"When you decide to become a parent, you are rolling the dice," said the 53-year-old director and production specialist for CMU Public Broadcasting. "It is a foolish person who does not accept the outcome."

Baker's story was one of many told at a panel discussion Tuesday evening entitled "The Invisible Voices," in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning Community." The event kicked off Straight Ally Week at CMU.

"Most people don't know that gays and lesbians are up to three times more likely to become teenage parents," said Rachel Prevatt, a 26-year-old Central Michigan University alumna and coordinator for the Center for Research, Training and Consultation on GLBTQ Youth Issues at CMU.

Prevatt drove home the point that often times there are people in the GLBTQ community who are so afraid of rejection when it comes to their sexuality, they are willing to risk their future just to be accepted.

Wayne Nicholson, a 60-year-old Episcopal priest at St. John's Episcopal Church of Mount Pleasant, identifies himself as a gay Christian.

"Jesus himself never said anything about homosexuality," Nicholson said after an audience member asked about how he goes about explaining his views to those who may not understand.

"He did say something about divorce though, but that's not seen as an abomination," Nicholson joked.

Nicholson said many people interpret Bible verses such as "No man shall take to lay with him another man," and directly apply them to modern times.

"These things were written for a special culture that has no understanding of homosexuality as it is understood today," Nicholson said.

Nicholson has been happily married to his husband for over two years. The couple wed for "paperwork purposes" in Canada, and had a formal ceremony at St. John's.

Their marriage, although a very spiritual bond for both of them, still does not allow them the same benefits as a heterosexual marriage would.

Baker's wife's first pregnancy resulted in a still birth, and her first son had a physical deformity- a cleft lip and pallet. Their third son, although nothing set him apart physically, came out while he was in junior high.

Baker and his wife began to take interest in understanding his son through their involvement in the Midland chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or P-FLAG.

"I strongly feel that it is up to a child to tell you who they are when you raise them, it is not a parent's job to tell their child who they are," Baker said.

The Center's Strengthening Teen Resilience Under Tough Situations, or STRUTS, program (Strengthening Teen Resilience Under Tough Situations), at CMU came up in the discussion.

The program is a special opportunity for teens aged 13 through 18 to take part in activities like bowling, picnics, movies and other events while interacting with other GLBTQ youth and allies.

The program is made possible through volunteers dedicated to helping those youth who may not feel safe or accepted at school, or simply need someone to talk to.

features@cm-life.com