God’s Children Include Our LGBT Sisters & Brothers

Silhouette of a family holding hands at sunset.

We were sitting in Arby’s when it happened—a song played through the speakers that deeply touched my mother. She dropped her fork, closed her eyes, and began to sway back and forth. I had never before seen her behave this way. I dropped my fork and stared. At some point, still rocking in meditation, my…

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Amidst Reformation: Our Chance To Change The Church

A large group of people gathered in a church.

As an immigrant, a woman, and a person of color, I know what a public show of solidarity can mean in the face of adversity. Ashamedly, there have been times when I did not offer such solidarity to others. When I first became a Christian, I failed to be a public ally to LGBT people…

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Vatican’s Final Report Disappoints; Discussion Indicates Progress

The spiral staircase in the vatican.

After signs of progress from the mid-term report of the Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family, the Vatican’s final report significantly backtracks on LGBT issues from the promising draft. Despite this disappointment, the synod’s process and openness to discussion provide hope for further development down the road, particularly at next year’s synod, where the make-up of the…

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Believe Out Loud Welcomes New Program Associate

Believe Out Loud is delighted to announce the hiring of Timothy DuWhite, Jr. as our new program associate. In this role, DuWhite will manage online engagement across Believe Out Loud’s social networks and provide support across program areas. DuWhite is the former program coordinator and office manager for Urban Word NYC, New York’s premier non-profit organization…

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The Boys Who Never Grew Up

Colorful spinners hanging from a tree in a city.

My mother said that she never wanted to grow up. That could be why she taught first grade all of her professional life and was beloved by her students. She was one of them. In her later years, she confessed with a laugh, she couldn’t quite “get” that she was the old woman who looked…

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Top 10 Reflections On Coming Out & Christianity

A close up of a colorful umbrella.

For the second year in a row, we are honoring National Coming Out Day with this Top Ten list of our favorite blogs on Coming Out & Christianity! No matter how you choose to celebrate this year, we hope these reflections bring you joy and comfort as we consider the spiritual significance of our aspirations…

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Pride From The Ashes Of Pain

A group of people holding a sign.

“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned…

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One Church, Two Synodal Gatherings

St peter's basilica in rome, italy.

As this blog goes to press, in two cities more than 5,000 miles from each other, flights will be landing, hotels will be checked into, local hosts will undergo a final flurry of preparations as Church leaders gather to pray, deliberate, and work for the future of our Church. In Rome, Italy, this gathering will…

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A Queer Climate Change?

The streets of New York were thronging with people in the first ever Climate March on September 21. Demonstrators had a message for world leaders at the United Nations Climate Summit beginning that week: approve a Climate Treaty that includes strong actions. It was the largest Climate Change March in history with over 400,000 people…

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Apply Now: 2015 Trans Leadership Exchange

A group of people posing for a photo in front of a painting.

In 2015, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force will launch a 6 month leadership development program for 20 Transgender and Genderqueer leaders from across the United States. This group of leaders will participate in a learning community that will offer peer coaching, skill building, opportunities for self-reflection, story sharing, and action! Applications are due…

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