Two Words: Why Hearing "I'm Gay" Changed My Straight, Christian Life

by Emily T Reaves

When Chris said the two words that Emily never imagined she'd hear, "I'm gay," her entire world was shaken. Raised in conservative Christianity, his being gay forced her to question everything she believed about homosexuality, and why. In order to try and find the answers to these questions, Emily spent three years talking to people in the LGBT community, listening to their stories, and experiencing things that challenged and stretched her. One of these experiences was collecting hundreds of postcards created by Christians, and passing them out at her local PRIDE festival. Another was getting involved with the fight to pass a city ordinance for LGBT protection, and suffering intense opposition from churches in her community.

Written more like a novel than a memoir, the book attempts to tell the story of how one person changed, when she looked around and saw what was always there in front of her.

202 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2013

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished reading this book for the second time - the first since realising that I'm bi. It is encouraging to see Emily's heart for the LGBT community, and it gave me hope to be able to be able to find other Christians who will accept me.
I found myself becoming very attached to all of the people in this story, and wondering how life is going for them now. Reading about the process with the City Council, and all the horrid opinions the opposition were sharing, had me bawling.
Needless to say, this book had a big impact on my as I try to negotiate the world while being bi and a Christian. Thank you Emily, for all the work you do, and for an amazing book!

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, and an important read. I really understood where the people were coming from. The author was very honest and brave, and I liked everyone in the book.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a remarkable memoir of a woman whose understanding of faith she held onto was transformed through walking with friends who "came out" to her. The storytelling flow of "Two Words" is fantastic and vivid, with emotions that are clear, relatable, and stirring. I could feel the rise and fail within myself through the ups and downs of the narrative, especially as reality proved to be a stark as one would expect within the sociopolitical realm of those fighting for equality for all people.

That the author actively journeys through this struggle within the evangelical church is all the more reason "Two Words" should be read by all Christians. Timbol does a exceptional job of remaining personal without compromising the reality of the situations she finds herself. She not only fights for her friends, but fights to keep a faith she never thought she'd doubt, her relationships within her family she never thought would be in jeopardy, and her simultaneous relationships within the church and LGBT communities.

Readers that enjoyed "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller, "Angry Conversations with God" by Susan Isaacs, and "Love Wins" by Rob Bell will surely enjoy "Two Words: Why Hearing ' I'm Gay ' Changed My Straight, Christian Life" by Emily Timbol.