Barb from Stranger Things reveals she asked God to make her straight
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Shannon Purser, who achieved cult status by playing Barb in Stranger Things, has an inspiring message for religious people scared to confront their sexuality.
The actor came out as bisexual earlier this year, in an emotional post.
She told fans that she was “still processing and trying to understand and I don’t like talking about it too much.”
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But yesterday, she opened up again in honour of National Coming Out Day.
The Riverdale star wrote on Twitter: “Coming out to myself was one of the hardest parts of my journey.”
Purser said she had to rid herself of “the intense self-hatred I carried around in my heart.”
And she revealed that she prayed to be straight.
“Tears were shed, desperate prayers to be changed were prayed,” she said.
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“It’s been a struggle to accept myself, and I couldn’t have done it with the help of so many others who have paved the way for me.”
And she told other religious people to embrace their LGBT selves.
“So, if you’re religious and wondering if God could really love you as you are, if you can be LGBTQ and faithful – the answer is yes”.
She added: “Wherever you are in the journey, you are worthy of respect and love.”
Purser’s decision to come out was sparked by conversations with fans online who accused Riverdale – which features close friends Betty and Veronica – of falsely implying the two characters would get together.
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Betty and Veronica have kissed on the show in order to seem risqué, and other characters called them out in the show for perpetuating a tired trope.
Fans who want to ship Betty and Veronica into ‘Beronica’ ended up bringing these allegations to Purser – with a bit too much force.
In response, the star tweeted her annoyance.
She followed this up by stating: “Ships are great, being horrible to people who don’t ship your ship is not.”
Purser later apologised, saying “it wasn’t a wise or kind thing to say and I’m disappointed in myself, especially as a Christian who has always been taught to speak love to others.”
