Posts by Believe Out Loud
Case Dropped In Prosecution Of Scholar: Bishop Vows “Cessation Of Trials”
White Plains, NY, March 10, 2014 – At a joint press conference today, United Methodist Bishop Martin McLee and Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Ogletree (pictured above) announced that the church was dropping the case against Dr. Ogletree for officiating at his son’s wedding. In a huge victory for the Methodist movement that is organizing ministry to all…
Read MoreAsh Wednesday For All
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. For Christians it marks the beginning of the Lenten season—a season of preparation leading to Holy Week and Easter. For the second year in a row, I went with members of the Not So Churchy community and the folks from Presbyterian Welcome to New York City’s Union Square to impose ashes on any passersby who…
Read MoreThe Adventist Church’s Denial Is Deadly For African LGBTI People
Last week, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a bill that imposes 7-year-to-life sentences for same-sex intimacy, 7-year sentences for those who perform same-sex marriages, and 5-7 years in jail for people and NGOs accused of “promoting homosexuality” or seeking support through the internet or local religious ministers. Once dubbed the “Kill The Gays”…
Read MoreMCC Hosts Conference For People Of African Descent, Friends, & Allies
The Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) will convene the Conference for People of African Descent, Our Friends, and Allies (PAD) in Atlanta, GA, from May 15-17, 2014. The PAD Conference will be located at the First Metropolitan Community Church of Atlanta, 1379 Tullie Road, Atlanta, Georgia USA. Since 1998, from across the US and beyond—faith leaders…
Read MoreStaying Silent No More: I Am A Christian Ally
e”In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In my heart, I’ve always known that God is a God of Love. That at its core, the Bible preaches Love—a hand for the downtrodden, glory for the cast-asides, another chance…
Read More10 Black Religious Leaders Advancing LGBTQ Justice
As we near the end of Black History Month, we’re featuring ten lesbian, gay, transgender, same gender loving, and queer leaders (pictured clockwise) who are making history as they pave the way for the welcome and affirmation of all people across Christian traditions. 1. Archbishop Carl Bean Former Motown recording artist Archbishop Carl Bean has dedicated his…
Read More“If My Son Was A Murderer…”
Someone once told me, “If my son was a murderer, I’d still love him, but I wouldn’t love what he did. The same would go if he was gay—I would still love him, but I wouldn’t love what he does.” This statement is what started my journey as an outspoken ally, or as I like…
Read MoreWhy I Might Not Get Confirmed In The Catholic Church
I have not yet gone through confirmation in the Catholic Church. There is a high chance that I will eventually, but I haven’t right now. In the Catholic Church, it is around this time that kids around my age get confirmed through their own free will or with their parents dangling college tuition money over…
Read MoreSilent No More: Denouncing “Christian” Voices Of Hate
When I read that President Museveni had signed the hateful anti-LGBTQ law in Uganda, the first words that came to mind were from the opening song in “Les Misérables.” It’s called “Work Song.” Prisoners in a work camp are expressing their hope and their despair. One sings, “I’ve done no wrong, sweet Jesus hear my…
Read MoreAttempt To Repeal The School Success And Opportunity Act Fails
Today, the effort to repeal the School Success and Opportunity Act—California’s new law ensuring that all children have opportunities to do well in school—failed to qualify for the ballot. The law—also known as Assembly Bill 1266—went into effect on January 1st, ensuring that schools have the guidance they need to make sure all students, including…
Read More