Catholic High School Wrestler Builds Bridges By Coming Out As Gay

A young man leaning against a brick wall.

Cole Fox is a senior at Don Bosco Catholic High School in Gilbertville, Iowa, where until recently he wrestled successfully for one of the state’s top programs. He is also an openly gay Catholic whose coming out and commitment to building bridges are inspirations for all who seek to advance LGBT justice. Until last year,…

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Tennessee March Builds Pride, Visibility, Faith

A woman is holding a sign in front of a crowd of people.

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…

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The Life & Times Of The ‘Gayest Catholic Parish’ In The United States

A large group of people standing in a church.

The National Catholic Reporter’s Tom Fox greatly helped the burgeoning movement of gay-friendly Catholic parishes in the U.S. by publishing a five-part series examining the life of one such parish, Most Holy Redeemer (MHR), San Francisco, which he notes is often referred to as “the gayest Catholic parish in the nation.” Fox’s series on this parish should be read by…

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Learning To Live In Biblical Obedience

A rainbow colored string hanging from a tree.

“Ah, how beautiful the feet of those on the mountain who declare the good news of victory, of peace and liberation.” Isaiah 52:7a These words rang true on March 21, 2015 when the Pacific Northwest Reconciling Ministries gathered at Bellevue First United Methodist Church for our annual gathering: Biblical Obedience: Learning, Engaging, Taking Action. We gathered to connect with…

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Black Pastors Launch African Tour To Counteract Rick Warren’s Anti-Gay Movement

A man is standing in front of a microphone.

Spearheaded by The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM), its founder and presiding Bishop Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder and executive director, Bishop-Elect, Pastor Joseph Tolton, the organization’s international outreach ministry The Fellowship Global (TFG) has launched a month long tour of key African nations where LGBTI communities continue to experience extreme discrimination and persecution. These countries include:…

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The Hope Of The Resurrection

A white lily with a yellow center.

On Easter Day, I spent some time reflecting on what this holiday is like for those who feel estranged from their church communities because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. For most of us who grew up in church, there was a time when the words “Happy Easter! He is risen” only ever brought…

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Easter Is About Seeing Those At The Margins

The sun is setting over a body of water.

For many Christians, Easter is one of their high holy holidays.  It’s their religious bedrock that not only anchors them in their faith, but it also shapes and governs them in their view of the world. I’m one of them. The author and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis eloquently captures it for me when he wrote…

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The Queering of Jesus: How I Reclaimed My Faith

An old book with a painting of jesus on it.

Today my mother has called me to ask what it is I plan on doing for Good Friday. She knows it has always been my favorite religious holiday of the year and is sure I have made plans. Hearing her voice, a ripe fruit bursting with all that good news and Baptist tabor, only makes…

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Gay Jesus On The Cross Brings New Life To Christ’s Story

A man on a cross.

During Holy Week many LGBT Christians and their allies find inspiration in “The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision,” a controversial series of paintings that are newly available as a book. The images show Jesus as a gay man of today in a modern city. He is persecuted, killed and rises again in the 24…

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Living Christ’s Love: Would Jesus Turn People Away?

I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus. I believe in doing our best to follow God’s word and make it an active part of our lives. I also believe that every human being should be treated with dignity, respect and love—no if’s, and’s or but’s about it! I am heavily dismayed when I hear…

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