Written by Rev. Charlotte Strayhorne

Why anyone would want to pretend to be gay is beyond me. No, I haven't seen the movie and no, this isn't really about the movie. I just can't understand why in real life someone would want to pretend to be gay in order to glean some social and/or financial benefit.

Has the LGBTQ civil rights movement come so far that it's now hip to pretend to be gay in order to get benefits that heterosexuals can't get? The whole concept sounds rather ludicrous to me. Perhaps the whole concept of Chuck & Larry rubs me the wrong way because I know men and women whose lives have been shattered because they openly proclaim their sexual orientation as being LGBTQ. There's nothing funny or economically advantageous about what happens to them everyday.

Case in point: meet Devin Gillespie. He's attractive, 30-something, single, a college graduate, enjoys and wants to teach music. Devin lives in Safford, Arizona. He has eight brothers and sisters and parents who love and cherish him enough to say no to their church when told to shun him. Once a teacher and technical director for the theater at Eastern Arizona College, he is now chief cook and bottle washer for a local restaurant.

Devin dropped out of college because of the harassment he received from people he once thought of as friends. A teacher befriended him and encouraged him to return to college and pursue his dream of teaching music. Her encouragement and support enabled him to achieve his goal. He lived peacefully teaching his students and working in the theater department as technical director.

His dream was shattered by vindictive teachers and a student who wanted the token gay man out of the college. In one day his life was drastically changed as campus police escorted him from campus. He was told that President Bryce had terminated him, saying that there is no place at EAC for homosexuals.

This former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found solace in the support of his loving family and the Episcopal Church. It's ironic that EAC's motto is "Where futures begin." Devin's future changed forever at the hands of this institution for higher learning. There are some truths that Devin knows. First, the world is not as conservative as EAC. Upon hearing about Devin's plight, the restaurant owner where he had once been a frequent customer, gave what they could - a job. Low-paying and well beneath his educational achievement, but it was still a job. The second truth is that he is able to say "I don't live my life in fear anymore." Gone are his days of living in the closet and pretending to be someone he's not. The final truth is that he honestly believes he is the only gay man living in Safford.

Safford is a small town (population 9,000) nestled in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona. "Safford ... a small town at its best," according to its Web site, touts many community events to encourage and enrich the lives of its residents and tourists. Thatcher, where EAC is located, is an even smaller town located four miles from the heart of Safford. Both towns have deep LDS roots and connections. (Former LDS President Spencer Kimball hails from Thatcher.)

Perhaps we should encourage Devin by sending a delegation to work with him in creating the first GLBTQ pride event in Safford, thereby making it part of the annual events of Safford from the Unity Walk to the Christmas Parade. Perhaps the delegation can encourage EAC President Mark Bryce to open the campus to host the next Gay Games in 2014. Maybe we can select a weekend to recognize Human Relations Diversity Awareness and all show up in Safford and Thatcher wearing our finest Pride attire and jewelry.

Maybe Chuck and Larry would reconsider pretending to be gay if they had to live one day in the life of Devin Gillespie.

What does it take? Living in truth without fear.