The following are excerpts from the book, I'm Their Mom. 

For reprint permission please visit the press page.
 

Excerpt 1

“The Church”

Come children I’ll take you away
Breathe in my magic and wonder in my temple.
Feel the life beneath you, in you, above you.
Dance beneath my moon; eat from my trees,
And drink my life. Swallow me whole,
Forget your faces; destroy your rage,
And grow in my garden.
Gaze at the sitting sun.
Inhale the scented wind.
Listen as waves break on a rocky alien shore.
Lift up your brothers and sisters,
Exalt your own power,
And bow to no one.
Guard this place, know this place,
Know freedom…

By Brandon Page

The church for me now is a state of mind not a building. It is a spiritual journey. I have entered this path with no judge and no jury, just with Love, peace and acceptance. My God is the same never changing, Love but without judgment or fear. I have learned there is peace in meditation and joy in acceptance. Deepak Choppra said, “When you judge another you don’t define them, you define your self as someone who needs to judge.”

The church for me as a small child was a safe and fun place, where I learned the song and the truth “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” I believe that to this day and I always will. However, there are those who put a lot of hate and negativity behind the unconditional love of who they perceive Jesus to be. I believe that Jesus is the same always and forever. He has never hated anyone, nor will he ever hate anyone. I can’t honestly say that I have at one time sat down and read the bible in its entirety, but in the parts I have read and studied I have never come across the passage that says, “God hates fags.” Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure it is not in the Bible. My oldest son B.J. has however read the Bible in its entirety not once but many times. He had studied the Bible extensively since he was twelve years old.

His college years started when he was sixteen, taking religious studies in Michigan and he continued to study theology in Cannon Beach Oregon for quite some time. This in itself amazes me because at the time he knew in his heart who he was and referred to it as his affliction. He spent hours upon hours on his knees asking God to heal him, while on the national level television evangelists were spewing hate against homosexuality and people were setting up websites titled “God hates fags.” This was a very confusing and painful time for not only my son but for all the children who are homosexual and Love Jesus. There were children being beaten, some of them to the point of death, because of who they were born to be, all in the name of hate and difference. Look at what happened to Mathew Shepard!

by Denise Kestell

 

 

Excerpt 2

One would think that after what our country went through, with the bombing of churches and beating and killing of African Americans, all in the name of religion, we would have learned to put down the mighty sword of judgment in the name of personal differences.

by Denise Kestell
 

 

 

Excerpt 3

I know that the healing I was so desperate to have, came from within my self. It has taken me two years to learn that I had the power the entire time. We have the power of choice. We can choose to be sad and live in fear, or we can choose to heal our selves and forgive our selves. I did not realize the power we hold by just learning to love who we are, and to love who or what others are without expectations. I can only liken it to living in a box, never trying to peek out over the edge. You cannot be afraid to climb out of the box and go for it. To me organized religion was the box. There was no forgiveness inside, so I had to climb out, and go within my own heart, to see my family and myself for what they are. This is when I found true inner peace and acceptance. I was lucky enough to find a wonderful counselor to take my hand and lead me on this wonderful spiritual journey. Both of my boys were deeply affected by this change, and the power it held. When I look at my boys now, I feel extreme pride, not only of who they were, but also for who they have managed to become in the face of adversity. They are both honest, hard working, successful and beautiful human beings.

by Denise Kestell
 

 

Excerpt 4

One of my earliest memories is sitting on the beige couch in our living room, looking at a photograph of Michelangelo's David. The unabashed and brazen beauty of that statue took my breath away, even at the early age of five. I know that I was entirely too young to feel a sexual attraction for the nude figure, but I knew, somehow, that the beauty of the male form captured my attention on an entirely different level.

by Brandon Page