Justin Lee
Encyclopedia
Justin Lee is the founder of The Gay Christian Network
(GCN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians. According to the GCN website, "We also work with churches and other Christian organizations to help educate the Christian community about sexual orientation issues from a Biblical standpoint." Lee founded GCN in August, 2001 to "build a supportive community to support fellow gay Christians in their Christian walks." In an interview for CNN
, Lee explained the purpose of the organization:
Lee is recognizable for his baldness and noticeable lack of eyebrows due to alopecia areata
, a condition he has had since childhood.
He is also the director of a 2009 documentary
, Through My Eyes, which explores the struggles of young gay Christians.
, "Justin Lee believes that the Virgin birth was real, that there is a heaven and a hell, that salvation comes through Christ alone and that he... is an evangelical Christian."
As a teenager, Lee realized he was attracted to the same sex, but he did not identify himself as gay because he believed that would be a sin
. Instead, he spent years fighting his attractions, praying for God to change them.
In 1997, Lee posted his story online and heard from people all over the world who were similarly struggling with their faith and sexuality. This led him to be more outspoken on behalf of gay Christians and ultimately to launch The Gay Christian Network in 2001.
.
Instead, he argues that the real question is whether or not the Bible
condemns gay sex, and therefore whether gay Christians can have monogamous relationships ("Side A") or are called to celibacy
("Side B"). Lee personally advocates for monogamous relationships and believes they can be reconciled with the Bible, but the organization he founded offers support to people on both sides.
Lee is also an advocate of waiting for a lifelong, monogamous commitment before having sex
, which he describes as a personal choice. In an interview with OUT
magazine, Lee said, "Sex is powerful and deserves to be treated with reverence.... [It] has the power to form a sacred bond between people. And it's a bond I want to form with the guy I'm going to spend the rest of my life with, not just some cute guy who danced with me in a club one night."
of The Gay Christian Network
. He is outspoken on issues pertaining to LGBT
Christians and is widely known through his weekly podcast
and YouTube videos.
He has publicly commented on the usefulness of online communities in helping minister to the gay Christian community:
In 2006, Lee was a part of the "Gay-to-Straight Debate" on the Dr. Phil Show, where he argued against reparative therapy. He has also been a featured guest speaker at churches, colleges, and conferences on Christianity and homosexuality.
Gay Christian Network
The Gay Christian Network, popularly called GCN, is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight ally organization and ecumenical Christian ministry founded in 2001 by Justin Lee and administered from Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States....
(GCN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians. According to the GCN website, "We also work with churches and other Christian organizations to help educate the Christian community about sexual orientation issues from a Biblical standpoint." Lee founded GCN in August, 2001 to "build a supportive community to support fellow gay Christians in their Christian walks." In an interview for CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Lee explained the purpose of the organization:
"We're just trying to get people together who experience attraction to the same sex, however they have handled that, and who love Jesus and say, OK, you are welcome here, and then let's pray together and figure out where God wants us to take it."
Lee is recognizable for his baldness and noticeable lack of eyebrows due to alopecia areata
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a medical condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, usually from the scalp. Because it causes bald spots on the scalp, especially in the first stages, it is sometimes called spot baldness. In 1–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the entire scalp ...
, a condition he has had since childhood.
He is also the director of a 2009 documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
, Through My Eyes, which explores the struggles of young gay Christians.
Background
Lee grew up in a conservative Christian home and continues to hold many of the same core doctrines. According to The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, "Justin Lee believes that the Virgin birth was real, that there is a heaven and a hell, that salvation comes through Christ alone and that he... is an evangelical Christian."
As a teenager, Lee realized he was attracted to the same sex, but he did not identify himself as gay because he believed that would be a sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
. Instead, he spent years fighting his attractions, praying for God to change them.
In 1997, Lee posted his story online and heard from people all over the world who were similarly struggling with their faith and sexuality. This led him to be more outspoken on behalf of gay Christians and ultimately to launch The Gay Christian Network in 2001.
Beliefs
Lee does not believe it is a sin to be gay. He argues that "gay" means only "attracted to the same sex," and that condemning people for their unchosen attractions is contrary to Christian doctrineDoctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
.
Instead, he argues that the real question is whether or not the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
condemns gay sex, and therefore whether gay Christians can have monogamous relationships ("Side A") or are called to celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
("Side B"). Lee personally advocates for monogamous relationships and believes they can be reconciled with the Bible, but the organization he founded offers support to people on both sides.
Lee is also an advocate of waiting for a lifelong, monogamous commitment before having sex
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, which he describes as a personal choice. In an interview with OUT
Out (magazine)
Out is a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States. It carries itself in a similar editorial manner to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was published by PlanetOut Inc...
magazine, Lee said, "Sex is powerful and deserves to be treated with reverence.... [It] has the power to form a sacred bond between people. And it's a bond I want to form with the guy I'm going to spend the rest of my life with, not just some cute guy who danced with me in a club one night."
Work
Lee currently serves as executive directorExecutive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of The Gay Christian Network
Gay Christian Network
The Gay Christian Network, popularly called GCN, is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight ally organization and ecumenical Christian ministry founded in 2001 by Justin Lee and administered from Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States....
. He is outspoken on issues pertaining to LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
Christians and is widely known through his weekly podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
and YouTube videos.
He has publicly commented on the usefulness of online communities in helping minister to the gay Christian community:
"The Internet has made a huge difference in creating a movement [...]. What at first might have seemed a little fringe group is then able to gain momentum as people meet others and discover they’re not alone."
In 2006, Lee was a part of the "Gay-to-Straight Debate" on the Dr. Phil Show, where he argued against reparative therapy. He has also been a featured guest speaker at churches, colleges, and conferences on Christianity and homosexuality.
See also
- Religion and homosexuality
- History of Christianity and homosexualityHistory of Christianity and homosexualityThis article focuses on the history of homosexuality and Christianity from the beginnings of the Church through the mid 1900's. For current teachings of Christian Churches on homosexuality see Homosexuality and Christianity....
- Queer Theology
- List of LGBT religious organizations