EXTRA FEATURE

Amazing Grace
Mr. Fort Lauderdale Rodney Stephens has no qualms about being gay, despite being raised to think otherwise by Christian fundamentalists

By Andy Zeffer
Friday, September 03, 2004

The greatest challenge of my life was to accept myself as a gay man when I had been brought up to believe that being gay is unnatural, among other things. Although my family remains completely unsupportive after 11 years of knowing my sexual orientation, the dignity and strength that I’ve gained from self-acceptance has been invaluable. If I win this contest, I would be proud to represent the gay and lLesbian community of Fort Lauderdale.”

Those were the words that Rod Stephens gave to the judges and audience at the Mr. Fort Lauderdale contest on Friday, Aug. 20, before winning the title.
They certainly struck a heartfelt chord in what was otherwise a light-hearted and fun-filled night. They also clearly helped him cinch the title.

Not only does Stephens boast a handsome face and incredible physique, but he has fascinating story as well. It is a story that began as far from gay Fort Lauderdale as possible.

Stephens was born in Nairobi, Kenya, where his parents were fundamentalist Christian missionaries. He grew up outside San Diego, where he taught Bible study and led prayer meetings at his high school.

Religion continued to play a role in his education when Stephens enrolled at the famous fundamentalist institution, Oral Roberts University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications.

Attended ‘ex-gay’ support groups
Yet Stephens first started to realize he was attracted to men at age 13. He suppressed those feelings throughout high school and college, up until the point of graduation. He even went to ex-gay ministry support groups.

“When I first attended them, I realized I had been doing the same thing my whole life,” Stephens says about the ex-gay support groups. “The difference was that I was able to see there were other people going through that same struggle, and up until that point I thought I was the only one.”

Being gay and Christian
However, those support groups didn’t keep Stephens from finding a boyfriend.

The first guy he ever dated called himself a gay Christian, something Stephens didn’t think possible. The two continuously argued the point.

Finally, Stephens researched his boyfriend’s arguments in the Strong’s Concordance, religious text which contains scripture in original Greek and Hebrew.

Stephens says he found no form of the word homosexual there, and reconsidered that there could be alternative interpretation for the six or seven Bible passages that condemn homosexuality. He even went so far as to prepare a 20-page research paper, so when his family found out he was gay he could hand it to them.

But Stephens’ family found out he was gay in a roundabout way. He had disclosed it to his brother, who in turn told his wife, who in turn wrote a letter to Stephens’ sister. On May 18, 1994, Stephens’ mother found the letter, and his relationship with his family has never been the same since.

“It was the day Jackie Onassis died,” Stephens remembers. “She told the rest of the family, and I basically lost my relationship with the family from that point on.”

Stephens tried to discuss the matter with the family, but describes their discourse as horrible confrontation. They sat for hours and hours and argued. He has one brother who is willing to love him as a brother, but the rest of the family has cut him off, he says.

‘I am an exhibitionist’
Soon after graduating, Stephens moved to Dallas and found a gay-affirming church for support. Since that time he has cited gay-affirming churches as one of the things that has buttressed him through life.

A relationship with a man brought him to Florida, but the relationship ended soon after. That is when erotic dancing and bodybuilding began to play a role in his life.

“When that relationship dissolved, I decided to focus all my anger at the gym,” he says. “I had danced before in Dallas for a number of months. By nature I am exhibitionist and have fun with that.”

A lesbian roommate of his found pictures of the time he had danced in Dallas, and asked him why he didn’t start up again. Stephens was in better shape than ever. So three years ago, he picked up dancing three years ago at Mankind in Hollywood.

Now Stephens does house parties, birthday parties, and even bachelorette parties for a straight female audience.

He says he gets propositioned at dance gigs all the time by men and women alike, but always turns them down politely.

“When I’m performing as a dancer, I get into character,” Stephens says. “I am a completely different person performing than when I’m not. It’s like an actor performing on stage. It’s all about fantasy.”

It was Paul Holland of Zoo Two Clothing in Wilton Manors who encouraged him to join the Mr. Pride South Florida contest. Up until that point, Stephens says, he had no desire to compete in a pageant. But he won Mr. Pride South Florida and to his surprise took the title of Mr. Fort Lauderdale, despite some tough competition.

“The contest was a blast, just so much fun,” Stephens laughs.

Stephens won $2,000 worth of cash and prizes, and will go on to compete in the Red Hot USA contest Oct. 1.

Now that he has won the title, he says would like to promote his modeling. And he’s on the right path. Stephens has been contacted by Playgirl and has agreed to pose for a layout.

He says that gives him all the more reason to celebrate the fact that he is now finally comfortable with who he is.

© 2006 | A Unite Media Publication