The homophobia my dad faced put me off the Church and Christianity - something has to change

Sophie Mei Lan felt that the Church would never be the place for her after witnessing hatred towards her gay dad based on "religious beliefs".

Being a Christian wasn’t even a consideration growing up, no way could I even contemplate joining a religious institution that rejected the loving relationship of my dad and his partner Mark. I had my hair burned, my coat slashed and had been continuously harassed about my dad’s sexuality. Even though this wasn’t in church, on many occasions, the behaviour was justified as "religious beliefs" rather than the hate crime it was. 

When it wasn’t bullying and the “batty boy” chanting, those who discovered my dad was gay, asked me the same questions: “How did he come out to you?” “Is he camp?” and cruder questions about his sex life.  To me, my dad and his partner, were two integral father figures in my life, who love my sister and me unconditionally and their home was where we spent half of our lives growing up.