“When I was allowed to be a Christian with all of my life, it just felt better, and still does,” he said. After realizing they couldn’t live in a lie anymore, the couple came out together. They both knew that coming out would be difficult, particularly at Calvin. While most people were supportive, it still had a great impact on their relationships and social lives.

When the Supreme Court decided to make gay marriage legal in all 50 states this past June, Calvin alumni Zach and Colby Roanhorse raced to the Kent County office to be the first to file for a marriage license in the county.

“If you had told me when I was 12 that we would be front page news for being the first married couple in Kent County, I don’t know what I would have done. … I would have been shocked,” Zach said.

Zach and Colby met while living in van Reken, and then they went on the same trip abroad to China. They said that being off campus allowed them to get to know one another better and be together, but when asked when they started dating, the two clarified that they did not date.

“We are from a generation … where gay men don’t date, especially Christian gay men,” Colby said.

Both Zach and Colby struggled with their identities while they were students. But they said they came to the conclusion that God does not desire for them to hide part of their identity at the cost of being a Christian.

“It is often times thought of as a dichotomy — that you can’t be gay and Christian at same time.” Colby said. “God takes precedence in both of our lives … and so trying to reconcile homosexuality and engagement in the homosexual community, which seemed to compromise our beliefs in redemption and in God’s salvation, is something that we’ve struggled with our entire lives.”

Colby recounted the moment when he was sitting in the KHvR prayer room, asking God to show him what he should do, and said he felt the Holy Spirit come upon him:

“[It was] a feeling I can’t explain — I can’t explain that intense peace and reassurance and it was only in the Holy Spirit that I felt it. It was just intoxicating and fulfilling and I knew that I was not in the wrong; I was just simply trying to show who I am.”

Zach said that before he allowed himself to identify as a “gay Christian,” he felt like he was only allowing himself to be a Christian with some of his life. He often asked himself which was worse, lying to everyone and yourself, or admitting who you are….

CHIMES EDITOR’S NOTE: Calvin College’s official view on homosexuality is the same as the official position of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC). The position found on the CRC website is as follows:

“Homosexuality is a condition of disordered sexuality that reflects the brokenness of our sinful world. Persons of same-sex attraction should not be denied community acceptance solely because of their sexual orientation and should be wholeheartedly received by the church and given loving support and encouragement. Christian homosexuals, like all Christians, are called to discipleship, holy obedience, and the use of their gifts in the cause of the kingdom. Opportunities to serve within the offices and the life of the congregation should be afforded to them as to heterosexual Christians.

Homosexualism (that is, explicit homosexual practice), however, is incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in Scripture. The church affirms that it must exercise the same compassion for homosexuals in their sins as it exercises for all other sinners. The church should do everything in its power to help persons with homosexual orientation and give them support toward healing and wholeness. A synodical report titled Pastoral Care for Homosexual Members is available at www.crcna.org/SynodResources.”

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