Is Joshua Bassett Okay? Actor Is Baptised At Bethel Church Which Supports Conversion Therapy
In a tweet posted on Tuesday, February 14, queer actor Joshua Bassett announced that he had been baptised at Bethel Church and declared Jesus as his lord and saviour. Although the news has been welcomed by many of his supporters, there are some who are concerned about the Bethel Church’s open stance in support of anti-gay establishments and the dangerous practice of conversion therapy, reports Billboard.
THE ACTOR WAS REPORTEDLY UNAWARE OF THE CHURCH’S STANCES
Bassett is best known for his role in the popular Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, the actor landed in a hotbed of controversy over his relationship and consequent breakup with co-star Olivia Rodrigo.
After commenting on his opinion that singer Harry Styles is hot, Bassett came out as queer. Although he hasn’t restricted his sexuality to a specific label, he says that he is part of the LGBTQIA+ family, reports USA Today.
On January 6, Bassett tweeted out saying that Jesus is the only way and said that he wants to turn away from hate and seek forgiveness.
In the video posted showing Bassett’s declaration of faith, he made mention that he had struggled with his faith in the past. “I grew up Christian and I ran as far as I could the other way. That only ended in addiction, depression, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, etc,” he says.
These claims of struggling with mental health have caused many of Bassett’s fans to be concerned for him. His announcement that he’s accepted religion into his life has not done anything to quell the concern from supporters. For one, Bethel Church is a non-denominational church that has documentation showing the leaders favour conversion therapy practices and preach anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments, reports Out.
It’s only been a handful of months since Joshua Bassett came out as queer and for him to now affiliate with anti-gay megachurches, many are left wondering what happened. In defence of his video, Bassett tweeted out saying he did not know of the church’s history and that it was by coincidence that he was baptised there. “My heart is for Christ and Christ alone,” he says.
The news of Bassett’s affiliation with the church has sparked outrage among many in the LGBTQ+ community, who see his actions as perplexing. Some are arguing that by joining the church, he is declaring his beliefs and that there was no mistake.
The situation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how Bassett’s affiliation with the anti-gay mega church will affect his career and his relationships with his fans. For now, many are urging him to look after his mental health and to be sure that his faith doesn’t clash against his own personal growth.
