Posts by Believe Out Loud
Saint Valentine: The Evangelist and Martyr
Saint Valentine’s Day often conjures up thoughts of intimacy, gifts and of course, candy. This is what Saint Valentine’s Day has become, but the origin story of this annual holiday is derived from martyrdom. There are several Valentines who died on February 14th. Bollandists, a society of Belgian monks and scholars, have spent three centuries…
Read MoreReflections on Holocaust Remembrance Day
Jerusalem is one big traffic jam today and an emotional clog. Dozens of world leaders have gathered to honor the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz ahead of the International Holocaust Memorial Day next week. My father survived Auschwitz and didn’t talk much about what really happened there. In one of my first conversations…
Read MoreInternational Holocaust Remembrance Day
Today, January 27th, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The pink triangle was a symbol of oppression against homosexuals during the Nazi regime, but it has been reclaimed by the LGBT community as a sign of hope and recognition.
Read MoreMLK Day of Service
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the MLK Day of Service. The day commemorates Martin Luther King Jr.’s persistent attitude towards bettering society. Individuals and groups are encouraged to volunteer and uplift communities to bring harmony amongst the people — a goal that MLK set his life to do. Martin Luther King Jr. promoted peace…
Read MoreComing Out Muslim: A Believe Out Loud Review
Towards the end of 2019, Believe Out Loud had the opportunity to view Coming Out Muslim, a performance by the creative duo Terna Hamida Tilley-Gyado and Wazina Zondon. Chatter from the packed-in crowd produces a hum in the air of the performance space. Tangles of legs line the aisles in an effort to get comfortable…
Read MoreEpiphany is Here to Liberate Us
Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, proclaims and rejoices in the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, this day serves as a remembrance of the visit from the foreign, gift-bearing astronomers to the Christ Child. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they came…
Read MoreBOL Bookshelf Review: “I Am Jazz”
Welcome to the first installment of The Believe Out Loud Bookshelf! This segment will highlight LGBT-oriented books and authors that are making a difference in the community. The first book to be reviewed on The Believe Out Loud Bookshelf is “I Am Jazz,” co-authored by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas.…
Read MoreAdvent Reflections
In Advent, while we await the birth of Jesus, so many things come to life. Lights flicker on trees, wreaths are hung and typical house plants are replaced by festive poinsettias, all seeming to symbolize expectation and arrival, an outward hope. However, the anticipation of a cozy and cheerful holiday is not accurate for many…
Read MoreThe Jewish Festival of Light
Today at sundown begins Hanukkah – the Jewish festival of light. Hanukkah commemorates the rebellion and victory of a small and poorly armed group of Jews over the powerful army of Syrian king Antiochus who had brought Judea under his control and subsequently outlawed Judaism, desecrated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and violently forced Jews…
Read MoreSeventy-One Years of Human Rights: Equality in the Community
Tuesday, December 10th, marked the 71st anniversary of Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is “Youth Standing Up for Human Rights.” The youth are the future. Raising them to respect one another despite differences in religion, skin tone, and cultural background, and sexuality is key in creating a safer and more inclusive world for generations…
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