I knew some of these blurred faces. I recognize this picture. I was a part of the Sam Houston State University Chi Alpha (XA) group (AG backed, though they weren’t very open about it when I first joined) from 2003-2007. Daniel Savala was held up to us as a prophet and a holy man. He was given a platform to preach to us about whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. It was regarded as a privilege to get to hear him. One of the leaders who vouched for him (the short Eli, as I always thought of him) came from the group he abused in Alaska.
He was sentenced to 30 years without the possibility of parole for his crimes in Texas. He is 70 years old so this is essentially a life sentence.
As a woman, I was policed on how I dressed, how I acted, what I said; meanwhile those same men with so much to say about my tank tops, who told me my bathing suits caused my Christian brothers to stumble, were doing this in a sauna. I’m glad he was eventually caught and held accountable. I’m sad that it took so long. I can’t imagine that he didn’t groom these men to commit the same abuse in the name of God. Some of them went on to start XA ministries at other campuses where Daniel was also a fixture. Doing home improvement projects at Daniel’s house was considered missionary work. Young men were encouraged to rent rooms in Daniel’s house. Women were never invited or welcome there. Now it’s very clear why.
Oh yeah, and none of these people are drag queens.