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First gay bishop teaches integrity, offers congratulations to newlyweds

BY Alyssa Kleven  on December 10, 2012 @ 12:47 pm (Updated: 1:55 pm - 12/10/12 )

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New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop in the global Anglican fellowship congratulated newlyweds during an interview on the Ross & Burbank Show. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
The first gay bishop is congratulating newlywed same-sex couples in Washington state. New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Church traveled around to states where the issue of same-sex marriage was on the ballot.

Robinson offered his congratulations to Washington's newly married same-sex couples a day after they could legally wed on KIRO Radio's Ross & Burbank Show Monday.

For him, being able to be a religious leader while maintaining his personal relationships and staying true to who he is, is about integrity.

He used his position as a leader in the gay community and as a man of faith to help promote the issue of same-sex marriage before last November's election.

Robinson came out of the closet when he was 39 years old. When he was younger, he was in therapy twice a week for two years, trying to cure the gayness out of him.

"Growing up the '50s was a different world than what we have now," Robinson told Ross & Burbank.

About two weeks into a relationship with one woman, he told her about going to therapy, his attraction to men, but how he thought he was ready to be with a woman. They were eventually married and had two daughters together.

But he couldn't change who he was, and eventually the pair got a divorce. "We went back to the church to end our marriage." A priest accompanied the pair to their divorce hearing. Then at church together, they asked each other for forgiveness and pledged the joint raising of their daughters.

"It was one of the most healing moments in our lives."

Trying to cure himself didn't work. Even so-called ex-gay ministries admit they can't really "cure" anyone, Robinson said. But he felt that when he finally came out of the closet, one of the hardest things he had to give up was his life as an ordained person.

"It was my great love."

He doesn't have any regrets though. "It's how I've come to know God's grace." Eventually, Robinson was named a Bishop in the Episcopal Church. By the way the media took a stab at Robinson's ascension in the Church, you would have thought half of the flock had left.

Robinson said that really wasn't the case, of their 2 million parishioners nationwide, 200,000 found a new home for their faith.

His work now is reaching out to kids who may not know they can come out of the closet, and like him, maintain their faith - and integrity.

Admitting you're attracted to someone of the same gender, according to Robinson, can feel like putting a gun to your own head. In being called by God to come out of the closet, and share his ministry, he hopes he can reach out to "impressionable young people."

Robinson is the author of "God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage."

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Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (21)


  • Add A Comment

  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Stop confusing people
    December 10, 2012 2:58 pm
    With logic!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    What I would like for the Bishop to do...
    December 10, 2012 4:28 pm
    ...is point out any scripture where God even condones such things as homosexual behavior or "gay marriage".

    Because it's very easy to find passages where God not only condones, but commands, the union between a man and a woman. It's kind of the basic building block of all Judeo-Christian religions...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    SeattleNative
    December 10, 2012 4:56 pm
    It's not God...it's men who write letters. There's a difference. Please point out any scripture where God even condones such things as riding a motorcycle. Does this mean you should not ride a motorcycle? Since you're on the subject of COMMANDS, give us the command for union between a man and woman, I'm curious.
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  • Forrest wrote...
    Christianity and Islam were once considered a cult.
    December 10, 2012 6:03 pm
    Just as Morons once were. Just as Scientology is today. If you can get enough sheep to follow you, you then become a mainstream religion. Get a charismatic leader and you have a budding religion. His lieutenants take over after his death because they for sure don't want to have to get a real job. Just keep sending in your donations please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Forrest the moron?
    December 10, 2012 8:17 pm
    Wrong. Just wrong- yet so easy to say.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Oops, It should have read Mormons,
    December 10, 2012 9:34 pm
    but Morons works just as well.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Forrest....You just described perfectly the Democratic Party.
    December 10, 2012 9:34 pm
    Get enough sheep to follow a charismatic leader and you have a budding religion. "Just keep sending in your donations please" because they for sure don't want to get a real job. Talk about blind faith.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roomtemp wrote...
    Man, I'm getting sick of all the gay stories...
    December 10, 2012 11:26 pm
    That's not a slight on gay people. I support gay marriage on constitutional grounds. (Not religious grounds, but we're not a theocracy.)

    Honestly, I couldn't care less about someone else's sexual preference. Although I think people that completely define themselves by it are pathetic. That goes for straight folks too.

    Now that gays have achieved their victory, can we please leave them in peace and let private matters remain private? It's starting to look like a media side show carnival at this point. Somewhere between promotion and exploitation. Neither is appropriate.

    As far as the bishop and "maintaining his personal relationships" goes. If that means to suggest sexual relationships, male or multiple, the bible is not unclear on the matter. Celibacy is always an option if he wants to be a bishop. I'm not hating on him, he's probably a nice guy. But the book says what it says, believe it or don't, follow it or don't.

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  • imanegro wrote...
    Leave them in peace?
    December 11, 2012 5:49 am
    That sounds nice; so we leave them in peace as homos have left straights in peace? Doesn't work that way. Watch for the resulting tide of lawsuits against people and their businesses who don't support homo. Not to mention the literary wave coming to Washington grade, middle, and high schools. Homo is OK, the state says so.
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Hate the Sin but not the Sinner for all have Sinned!
    December 11, 2012 2:54 pm
    As God has commanded us.

    Now with the state recognition of Same sex unions, I am seeing the levels of hate of those who oppose the state sanction of this as a Constitutional right on the rise.

    Defiantly there is hate and fear on the rise here. It is being promoted by the Liberals in this state and the regime through all of you who blindly support and project this at all of us who oppose this immoral act on a religious level!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    ...on a religious level...
    December 11, 2012 4:48 pm
    My opposition is rooted in the reality of the homo act- among other reasons. It is emotionally and physically destructive. The number and prevalence of diseases in the homo community is well documented. I say 'community' on purpose- the promiscuity of the average homo is legend. That isn't good, either.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    Dave Ross was wrong about the Catholic church
    December 11, 2012 10:56 pm
    Sure Episcopal priests are allowed to joint the Roman Catholic Church married; however, openly gay married priests would not be eligible to join. In fact, openly practicing gay individuals wouldn't be eligible to take communion; a requirement for a priest. Dave is just continuing to spread his hatred and ignorance of his own religion.
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