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Oral Roberts’ Grandson On Coming Out: ‘I Hope Someday We Can All Get Over That Fear Of Homosexuality’

» 50 comments

Randy Roberts Potts appeared on HLN last night to talk about coming out as a gay man, being a grandson of the late evangelist Oral Roberts.

Potts told guest host Don Lemon that ever since coming out, he has received many e-mails from people supporting him and asking questions about his personal struggles. He said he had an idea of his homosexuality at an early age, recounting an anecdote where he was watching The Dukes of Hazzard and looking at Bo & Luke while his friends were looking at Daisy.

Of course, being part of such an evangelical family presents its problems for Potts. His grandfather knew in the last few years of his life, and he still keeps in touch with his family, but according to Potts, their conversations are somewhat less than pleasant.

“They don’t accept it. They strongly believe that I’m going to hell for being openly gay, and I strongly believe I’m not, so it’s hard to find a middle ground between us.”

Ronnie Roberts, Potts’ uncle, committed suicide in 1982 several months after coming out. Potts explained he was inspired to not go on the same path as his uncle, and “saw that as an example I didn’t want to follow.”

Potts was married to a woman, a longtime friend of his, for a number of years, and they had three children together before splitting up. He describes it as a “full, very emotional relationship.”

Lemon asked Potts if he thinks gay people can still feel welcome in the Christian community, and Potts, despite not being religiously affiliated himself, believed this could be possible.

“There are a lot of gay youths who want to stay Christian or follow the faith of their family, and want to know if they can. And I think there is room in every religion for gay people, and there are starting to be gay-affirming churches around the country.”

Watch the interview below, courtesy of HLN:

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  • Anonymous

    So he is gay. Doesn’t make him special. Just more problems?

  • Cobrasvt80

    If you live the practicing gay lifestyle, then I would question your salvation. 

    If I live a practicing swingers lifestyle, then I would question my own salvation.

    If I live a practicing adulterous lifestyle, then I would question my own salvation.

  • Anonymous

    Is that the fear that they’ll never shut up? I’ve got that one. Who would have guessed that the love that dare not speak its name would become the love that simply will not shut up?

  • Anonymous

    Good for Randy. Hmm… wonder if this news has grandpa Oral turning over in his grave….

  • Anonymous

    What I don’t get is…do these “Christians” believe that they will go to hell by showing love to their gay and lesbian children?  Is that why they turn their own flesh and blood away?  How very, very sad…because if anything will not allow them to rest in peace when they are dead, it’s turning their backs to their own children.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ken-Forst/1014619464 Ken Forst

    *** THIS JUST IN ! *** ORUSTF (Oral Roberts University Special Task Force) has just announced finding Randy Roberts Potts authentic birth certificate in a remote area of Keyna.

  • Lamontagnem88

    This isn’t news who gives a shite if your gay or not!

  • Anonymous

    yup! gulping down a mans wad makes you special, just look at paris hilton…

  • Lamontagnem88

    Ye Muslims hang gays from cranes in the street for all to see but those damn christians are just awful.

  • Anonymous

    Thank You and good night. I hope you all enjoyed the latest episode of CNN’s ” FRUITS to NUTS “, with your  host Don Lemon and coming to you live directly from right in front of Don’s closet.

    Tune in tomorrow when Don will unvail his newest segment, ‘ Come Out Come Out Whoever You Are “, and we’ll all see who else comes out of the closet.

  • http://thefunemployed.blogspot.com/ rance

    Hey everybody, meet the media’s new darling.

  • Barack_Will_Stay

    And we all hope that you choke on your own vomit, creep. 

  • Anonymous

    Somewhere there’s a crude joke just waiting to be written using the names “Oral Roberts, Randy Roberts Potts and Don Lemon”

  • caconservative

    Have you noticed, it’s only Gay’s and their supporters who use the term Homophobia. I don’t know any straight person who fears Gay’s. But, like women who disdain advances from men they are not interested in, the same applies to straight people who are also not interested in that seedy life-style.

  • Obama – The – Destroyer

    Yes, we ALL look forward to a world where we can pick up the soap at the gym without a homosexual trying to poke us up the rectum. 

  • Anonymous

    Christians have done that in America, Muslims haven’t.

    Welcome to America.

  • Michelle

    Sorry dude, but not agreeing with something doesn’t mean we are scared of it. 

  • Dandkenton

    You have throw up in the back of your mouth now?  Is that what your special friend calls it now?   Remember, you only get to Purgatory if you don’t swallow…please tell us you didn’t swallow!!!!!

  • Dandkenton

    Sure, I can smell your tolerance from here.  It smells like ignorance.  

  • Anonymous

    Dom Lemon- who would have guessed?

  • Anonymous

    Like yours?

    Shock us; say something intelligent! Tolerance means tolerance- it does  NOT mean supporting something you do not believe in.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, Muslims just kill gays.

  • Anonymous

    Ah, Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, Reid, the Kennedys are Christians- so you condemn them too?

  • Anonymous

    Sorry, let me qualify that, SOME SO-CALLED “Christians”..I agree, not all Christians are so stupid and bigoted.  

  • Dandkenton

    Lol!  Thanks for the laugh….now go look up the word yourself you silly little Teatard.  

