Dr. Ben Carson Was My Hero

Posted: 05/12/2014 2:45 pm EDT Updated: 05/13/2014 12:59 pm EDT | 

Eliel Cruz, President, Intercollegiate Adventist Gay-Straight Alliance Coalition; student, Andrews University

Dr. Ben Carson was my hero. I hail from the same Christian denomination as him, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Born and raised in this church, I knew his name as soon as I learned to read. His autobiography, Gifted Hands, was inspiring for a lot of kids like me. His story was of the American dream, from rags to riches, and I dreamt of the same success. With my eyes set on a legal career from an early age, Dr. Ben Carson made it seem like my dreams were attainable despite my upbringing in a single parent, low-income family of color. Yes, Dr. Ben Carson was my hero, but in the past few years he has started a campaign against me.

Well not against me specifically, but my community. See I'm bisexual, and Ben Carson, my childhood hero, believes I'm no better than child molesters and people who have sex with animals. Read full article...