Being gay Quote by James Alison
“Part of my motivation in the search for a cause of being gay was the need to find "something that has gone wrong that I can put right," and it was good, spiritually fruitful, to discover that the question "What went wrong in where I came from?" is actually not a useful one.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: "The Queer Art of Failure", 2015
He realized that framing his identity as a problem to fix was unproductive; instead, he embraced acceptance, seeing the question of "what went wrong" as irrelevant.
In simple terms: Seeing identity as a problem to fix is unhelpful.
Key Takeaway
Accept identity without seeking a flaw to fix.
Themes
identity
acceptance
self‑compassion
Mood
thoughtful
hopeful
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- counseling
- activism
- personal reflection
- community building
Key Concepts
queer theory
theology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can acceptance coexist with activism?
- What does “not a useful question” mean for personal growth?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on acceptance may overlook systemic injustices needing change.
![“I did think Justice [Antony] Kennedy's opinion on Lawrence was critical to that because it really, what Lawrence in one sense was, of course, about consensual sex being something that the government can't regulate. But really in a more fundamental sense, what it was saying, "Look. Gay people are…” quote by Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/52c/donald-verrilli-jr-17929_antony_i-did-think-justice-antony-kennedy-s-opi_278373.jpg)
