An Evangelical Emperor's Gay Grandson
Until Randy Roberts Potts came out, he lived under an exclusive banner of
evangelical royalty.
evangelical royalty.
His grandfather, Oral Roberts, founded Oral Roberts University and the
Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association—a holy empire that was worth
more than half-a-billion-dollars. Oral would go on to achieve even
more worldwide notoriety after he claimed that God “would take him
home” unless his followers raised $8 million in cash.
Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association—a holy empire that was worth
more than half-a-billion-dollars. Oral would go on to achieve even
more worldwide notoriety after he claimed that God “would take him
home” unless his followers raised $8 million in cash.
Randy also had an uncle—heir to the OralRoberts throne—who committed suicide six
months after he came out to Troy Perry,
founder of the first gay-friendly
congregation in Los Angeles.
“Growing up, I didn’t know my uncle was gay,
but I always wanted to be like him,” Potts said.
“I feel like my life has mirrored his. Every time
my mother mentioned him I noted two things:
one, that she had loved him more than she had
ever loved anybody else; and two,
that the memory of his [gay] path brought
more pain to her than any other memory.”
but I always wanted to be like him,” Potts said.
“I feel like my life has mirrored his. Every time
my mother mentioned him I noted two things:
one, that she had loved him more than she had
ever loved anybody else; and two,
that the memory of his [gay] path brought
more pain to her than any other memory.”
Now, at age 37, Randy is traveling the country “trying to counteract the
legacy of his televangelist grandfather,” as a spokesman for gay rights and
the It Gets Better video campaign.
legacy of his televangelist grandfather,” as a spokesman for gay rights and
the It Gets Better video campaign.
“I cried while watching the original IGB videos,” he remembers. “I kept
thinking that I wished those videos had been around when I was in high school,
or when my uncle was in high school. Eventually, I felt like I should make one
dedicated to my uncle.
thinking that I wished those videos had been around when I was in high school,
or when my uncle was in high school. Eventually, I felt like I should make one
dedicated to my uncle.
“I read out loud a personal diary note I had written to him when I came out
then put the video of it up on YouTube. I had never spoken publicly before,
and I had several panic attacks, but I’m glad I did it as it has given a few young
gay kids hope that things will be OK.”
then put the video of it up on YouTube. I had never spoken publicly before,
and I had several panic attacks, but I’m glad I did it as it has given a few young
gay kids hope that things will be OK.”
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