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True LGBT Story: Robbie Maris, ‘I’m from New Berlin, Wisc.’

True LGBT Story: Robbie Maris, ‘I’m from New Berlin, Wisc.’

“I’m from Driftwood,” a collection of “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer stories from all over the world,” appears weekends on LGBTQ Nation. For more true LGBT stories, or to share your own, visit “I’m from Driftwood.”

After coming out to his religiously conservative parents, Robbie Maris was sent to “ex-gay” ministry, Exodus International. Robbie explains:

“What Exodus preaches is that there is freedom from homosexuality through Christ. Everyone who goes in there has same-sex attractions, that’s not something that’s debated about. The president, Alan Chambers, has even said that he still is attracted somewhat to the same sex, he just chooses to live in his marriage and his heterosexual relationship with his wife.”

After being encouraged to end friendships with anyone who was gay or accepting of the “gay lifestyle,” Robbie finally found a way to reconcile his religion and sexuality. Watch:

[driftwood]

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