authentic about these accusations. Those close to me know I have actually been planning to share the story of my brokenness for some time. Because it is part of my spiritual journey. And because it underscores the power of the Gospel to transform lives." - Anti-gay Christian author Jonathan Merritt, in an interview just posted to the blog of evangelist Ed Setzer.

RELATED: I guess that special announcement to Daddy's congregation will be old news by the time those pews fill up this Sunday.

Outed Atlantic Columnist Jonathan Merritt Has A "Special" Announcement To Make

Earlier this week gay evangelical Azariah Southworth published a blog entry outing well-known Atlantic columnist and Christian author Jonathan Merritt. This morning JMG reader Dwight tipped us that Merritt will be making a "special announcement" at the Georgia church where his father, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, is head pastor and where the younger Merritt had been scheduled to continue a four-week series of sermons.

Update! A Special Message This Sunday, July 29
Join us this Sunday for a special and heartfelt message by the Pastor and Jonathan Merritt. Services are at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

Merritt's Twitter feed has been uncharacteristically silent since Southworth's revelation. I'll have an update on his "special announcement" when it's available.

Gay Evangelical Azariah Southworth Outs Atlantic Columnist Jonathan Merritt

Yesterday I posted a quote from Atlantic columnist and Christian author Jonathan Merritt (above left) in which, referencing the Chick-Fil-A brouhaha, he denounced consumer boycotts driven by social issues. Shortly thereafter I received a Facebook email from gay evangelical Azariah Southworth (who came out in 2008) in which he hinted that he knew something as-yet undisclosed yet very pertinent to Merritt's argument. But I didn't get to Southworth's email before JMG readers tipped me to his just-posted blog entry outing Merritt.

Exposing this truth of Jonathan’s sexual orientation is not an easy decision for me. I take no pleasure in doing this. As I type this my stomach is turning because I know of the backlash he will receive. I have thought about what all of this will mean for him and for me. I base my reasoning in the importance of living an authentic and honest life. True change in the “culture wars” may come through genuine fellowship and conversations but if there is not complete honesty and transparency when we come to the table than we are simply building a foundation which will soon deteriorate. We must have radical honesty in the character, intentions and identities of our leaders. I truly hope for the day when leaders of the LGBT community and leaders from the anti-LGBT community can come to the table with no secrets or agendas but simply to know one another. As Howard Thurman said, “Contact without genuine fellowship breeds hatred.”

Southworth notes that he will not "disclose the nature" of his relationship with Merritt, but that he can substantiate his outing claim if necessary.

RELATED: One of the most-recurring themes in Merritt's writing is a call for civility in the culture wars, including when it comes to the characterization of anti-gay groups as "haters." One reviewer of Merritt's latest book notes that he was "personally recruited by Jerry Falwell" to attend Liberty University. From another review:

The specter of Jerry Falwell drifts in and out of Merritt’s book, a convenient archetype of wrong-headed Christian engagement in the American culture wars. Merritt ends his book, fittingly, with a reflection on Falwell’s death. As he metaphorically pats the dirt on his grave, Merritt encourages his readers to do the same to Falwell’s misguided mission.

Last year Merritt received withering scorn from fellow evangelicals for a Christian Science Monitor piece which he denounced Christian leaders for focusing exclusively on "homosexual sin" and not on other biblically proscribed actions. The Monitor reportedly yanked that column, presumably in response to its reception.

Southworth & Boltz: Newly Out Evangelicals Team Up For National Tour

Azariah Southworth and Ray Boltz, two enormously popular evangelical figures who rocked the Christian world when they came out in 2008, are teaming up for a tour. Via press release:

Over the past 20 years, Ray Boltz has been one of the driving forces behind Christian music, garnering three Dove Awards and selling 4.5 million albums. Since announcing they’re gay in 2008, Boltz and Southworth have been shunned by the Christian music world. Boltz comments, “I am looking forward to touring with Azariah Southworth during 2010. We both ‘came out’ publicly at the same time and we both have experienced acceptance from people who understand and rejection from some of those who don’t. We hope by being “true” to who we are, we can make a difference for others in the same situation.”

Southworth hosted a popular Christian television show, The Remix, for two seasons. It was syndicated to more than 128 million homes and watched by over 200,000 per week on one network. However, he lost everything after announcing he was ready to live his life “authentically and honestly” in April 2008. Southworth comments, “Ray’s and my story are very similar. On the tour, we will share our stories through the performance of spoken word and songs. As I share my stories in segments, Ray will play his new and old songs which convey the joy, heartache and healing we have experienced. This tour is our two stories which contain one message. That message is the joy and peace there is to be found by living true.”

The tour begins in Long Beach, California in May and coincides with the completion of Southworth's book. Tour Facebook page. Ray Boltz resides in Fort Lauderdale with his partner. JMG reader Azariah advises that he is "very single" in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he has been active in the campaign for his hometown to extend transgender rights protections.

RELATED: My post about Azariah's coming out is here. My post about Ray Boltz' coming out is here.

Call Me....Azariah

I got a few emails yesterday to let me know that according to Gay City News, I had just shocked the world of televangelism by coming out. I think I'll call my new ministry "Joedeism".

Fallout For Azariah Southworth

After coming out in the gay press two days ago, there has been some fallout in the "Christian industry" for televangelist Azariah Southworth. Nashville columnist Nathan West, who writes for the local gay newspaper Out & About, has done an interview with Southworth. An excerpt:

Nathan: What is the current status of The Remix? [Southworth's show.] Has it been canceled, and/or do the networks even know you came out yet?

Azariah: I do know that as of today (Thursday) the second day of all the chaos, one network has taken The Remix off the air. I have not heard from the other two networks. I do know they are soon to follow.

Nathan: Is the show something you’d want to fight for? If you love it and it’s your passion, would you be curious to see if you can stand up and insist that the show go on, since you are the producer?

Azariah: I know these people, and this crowd. It’s the whole Pat Robertson and TBN crowd. There is no way in this lifetime they will allow a openly gay person on their networks. I wouldn’t fight for it because I know the fight would be in vain. I’m hoping that secular networks will come forth and be interested in picking it up. It really is a great show concept and very fast paced and I still own the rights to it! I know it would do great on something like MTV, FUSE, LOGO, etc.

Nathan: I’m sure there are many gay men and women in Christian media who are hiding in the closet. Is it something everybody knows but doesn’t talk about? Do you know if anyone else plans on coming out specifically because you did?

Azariah: I have actually received several emails from people actually coming out to me that are in the Christian industry. Sometimes everyone does know about “that one person in the office” but no one dares talk about it. No one has come to me saying they have plans to come out but I have been told they wish they had the courage to.

Read the rest of Southworth's interview on Nathan West's blog, Nathan Exposed.

HomoQuotable - Azariah Southworth

"This has been a long time coming. I’m in a place where I’m at peace with my faith, friends, family and more importantly myself. I know this will end my career in Christian television, but I must now live my life openly and honestly with everyone. This is my reason for doing this.

"I know I will be cut off from many within the Christian community, and if so, then they didn’t get the point of the life of Christ. I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian. We all know there are so many other gay people in the Christian industry; they’re just all scared. I was scared, but now I’m no longer afraid." - Nashville-based Christian television host Azariah Southworth, coming out to the press.

Southworth's popular syndicated show, The Remix, can be seen in 128 million homes worldwide on several Christian networks. Welcome, Azariah.