Future gay hero: Justin Cannon.

Spurred by a letter to the editor of his religious college newspaper condemning homosexuality with Bible verses, Justin Cannon decided to set the record straight. Then he realized that he isn't. "I wrote my own letter responding to his use of Leviticus," he said. "While I was writing it I realized I was defending myself. I realized that I was gay."

So the 20-year-old French and religion major at Earlham College, a Quaker school in Richmond, Ind., published his own study dispelling antigay myths about Bible interpretations and in March launched his own Web site, www.truthsetsfree.net. "In my research I found that there's really no context for homosexuality in the Bible," he said, noting that Leviticus also condemns eating shrimp and wearing clothing made of two fabrics. "You need to understand what it meant at that time."

Recently Cannon has been doing presentations and appearing on radio talk shows. And orders for his 36-page study have been coming from churches and schools across the country. He plans on pursuing a career as an Episcopal priest.