Posts Tagged ‘Religious trauma’
Supreme Court Ruling Brings Nationwide Marriage Equality
Today’s historic Supreme Court ruling means same-sex couples will soon have the freedom to marry and equal respect for their marriages across the United States. This is a momentous win for freedom, equality, inclusion, and above all, love! ADD YOUR NAME: Christians Pledge To Work For Justice Beyond Marriage Equality Believe Out Loud recognizes the…
Read MoreA Presence Stronger than Absence for Pride 2015
The post coming-out talk that I had with my mom related to my sexuality was hard. It had to do with her and dad going to therapy. They’d found a therapist who’d went to Smith College; they sought counsel from her. It sounded hopeful, at first. I opened my heart up at least wider than…
Read MoreTony Campolo Calls For Full Acceptance Of Gay & Lesbian Christians Into The Church
On Monday, Dr. Tony Campolo, well known evangelical activist, educator, speaker, and founder of Red Letter Christians released a statement on his blog announcing his official change of heart and mind on inclusion of gay couples in the church. In the statement he says: While I have always tried to communicate grace and understanding to people on both sides of…
Read MoreGive OUT Day: LGBTQ People Are Precious, Miraculous & Celebrated
I am Julie Wood, the mother of a gay son, an LGBTQ ally, and a proud member of Believe Out Loud. The essence of my son was gentle, kind, supportive, funny, and wise. He was taught that to love God is to love all people. We told him that he was a beautiful creation of…
Read MoreWild Wise Woman
I believe transgender people are highly spiritual beings and for centuries have been systematically removed from our divinely ordered place in society. As a trans woman, I depend on spiritual expression to communicate to the world who I am, when my body often betrays me. Because of this betrayal, I have yet to feel completely…
Read MoreConversion Therapy’s Deadly Outcomes
Trigger warning: discussions of suicide I wish Leelah Alcorn was alive today. She would know how a petition on the White House website with 120,000 plus signatures calling for the enactment of “Leelah’s Law to Ban All LGBTQ+ Conversion Therapy” not only went viral across mainstream and social media internationally, but how the petition was also…
Read MoreWhy I Defend An Institution That Does Not Defend Me
In case you missed it, a few days ago the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) changed its definition of marriage to include people of every sexual orientation and gender identity. There has been much celebration, and I rejoice with my Presbyterian siblings. As someone who is particularly sensitive to Reformed theology, days like these make me desperately…
Read MoreChristians Care About Ending Discrimination
As the Faith Organizer for Equality Pennsylvania, I work with about 600 diverse clergy and over 1000 people of faith across the state of Pennsylvania who are working for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. On May 20, 2014, we celebrated a new reality in Pennsylvania—marriage equality came to our state! There…
Read MoreAn Open Letter to Pastor Ray Chavez of New Hope Ministries
Pastor Chavez, I’m sure you have received your fair share of letters over the past week or so. Some of them “hate mail,” others, letters staunchly supporting your decision. This letter falls under neither category. Going to any kind of extreme would only alienate you from its simple message. Vanessa Collier was a human being,…
Read MoreThe Gay Christian Network Conference: A Glimpse Into The Future Of The Church
Four years ago I didn’t think it was possible to be both Gay and Christian. Those identities were diametrically opposed in my mind. To be gay was to have adopted a false identity rooted in sin and to be Christian was to find one’s identity in Jesus Christ alone. So any attempt to mesh these…
Read More