Posts Tagged ‘Gender Identity’
Why Coming Out Day Matters For The Church
In 1988, LGBT activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary established National Coming Out Day (NCOD), to be observed on October 11—the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights. According to his New York Times obituary in 1995, Eichberg explained the motivation behind NCOD as this: “Most people think they…
Read MoreDo Unto Others: A Blueprint For Religious Leaders On Global LGBTI Rights
On Friday, September 29th, the United States cast a vote against a UN Human Rights Council resolution to ban the death penalty against LGBTI people, effectively jeopardizing LGBTI people’s lives around the world to preserve the death penalty at all costs. Though the US joined Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates…
Read MoreResponse to Pope Francis’ Comments on Gender Difference
Pope Francis has once again entered the discussion of transgender issues with a statement that reveals the pontiff does not yet comprehend issues of gender identity. In a statement to the Pontifical Academy for Life’s general assembly, he said: The biologic and psychological manipulation of sexual difference, which biomedical technology allows one to see as…
Read MoreBridging Beyond Binaries: Painting Gloria Anzaldúa
One of the great joys of being an artist and writer is working on commissions, enlivening in paint, canvas, and word the stories of revolutionary holy women who have emboldened and inspired the one commissioning the Holy Woman Icon. Gloria Anzaldúa was on my list of holy women for a while when Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza…
Read MoreReal Questions for Real Bisexuals!
Pictured clockwise: Ashley DeTar Birt, Hannah Soldner, Angélique Gravely, Alison Amyx, Keisha E. McKenzie, Beth Sherouse No one human being expresses their sexuality nor their gender in the exact same way as another. Yet we are all a part of God’s grand creation and blessed under God’s love. This is why, for #BiWeek, we wanted to know a little…
Read MoreUnitarian Universalist General Assembly Votes To Change UU Bylaws To Include Non-Binary People
On June 24, 2017, delegates to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly in New Orleans overwhelmingly voted to approve language to make Unitarian Universalism’s second source more inclusive of people of all genders. Unitarian Universalism affirms and promotes seven principles, drawn from six sources of our faith. The current language of the second source, as…
Read MoreLost Adrift, Or Deeply Rooted?
The annual conference I attended last week with Reconciling Ministries Network was like other trips to annual conferences in many ways—except for one small feature. It was at the beach, Jekyll Island specifically. By recommendation of a friend, on my last night there, I went over to driftwood beach. This section of the island can…
Read MoreUnited Methodist Church commissions first non-binary trans person as a Deacon
Chicago – The first openly non-binary trans person was commissioned as a deacon in The United Methodist Church (The UMC) on Sunday, June 4th in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference. Rev. M Barclay, who uses singular they pronouns, is appointed by Bishop Sally Dyck to serve as a deacon at Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN). RMN…
Read MoreLargest-Ever Gathering of Trans Unitarian Universalist Leaders
From April 10-13, the second-ever retreat was held of TRUUsT, Transgender Religious professional Unitarian Universalists Together, in Palm Harbor, Florida. Twenty-seven trans leaders and two allied Unitarian Universalist Association staff gathered together for community, worship, and organizing to support the many varied ministries of trans people within Unitarian Universalism. Attendees were directors of religious education,…
Read MoreRecovering from Conversion Therapy One Bible Story at a Time
When I first came out gay in 1999, many gay Christians and queer scholars were asking, “Who is gay/lesbian in the Bible?” Some pointed to Jonathan and David. Others to Ruth and Naomi. There were rumors of a gay Roman Centurion. I understood why people were on a quest to find gay Bible characters. After…
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