Posts by Believe Out Loud
Stories Of Resilience From Queer Christian Women
After coming out in her evangelical church, Rachel Murr searched for others who have held onto faith after coming out in non-affirming Christian environments. Using memoir, research, and interviews, she wrote Unnatural: Spiritual Resiliency in Queer Christian Women. Here’s our interview with her: 1. What prompted you to research the experiences of queer Christian women?…
Read MoreThis #GivingTuesday: Donate To Support Our Life-Changing Work
Each week Believe Out Loud receives countless messages of support from our online community telling us how our work has impacted their lives. The messages are both touching and humbling. Here are just a few messages we’ve received on Facebook in the past four months alone. “Hey I just wanna say I love your page.…
Read MoreAIDS Is Dead: The Recounting Of A Man Still Living With It
“I believe in living. I believe in birth. I believe in the sweat of love and in the fire of truth.” –Assata Shakur The flight attendant asks me if I would like anything else to drink. Her voice all but falls inaudible on my ears as I continue to march these words back and forth…
Read MoreA Thanksgiving Grounded In History
As I prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded of the autumnal harvest time’s spiritual significance. As a time of connectedness, I pause to acknowledge what I have to be thankful for. But I also reflect on the holiday as a time of remembrance—historical and familial. Historically, I am reminded that for many Native…
Read MoreFerguson & The Sin Of Racism
America’s original sin of racism is playing out in Ferguson, Missouri, as buildings lie in smoldering ruins and rage at injustice simmers. How did we get here? To understand this moment, we have to understand that Ferguson is yet another unraveled thread in the closely woven fabric of racism that has cloaked this country for…
Read MoreBeyond Marriage: There’s Work Left To Be Done
The recent appearance of pastors and churches declaring their willingness to perform marriages for same-sex couples has led to some of the most amazing imagery of the marriage equality struggle. Imagery the likes of which seemed all too impossible not long ago, especially in the deeply-red states of America. The pictures and stories of courage…
Read More10 Transgender Christians Share Their Journey Stories
Today is the final day of Transgender Awareness Week, which culminated yesterday with vigils around the world for Transgender Day of Remembrance. As an ally to the transgender community, I recommitted myself yesterday to ensure that our conversations about equality always include members of the transgender community. For me, part of this means finding ways…
Read MoreA Prayer For Transgender Day Of Remembrance
Today, let us pray to whatever Universal energy, whatever God, whatever entity we feel resonates most with our intentions. Let us remember to hold space for all the trans people that have unfairly lost their lives due to discrimination, due to violence and due to the indifference of those who remain silent. Universe allows us…
Read MoreA Christian Calling For Transgender Day Of Remembrance
Trigger warning: discussions of transphobia, violence, and suicide. Last week, a friend sent me a news report about an attack on transgender activist Candice Rose Milligan, who lives in Toledo, Ohio. She has been released from the hospital following two surgeries, including one to wire her jaw closed until it heals. It was broken as…
Read MoreCatholic Bishops In United Kingdom Open Dialogue Before Synod On The Family
The news of a slate of mostly conservative bishops being elected to represent the U.S. Catholic Church at the Synod on the Family in Rome next October was disappointing. Across the Atlantic, news about the synod preparatory plans of the bishops of England and Wales are much more optimistic. According to The Tablet, these British bishops are going…
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