Posts Tagged ‘Homophobia’
God Loves Me Just As I Am
By GMA News Recently, I received a long text message that hijacked my whole day and left me shaken and unable to do anything. It was from an old college classmate, one of my best friends. He had just finished reading my book, “Of God and Men.” We lost touch over the years, and he…
Read MoreWhen Coming Out Costs You Everything
Ten years ago if someone asked me to predict my future, I would have said that I expected to married with kids, and involved in some sort of Christian ministry. Ironically, that isn’t far from the truth, except that the specific confines of that prediction had a drastically different outcome than I (or any of…
Read MoreDignityUSA Moves Toward Radical Inclusion
The Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world. The fight for the dignity and inclusion of its LGBTQI parishioners is a fight for the church’s soul and moral integrity. DignityUSA since its inception has asserted that God loves the LGBTQI community equally. This year DignityUSA held its 23rd biennial national conference in…
Read MoreLoves Makes A Family: IDAHOT 2017
May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT). It is a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversities. IDAHOT was founded in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people around the world. This year IDAHOT…
Read MoreWords of Encouragement for LGBTQ United Methodists & Allies
“Do not get weary little children. God is not done with us, yet. So keep praying, stay focused and keep the main thing the main thing.” These words were written by Rev. James E. Swanson, Bishop of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church, in response to the Judicial Council’s recent ruling to rescind…
Read MoreTheology Ruined My Father’s Memorial Service
Last night was my dad’s memorial service. I delayed my coming out because of his illness. I knew that he was already struggling with his own mortality and that trying to reconcile the daughter he was so proud of and loved deeply with the ideas he had about LGBT people would be too much for…
Read MoreThe Steep Path: How Muslim Allies Can Resist Islamophobia
Originally published in December 2015, this post has particular resonance this week following President Donald Trump’s Executive Order to restrict immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries. This bans stigmatizes and harms immigrants, refugees, and Muslims, and it is an assault on the values we hold dear, including religious freedom and Christian love. “What will explain to…
Read MoreUnited Methodist Church’s “Way Forward” Erases LGBTQI People
Last Wednesday the executive committee of The United Methodist Church Council of Bishops announced that they had sent out invitations to the people they hoped would constitute the special commission formed at General Conference to discuss the vexing issue of whether and how the church will continue to discriminate against LGBTQI people. Lots of people…
Read MoreWhy Coming Out Isn’t For Everyone
Coming out is a powerful experience. It is a story that many people in the LGBTQ community have in common. Whether subtle or dramatic, disclosing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity is often met with celebration and praise. With the advent of inclusive religious institutions, scholars, and others who make a strong case of God’s…
Read MoreCatholic Ministry Supports Gay Priest Removed From Ministry
Statement of Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland—By all accounts, Fr. Warren Hall has been a caring, compassionate, and faithful Catholic priest. But there’s one more important adjective to describe him: courageous. He has courageously stood by the LGBT community, taking personal risks to let them know that God loves them…
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