Posts Tagged ‘LGBTQ Allies’
A Letter To My Methodist Daughter
These are the words I spoke to my sleeping daughter upon returning home from Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend after witnessing the marriage of Joe Openshaw and Bobby Prince, performed by Bishop Melvin Talbert. Dearest child of mine, I wish you could have been there yesterday, as I sat in a church and witnessed history in the making.…
Read MoreHow To Be A Trans* Ally
My feelings about “allies” to the transgender community are complicated. Sometimes this “ally” concept seems really powerful to me, and other times, it just seems like another shallow label. Sometimes the way we talk about “allies” feels insightful and important. Sometimes our language feels rigid and inadequate. In transgender communities, allies are very important—hugely important.…
Read MoreThe Misnomer Of Safe Space
The majority of life boils down to one of two relational spaces. There’s the surface-level presentation of self, best reserved for exchanging pleasantries with the man next to you in the grocery line or during the meet and greet at church. I like your necklace and did you see the game last week? How’s your…
Read MoreDisowning A Disowner Is Not the Answer
By now most of you will have seen the news of the grandfather who disowned his daughter because she disowned her own son when he came out as gay to her. This has wildly circled blogs and news sites being heralded as “Today in awesome parenting” and a “beautiful letter.” While I completely understand how this…
Read MoreHonoring Queer Experiences Of God
When I was first coming to terms with my queerness, I was terrified. I was a student at a college where being gay could get you kicked out. I had no idea how to reconcile my sexuality and gender identity with the things I was being taught in my classes and church. All I really…
Read MoreWhen A Redneck Loved A Queer
I was at the inaugural annual Intercollegiate Adventist GSA Coalition (IAGC) meeting the first time I saw Seventh-Gay Adventists, a film that documents the lives of three couples who identify as members of both the queer community and the very conservative Seventh-day Adventist faith community. A year and a half later, I have seen the film in…
Read MoreAn Open Letter To NALT Christians
This is a letter to NALT Christians taking the first step to tell the world they support LGBTQ inclusion. First and foremost: welcome, and thank you! I know that many people participating in the NALT campaign are taking great risks to stand up, often alone, to homophobia and transphobia in their communities. I know from…
Read MoreWhy Do I Care?
As issues surrounding gay rights are being brought to attention both in the political and religious arenas, it is impossible not to evaluate my own position within the movement. The question “Why do I, a person who does not identify as LGBTQ, care?” is often left unanswered; instead, we focus on why people are not in…
Read MoreI Have Not Always Stood On The Right Side Of History
I was looking at shirts today to wear to NYC’s Pride Parade, and I ran across this one, that says “I stand on the right side of history.” But I have a confession to make. I’m not sure I am allowed to wear this shirt. I have not always stood on the right side of…
Read MoreExperiencing Grace: My Journey To Becoming An Ally
On an August afternoon last fall, I sat in front of my computer screen with tears streaming down my face. Maybe you did as well. Plastered all over my Facebook wall were photos of so many proudly eating a chicken sandwich in the name of American values, many in the name of Jesus. I’m guessing you saw…
Read More