Daniel Gray, a 36-year old Chicago-area small business owner and openly gay man, had a secret life and spent years hiding his true nature from friends and family. But recent revelations have required Gray to own up to his supporters within the gay community, forcing him to come out of the closet as the founder and head pastor of The Living Life Church in Aurora, IL.
Despite outward appearances of having a normal gay relationship with his partner of 15 years, Thomas Donaldson, rumors had surfaced that Gray was living a double life as a firebrand charismatic church leader for the 15,ooo member megachurch serving the western suburbs of Chicago.
Initially, Gray denied any involvement with the church and rejected charges that he was a deeply devout man. But suspicions were confirmed when a video was found showing Gray slipping in the back door of the non-denominational house of worship to conduct his Sunday morning fire and brimstone sermons about human sinfulness and how homosexual behavior is ruining America.
Throughout his teenage years Gray found himself strangely attracted to narrow interpretations of the Bible and began to hide hardcore apostolic and Christian lifestyle magazines under his bed. By his early 20s, urges to approach strange men and ask them if they wanted to be saved were becoming an overwhelming force in his life. Gray also watched bombastic videos of evangelical sermons on his computer late at night and would discreetly order young-earth creationist DVDs online.
Before long, he was participating in online chats with Christian apologists, condemning the sins of sodomy and liberal science, all while maintaining the facade of a fabulously gay life.
When Donaldson found Gospel tracts on Gray’s computer he confronted him. Gray asked forgiveness for his transgressions but admitted only that he was merely curious about leading an evangelical congregation.
Gray sought counseling, convinced that being a pious faithful person was a choice and not something people are born into, despite the numerous studies which suggest that religious belief has biological origins.
“I rejected that,” Gray said. “I thought I was just being weak by falling victim to religious urges and believed therapy could fix my spiritual compulsions.”
Gray is relieved to not have to hide being a pastor anymore.
But after continued loving support from his partner, his family and members of the gay community, Gray has fully come to terms with the fact that he was born a born-again Christian. While he still continues to preach a fundamentalist biblical worldview to large congregations, the intertwining of his two lifestyles demands that he ignore a few more parts of the bible than he did prior to coming out.
More importantly, Gray claims that coming out has been a liberating experience for him because he no longer needs to live a lie.
“I was in the closet for so long, secretly casting out demons and judging people with righteous indignation,” Gray said. “I feel so blessed that while my friends in the gay community still have some reservations about my alternative lifestyle, they still accept me as a man-loving man.”
JB Goodbody frequently has thoughts in his head that makes him smile. Were they made public at the moment they poofed into existence, without some form of structured outlet such as satire, these thoughts would cause significant distress among his friends, family and coworkers. This is why he is here. 
Why is it wrong to be a gay? Some people have tendency to be a thief, and God doesn’t want anyone who have such tendency to be a thief. The truth is, God doesn’t want anyone to be gays, even if they have that tendency.
What’s wrong with being gay anyway? Well, the very reason why God created two different sex, male and female. God has a reason to create the different sexes – males are only to go for females.
Again, what’s wrong with being gay? Well, God made it easy if males go for females, they mostly live healthily, and able to have own children, which gays can’t! On the other hand, if they are gays, more possibly, they’d get HIV and AIDS.
So what’s wrong with having the HIV or AIDS anyway? Well, unless the gays don’t mind having the HIV or AIDS, I have no objection for those who like to be gays.
Eric, you either have no idea what God wants or you willfully reject his demands.
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death.
Which is it? Are you ignorant of God’s will or do you reject it? Are you for or against putting gays to death?
We can have a collective sigh of relief that civil society has rejected these bronze age commands and that your ilk stays out of power and can only clutter up message boards.
Besides, you missed the point of the piece. . .no surpise there.
This one is for you Eric S., you bigoted immature idiot.
“Why is it wrong to be a bigot? Some people have tendency to be an idiot, and God doesn’t want anyone who have such tendency to be an idiot. The truth is, God doesn’t want anyone to be idiots, even if they have that tendency.”
I’m telling you Eric, you’re making your magical imaginary sky daddy mad.
Sincerely,
Josh
I call Poe on Eric.
this irritates me! Its idiots like this that is ruining and embarrassing the name of Christ!
Bev, are you talking about Eric the poster, Josh the counter-poster, Daniel Gray the man in the article, or J Goodbody the author?