You are having a bad day; your hair didn’t fall right that morning, you got to first hour late, and you got into  an argument with your parents on the way to school.  You plan on just dredging your way through the rest of the day the best you can, but something in the hallway catches your attention. 

All around the school, there are uplifting messages on lockers such as “You can do it!” or “You’re amazing!”, but among those blanket statements of kindness are messages like “Jesus loves you” or “You are loved by Jesus”. To many, those Christian comments uplift them the same as any other of the sticky notes, but to me they have a derogatory tinge. 

On what people wear, in what they say to others and myselfare almost constant Christian messages that to any other Christan seems normal, but for me they are a reminder. They remind me that I am separate from the crowd, or like there is an inside joke that I am not being let in on. And while I don’t completely mind that, I feel like I am looked down on. 

For example, I was passing through the hallway by the main entrance and saw a heart shaped note saying “You are loved by Jesus” on the glass of the LGBTQ display case. This seemingly kind message in this context feels targeted towards members of the LGBTQ community. It is a silent reminder that sometimes, there is no hate like Christian love. 

While I am an advocate for freedom of expression, I think it is important for people who want to share their beliefs to stop and think about the implications of it, and to never guise their hatred in a message of love.