ex-gay commentary on X-Men 3

Chad W. Thompson writes

The movie makes some worthwhile points, to be sure, as many in the gay and lesbian community suggest that those of us who have chosen not to embrace the gay identity have done so primarily because we fear the stigma of society or the rejection of our families. Indeed, some of the mutants in the movie may have changed their “orientation” for the wrong reasons, as is the case in the real world of men and women struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions. Therefore to the degree that the Christian church has used shame or fear to motivate gay and lesbian people to change Sir McKellen’s criticism is warranted. Nonetheless, there remain many individuals in the Christian church who have abandoned their homosexuality not because they fear man, but because they love God.

As a young man I had an encounter with God in which he made it clear to me that homosexuality was not what he wanted for my life. I knew that if I wanted to experience the fullness of an intimate relationship with my creator I would have to put my sexuality on the altar along with everything else. I can remember complaining for hours to my mentor Lenny about the pain, struggle and temptation that I endured when I first submitted my sexuality to God. Lenny would always listen very patiently to my pain, and when I was finished he would just whisper into the phone the words, “Chad you know I’ve been down that road, and I’ve felt all that pain, and I can tell you now that I’m at the end of the road that he’s worth it. He’s worth it.”

Lenny and I didn’t give up our homosexuality because we feared man; we gave it up because we loved God. The movie gives us a parallel for that as well: Marie (Rogue) is a mutant whose powers inflict great harm on anyone she touches. It’s great for battling bad guys, but not so great when it’s time to snuggle up with her boyfriend Bobby. Again and again Marie would try to get close to Bobby but to no avail. Each time they tried to kiss, hug or even hold hands her superpowers would begin the process of eating away at his flesh. After years of frustration with her own inability to be intimate with Bobby, Marie heads for the offices of Worthington Laboratories to be injected with the cure. On her way out the door she runs into her friend Logan (Wolverine) who figures out where she’s going. He says it’s fine with him but he cautions her to “just make sure it’s what you want.”

Even as a fellow mutant, Logan realized that some mutants just weren’t happy being mutants, therefore he respected Marie’s right to change. His only concern was that she do so for the right reasons. Indeed, Marie didn’t seem too concerned about what society thought of her. She changed not because she feared man, but because she loved Bobby. She knew that giving up her superpowers was the only way she could ever experience true intimacy with the man of her dreams.

And he was worth it.