How I Navigated My Coming Out Process

A man standing on top of a hill with the sun setting behind him.

For those of us who are LGBTQ, we have almost certainly experienced some form of isolation, rejection, or tepid acceptance. This reality is simply a part of our story; but what I have come to learn in the past 18 months is that we all have beautiful, heart-breaking stories of truth. My story is really…

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The Story Of Resurrection Is A Story Of Transition

A statue of jesus with his arms outstretched at sunset.

Easter Sunday. A day of many questions and confusion within a hope-filled community. We still don’t know exactly what happened that night and moment. We can’t begin to imagination what folks were experiencing and feeling. As we reflected together this year over the snippets shared in the gospels, we immersed ourselves in imagining the fear…

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We Are the Voices of Change: Fighting Back North Carolina’s HB2

A woman standing at a podium in front of a crowd of people.

In a 12 hour special session on March 23rd, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2 (HB2). Designed to overturn a Charlotte City Council ordinance which protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in public accommodation, commercial contracting and taxis, HB2 is the most sweeping anti-LGBT legislation in the nation, according to…

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God Is Faithful Even When The Church Is Not

A church with pews and a stained glass window.

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;…

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A Black Lesbian Bishop’s Journey In Ministry

A woman in a red jacket and a red background.

A religious stole was donated in honor of Bishop Abrams to the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Shower of Stoles, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of telling the stories of LGBTQ people of faith. Click here to see how you can bring the Shower of Stoles project to your community.  I must admit: to be called to pastor…

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How This Transgender Latina Found Her Way Back To Faith

An older woman smiling in a field with mountains in the background.

Nicole Garcia created and donated a religious stole to the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Shower of Stoles, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of telling the stories of LGBTQ people of faith. Click here to see how you can bring the Shower of Stoles project to your community.  On Friday, as we celebrated Good Friday, I wore my…

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Why I Stopped Pursuing Ordained Ministry

A wheat field with a church in the background.

In November of 2014, I decided to discontinue my efforts to be a certified candidate in the United Methodist Church. I’ll never forget that day. It was unseasonably warm, so I worn a white tank top and some black basketball shorts. I looked like I was prepping for a track meet, or at least for…

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Learning To Wear My Own Clothes

A person's feet are standing on a rainy day.

My name is Carol and I live in the south of England. I am married to a straight man and am the usually proud owner of three children, two boys and a girl. Because we live in the UK, our kids have to wear school uniform.  For my younger son in primary school, this consists…

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I Didn’t Know I Was Bisexual

A church steeple is silhouetted against a blue and purple background.

I like being born in 1950. It feels so central. It’s easy to calculate how old I am. Last year I hit classic retirement age. I also hit marking about 20 years out to myself, and the world, as bisexual. This means I know I am capable of loving people of more than one gender.…

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