  • Anonymous

    I know what it means libtard- you look it up. Show me where it says “supports.”

    LOL

    man are you libs stupid!

  • Anonymous

    I know what it means libtard- you look it up. Show me where it says “supports.”

    LOL

    man are you libs stupid!

  • Anonymous

    Why do Muslims want to kill gays?

  • Anonymous

    My biggest problem with the story is that his uncle committed suicide because he felt so ostracized and Randy married a woman and had kids knowing he was gay.

  • Anonymous

    I think its high time that any/all article/s regarding Don Lemon preface the story with:

    “gay activist”

  • Anonymous

    Not just gays, they’re coming after you next, they’re coming after all real Americans.

    Watch out!

  • Michelle

    The new “It Boy”.

  • Chrisg

    Don should go to a republican or conservative convention if he’s looking to out closeted gays.

    Or a gay bashing christian church.

    Those who rail against homosexuality seem to have a remarkable tendency for getting caught in a gay scandal.

    Is there anything YOU’D like to tell us Barack Must Go?

    Hmmmm?

    I won’t judge!

  • Anonymous

    They hate freedom.

  • Redleaf

    I agree. Potts and his ilk should just shut up and go to Hell just like all the rest. If he chooses to shack up with men, he should take his punishment and be glad he’s too famous to go beat up

  • Roger_Fails

    For someone whose every post makes you sound like ignorant trailer trash, you sure do throw a lot of mud at people.

  • Roger_Fails

    All religions are screwy. I don’t see why the craziness of one excuses the intolerance of another. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1431811538 Josh Kim

    Who mentioned Muslims here? We’re talking about Christians. Do what Muslims do make the Christians seem any less harsh on Gays?

  • Hugo Daun

    THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    LOL They’re not only coming after the “real” Americans…  They’re coming after the Nacho’s y Nachitos tambien..

  • Nature Freak

    I question your very concept of “salvation”.

    Not all of us drink your “Jesus Juice”.

    BTW, there is nothing wrong with polyamory as long as it is consensual and done without deception. And I could care less if concenting adults want to practice “the gay lifestyle” as you put it. It does not threaten me and it should not threaten you.

  • Nature Freak

    I suspect there are posters here at Mediaite who support openly GLBT people being beat up. This makes GLBT “stay in the closet” out of fear.

    Thankfully, more and more see this bigotry for what it is.

  • Anonymous

    Not me, I’ll join them.  I kinda like the idea of Sharia law.  American women don’t know their place like they used to in the 50′s.

  • Nature Freak

    Some “Christians” do believe that they will go to hell by showing love to their gay and lesbian children.

    Very sad but very true. There are Christians who do love Gay and Lesbian children and consider them human beings. I commend them.

  • Nature Freak

    This is another reason it is better for people to be honest to themselves and others rather than staying in the closet.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWVKX2P2QBPQ6FHQHCHVIC2ALQ Fedup in Florida

    uh…  Not all christians believe that…  and Oral Roberts is an example of the very far right of the Evanglelistic christians…  This is the same man who said that if he could not raise $8 million for a hospital project that he would be called home…  hardly anything that your church going neighbor would say.  Most Christians don’t devote much thought to gays going to hell either.

  • Anonymous

    Or conversely, every time a supposed non-biased journalist starts being a homosexual activist you can say he/she “pulled a Lemon”!

  • Anonymous

    You know that the subject had to be changed….so what better way to deflect, than to bring up something that stokes the fire!!!

  • Cobrasvt80

    whoa there nature freak…you can question the Christian concept of salvation all you want…I just wanted to provide the concept by comparing a sinful homosexual lifestyle and a sinful heterosexual lifestyles.

    If you don’t believe in Jesus, then why are you even bothering to comment?

    regarding polyamory…if you are speaking from the standpoint of gov’t based rules and regulations, then I agree with you.  If you are speaking from the standpoint of the Bible’s thoughts on the matter, then I disagree with you.

    I also could care less if consenting adults want to practice “the gay lifestyle”…it does not threaten me either, and it should not threaten you.

    Keep in mind that my comments are in the context of the article above where Potts is saying his family does not accept that lifestyle…well they shouldn’t accept the practicing homosexual lifestyle as a way of life for their son b/c it is contrary to what his Creator wants for his life.  BUT they should continue to love and respect their son at all costs.   

  • Cobrasvt80

    whoa there nature freak…you can question the Christian concept of salvation all you want…I just wanted to provide the concept by comparing a sinful homosexual lifestyle and a sinful heterosexual lifestyles.

    If you don’t believe in Jesus, then why are you even bothering to comment?

    regarding polyamory…if you are speaking from the standpoint of gov’t based rules and regulations, then I agree with you.  If you are speaking from the standpoint of the Bible’s thoughts on the matter, then I disagree with you.

    I also could care less if consenting adults want to practice “the gay lifestyle”…it does not threaten me either, and it should not threaten you.

    Keep in mind that my comments are in the context of the article above where Potts is saying his family does not accept that lifestyle…well they shouldn’t accept the practicing homosexual lifestyle as a way of life for their son b/c it is contrary to what his Creator wants for his life.  BUT they should continue to love and respect their son at all costs.   

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