A Gay Christian Athlete’s Letter To David Tyree

An nfl stadium with many people watching a game.

This week, David Tyree, who has publicly opposed same-sex marriage and promoted conversion therapy, was hired by the New York Giants as the director of player development. Dear Mr. Tyree, I remember that defining moment in Super bowl XLII. Your helmet catch was one of the most incredible NFL plays I’ve experienced in my 31…

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Queering Iconography: Why I Wrote And Painted Holy Women Icons

A painting of a mermaid with a heart in her hand.

As a scholar of Art and Religion, I have long known the power of images to evoke spiritual meaning, providing believers with a visual entry point into faith. As an ordained queer woman, I have also long known that much of iconography excludes anyone who looks and loves like me. Though there are surely some…

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One Size Does Not Fit All: Pastoral Care For LGBT Seniors

A woman sitting on a porch overlooking the water.

I’ve found myself a part of people’s lives in a profound way while providing spiritual care as a chaplain for the past three years. While working in hospice and hospital settings, I have been privileged to be invited into the most delicate and precarious of times. I’ve held the hand of the dying, I’ve comforted…

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10 Reasons We’re Proud To Be LGBTQ Christians

Why are you proud to be an lgbtq christian?.

10. We are made in the image of God: 9. We are a witness to God’s radical love: 8. God promises us eternal life: 7. Our faith is miraculous: 6. We are called to transform the world: 5. God journeys with us: 4. Our experiences teach us how to love authentically: 3. God has freed us from shame: 2. Embracing…

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Presbyterians Embrace A Table for All

A group of people sitting in a conference room.

This past week, I have sat at the Table. Not just any table, but the Table of Christ, around which I have gathered since I was a child. This week, however, the Table looked different than I have ever imagined.  It didn’t look like the well-worn wooden piece—over laden with bread and chalice and liturgy—that…

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“I Am Loved Right Where I Am”: Ensuring Our Children Feel Belonged

A rainbow painted on a piece of paper.

I am a certified special education school teacher who has taught various grades and subjects in the states of New York, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. Prior to teaching I was a youth counselor for many years, where I worked with youth diagnosed from moderate to severe intellectual disabilities, behavioral and emotional challenges, autism/Asperger’s syndrome, and…

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Thongs Galore: Taking On My First Pride Parade

A woman with a rainbow painted face is posing for the camera.

When I woke up on the morning of Seattle Pride 2013, I was not ready for “Thongs Galore,” and that bothered me. In my mind, going to the annual Pride Parade was just an item on the list of things queer kids did. Also on the list were listening to Lady Gaga, loving Rent, and…

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