Beyond The Ballot, We Cannot Rest

Row of American I Voted stickers

Daily, we have borne witness to the divisive language and tactics that have been employed during the 2016 Election. I have often had to remind myself: God is still in control and all things happen according to His plan. The 2016 election has reminded me how much further we actually have to go as a…

Read More

Pilgrimage Of Mercy Seeks Equality For LGBTQ Catholics

Four people standing in front of the supreme court building.

Greg Bourke and his husband were plaintiffs in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that brought the freedom to marry to same-sex couples nationwide in June 2015. Now the men, who were named Persons of the Year by the National Catholic Reporter, are leading a “Pilgrimage of Mercy” to celebrate and recognize LGBT Catholics—and calling…

Read More

Delegations Of Clergy Lead Moral Marches In Over 30 Capital Cities

Crowd holding justice and rights signs at rally

On Monday, September 12, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., delegations of clergy will lead “Higher Ground Moral Day of Action” marches at 30 state capitol buildings and the city hall building in the District of Columbia. Three new states have recently joined the moral march including Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan.   “The Higher Ground Moral Day…

Read More

Hope Hurts

A plant growing out of a hole in the ground.

We know about hope. Hope was the promise that was presented to us when Obama was in office. It was the change that we could believe in. We betted on hope and applauded ourselves on making change happen and embodying progress by electing the first African American man into the White House. We know this…

Read More

Finding Wholeness In Community

Colorful Crayola crayons arranged in a row.

As a parent of two young children, I make many trips to the public library and I read many children’s books. I can be a bit of a children’s book snob, picking what appears to be a high-brow picture book based on the inclusion of a Caldecott or Newbury award sticker, or by literally judging…

Read More

A Challenge From LGBTQ Fly Over Country

Three-striped pink, purple, blue flag outdoors

Today is the beginning of Bisexual Awareness Week. There are courageous people, like Faith Cheltenham, Robyn Ochs, and Eliel Cruz, who are called to serve God as activists for the wellbeing of bisexual people. I am also a bisexual person. I am the B in LGBTQ. There have been seasons when I speak up about this and seasons when I don’t. I speak up…

Read More

Why Black Men Must Show Up For Trans-Women Of Color

A man holding a microphone in front of a crowd of people.

This past Tuesday I was given the honor and challenge to speak on the behalf of cis-black men for #TransLiberationTuesday. This day was created as space where communities all across the nation could collectively mourn and speak out against the extreme violence black trans-women and gender non-conforming femmes face on a daily basis. This day…

Read More

It Is Our Duty To Fight For Our Freedom

A group of people sitting at a table with drinks.

It is our duty to fight for our freedom It is our duty to win We must love and support one another We have nothing to lose but our chains Assata Shakur I’ve read and heard these words from Assata Shakur several times. Once I learned the words, thanks to the Ohio Student Association, I…

Read More

Queer Reflections On The 2015 White House Conference On Aging

A woman in a wheelchair is posing for a photo with a group of people.

As the iron gates to the White House grounds opened at 8:45 on Monday morning, July 13, the assembled group of delegates to the 2015 White House Conference on Aging began joyfully streaming toward the security stations, the preliminary steps in gaining access to the hallowed halls where aging issues and policies for the next…

Read More