Allen Hose

Allen Hose

Community of Christ

Long Beach, CA

Now that I am 57 years old, I have come to a realization about life in general. I used to think that people had to think, act, and even in some ways look the same, and that even one church was preferred over another. But in the reality of life, and what I now believe, we are not the same nor should we be the same. For it is in those differences that makes each one of us unique; whether straight or gay, male or female, black or white, Christian or Muslim, rich or poor, or any other label that humanity tries to put on us, we are all important to the human link of (and yes, even animal) existence. If whatever Deity (or not) one believes in, what matters most is how we treat each other, and that is why there are so many differences in humankind. If it were not so, we would all be sheep!

While a member of the Mormon Church, Allen was called to the office of elder and served faithfully in his ward and at the Los Angeles Temple until he was excommunicated for being gay in 1979. Allen is now a member of Basileia: An Open Door Community of Christ.