A Troubling Request
It’s infrequent but not unusual for reporters at CBN to get requests from those they interview on camera to protect their identities. I’ve hid the faces of missionaries working in Muslim countries, trafficking survivors still afraid of their pimps and undocumented immigrants worried that they’ll be taken from their children.
We allow this practice to keep people safe or sometimes simply for the sake of privacy. People don’t always want personal circumstances and ordeals to become public knowledge.
This week, however, I received a request that troubles me the more I think about it.
I was speaking with a gentleman who struggled with same-sex attraction for many years. Hoping to end it, he pursued several Christian ministries. With support from those organizations and his church, he told me that he’s been happily married and “sexually pure” for more than 20 years.
He agreed to go on camera and talk about his experience for a story I’m producing on how churches are working to equip members on sticky issues like same-sex attraction, transgenderism and infidelity.
However, he asked that we not show his face. His reason? He lives in a mid-sized city that is known for having a large LGBT population. Several gay couples live on his street. He fears retaliation from his neighbors and others for going on camera and talking about how he has struggled with same-sex attraction and how Christ has healed him.
I plan to honor his request: conduct the interview and not show his face in the story. But I wonder—where does it go from here? If there’s a fear of retaliation today for publicly sharing your personal story of healing from same-sex attraction, what’s next?
I read recently of an LGBT event in New York City where the topic was “faux religious ‘liberty.’” Perhaps they should invite the gentleman I spoke with to speak. On second thought, maybe not.