Queering Advent: Reflections On Hope

Queering advent hope.

During the season of Advent, when Christians around the world prepare for the coming of Christ, our families and communities come together to reflect on our spirituality and our beliefs. This year at Believe Out Loud, we’re queering the season of Advent, considering traditional Advent themes as we reflect on our work ahead toward justice…

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Divine Doubt; Hope Abundant

A small plant growing on a wooden deck.

“They tried to bury us; they didn’t know we were seeds” —Mexican Proverb Advent is that particular liturgical season in the Church when there is a focus on the coming of God, incarnate. For many LGBTQIA folks, the Church is not the place where they come for hope or participate in the anticipation of God…

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Queering Mary Magdalene

Woman in red dress clutching red heart

Many of the revolutionary women in my Holy Women Icons Project identify as queer in some way. Many are emboldening straight allies. And there are many whose sexuality we know nothing about. When it comes to some of the women in scripture, reading their stories through the lens of queer theory, or “queering” their stories,…

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My Hope Is In Us

A person holding a sparkler.

Advent is the great liturgical season of waiting. We yearn, we search, and we reach out, and we dream of Immanuel who will walk amoung us. We spend much time preparing our homes and our churches for the holiday, and we wait. This season of waiting with expectation is the perfect time to work on…

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The Lord’s Prayer For Transgender Awareness

Heart pendant with candles in background.

This week is Transgender Awareness week, a week when we turn our attention to understanding the experiences and needs of the transgender community. It’s also a week that concludes with the Transgender Day of Remembrance this Sunday, on Nov. 20th. As people of faith, we need to educate ourselves this week on how we can…

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The Body Of Christ Includes Bisexuals

A person's hand is raised in front of a church.

Shortly after coming out to my church, I began to notice just how many LGBTQ people our congregation had. While my time prior to deciding to come out had been full of nerves and worry, my time after was filled with new friends and role models. In particular were two couples, both made up of…

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When Revolution Comes

Two people giving each other a high five.

I realized how much I hated myself the day I admitted to myself that I’m trans. I’d never noticed before then the nauseated feeling in my stomach each time I looked in a mirror, or how I never could take compliment without some type of rebuttal, or how much I clamored for attention while looking…

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Christians Fall Short Of Christ’s Healing Legacy

A black and white photo of a man hugging another man.

The New Testament records Jesus performing a staggering number of miracles for the benefit of those around Him. He fed a multitude with a paltry quantity of food, walked on water, calmed storms, and changed water to wine. But the majority of Jesus’ miracles have to do with curing the sick.  Healing is Christ’s legacy,…

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