Posts Tagged ‘Allies’
A Mormon And A Lesbian Walk Into A Bar…
That could be the opening to a great joke, but the story here ends with something better than a punch line. My sister Sharon and I could not be more different. In high school, she was the super-popular and uber-cute homecoming queen, student officer, and North Ogden Miss Cherry Days. I was immersed in debate,…
Read MoreRedefining Realness: How Janet Mock Is Teaching Me To Be A Better Trans Ally
“We need to give trans people space to tell their own stories, and we should follow the lead of people who are out there and being visible, and actually advocating for these rights.” –Janet Mock Over the past few months, transgender women and men have been in the news a lot. From Laverne Cox and…
Read MoreHow One Epiphany Helped Me Grow As A Christian
On Independence Day 2006, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ presented a resolution to hundreds of delegates to affirm same-sex marriages. It was a very hot, sunny Atlanta, Georgia afternoon with temperatures reaching beyond 100 degrees. However, it felt good inside the large auditorium, as cool air from powerful fans and air…
Read MoreAn Act Of Love: A Documentary Inspired By Rev. Frank Schaefer
Like a lot of you, I first heard about Rev. Frank Schaefer from the news. I read an article back in November about a United Methodist pastor who was in the middle of a church trial. Six years earlier, Rev. Schaefer had performed a small wedding ceremony for his son, Tim, something countless pastors have…
Read MoreA Kiss Of Solidarity
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. Recently, I learned just how true that is. I’ve written thousands of words over the past several years about how the Church has failed our gay and lesbian family members, friends, and neighbors, and why I, as a minister of the Gospel, seek to welcome and…
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 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 MoreWhat I Mean When I Say “Ally”
Lately, there seems to be a lot of talk about whether one can or should call oneself an ally. Who gets to speak up for LGBT equality? What voices should be heard? Silenced? Made space for? A few weeks ago, Rachel Held Evans shared a link to an article entitled “10 Tips for Being a Good Ally.”…
Read MoreAwakening Christian LGBTQ Advocacy In Nashville
“So…do people from Kentucky wear shoes?” I sat there, slack-jawed, trying to comprehend the words that had just come out of her mouth. I had recently moved to Nashville for college, and this was a big change for a girl from rural Kentucky. My new classmate was obviously curious. “I mean, I know your own…
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