Posts Tagged ‘Community Support’
I First Saw The Rainbow Flag In A Church
I first saw the rainbow flag of LGBTQ Pride in a church. It was 1985, back when same-sex marriage was so taboo that pollsters didn’t even ask about it. I had just come out of the closet as a lesbian and moved to San Francisco with my life partner. On our first Sunday in town,…
Read MoreFaith Leaders Launch Bilingual, LGBTQI-Affirming Trauma Support Network
Launching in response to the devastating killings in Orlando, the “Will Listen With Love” Project is a national support network comprised of pastors, therapists, spiritual directors and community support providers who have volunteered their time to offer safe and affirming space for grieving members of the LGBTQIA community and their allies to be heard. Unlike…
Read MoreMy Christian Calling To Surrogacy
After the birth of my daughter in 2013 at midnight one night while I was up feeding her, I felt God. It was the strangest experience I have ever had. Many times in my life I have said in prayer “Please God, hit me over the head with the answer because I can’t take hints.”…
Read MoreI Am A Beloved Daughter Of God
In college I started a blog. The website was orange text on different-orange background that hurt the eyes to read. The top was emblazoned the title “HYPOCRITE,” and below the title was a quote from the book of Matthew. It was the scene of Judas betraying Jesus, but I’d cut the context and just left…
Read MoreUnitarian Universalist Trans Religious Professionals Gather For First-Ever Retreat
Last month marked a historic occasion. From Monday April 11 through Thursday April 14, fifteen Unitarian Universalist transgender and genderqueer ministers and religious educators gathered together in a first-ever retreat at the beautiful Asilomar retreat center in Pacific Grove, California. They were joined by trans elder, author, and activist Kate Bornstein, who facilitated the gathering,…
Read MoreAlly Is Action, Not An Identity
You may think you are an ally, but you are wrong. You cannot be an ally. You can only act in allying ways, or you can avoid doing so. There is a big problem in progressive circles; often, you see people prioritize being seen as an ally more than acting like one. This is only…
Read MoreInvisible No More: LGBT Elders Of Color Come To The Forefront
Alarming statistics in the LGBT elders of color population nationwide has prompted local organizations to tackle disparities as this population is projected to double in the coming years. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging, the LGBT elders of color population is projected to increase by 217 percent by…
Read MoreTransfaith Memorial Garden Provides Space To Grieve Loss
An interview with Chris Paige about Transfaith’s newest resource, the Transfaith Memorial Garden. What is the Transfaith Memorial Garden? There are many memorials in November (around Transgender Day of Remembrance) for transgender and gender non-conforming people who die violent deaths. However, the losses of transgender communities come by many means—and grief shapes our lives all…
Read MoreTennessee March Builds Pride, Visibility, Faith
Starting at 10am on March 22, 2015, history took place in the state of Tennessee. The first March for Transgender Visibility and Rights took place in Nashville, Tennessee. The march was organized by TNTJ (Tennessee Transgender Journey Project). The Executive Director of TNTJ, LaSaia Wade, along with several other key individuals, helped to put this march…
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.…
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