Amen. I met Jerry when he and I were both teenagers and our fathers were preachers who moved in the same circles. Obviously, Jerry’s dad was more influential than mine. I knew even that Jerry Jr was not a great fit in the world I was already struggling against.

It took me a couple more years to come out as gay to myself and throw off the chains of a religion that oppressed me, but I did throw off the chains, I did get out.

Jerry chose to stay. He chose to become as influential as his father. He chose to tighten people’s chains.

He could have gotten out when I did, but he did not, not until he got caught, which even when we were 13 years old seemed a likely outcome.