God Thinks You Are Absolutely Fabulous

A man holding up a sign that says god you are absolutely fabulous.

A little over a year ago, I took part in my first NYC Pride March, having just moved to the city in August 2013. My initial intent was to simply cheer on friends from the sidelines, as I was already exhausted from a weekend packed of Pride activities. But when my close friend, Amanda Hambrick…

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Queer Reflections On The 2015 White House Conference On Aging

A woman in a wheelchair is posing for a photo with a group of people.

As the iron gates to the White House grounds opened at 8:45 on Monday morning, July 13, the assembled group of delegates to the 2015 White House Conference on Aging began joyfully streaming toward the security stations, the preliminary steps in gaining access to the hallowed halls where aging issues and policies for the next…

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Feeling Heard: Meeting The LGBTQ Community In Cuba

A statue with a cuba flag in front of it.

“But when did you feel heard by the majority?” pleaded a Cuban and would-be LGBT activist, unknowingly socking me in the gut with a question for which my talking points would fall short in a room full of eager Cuban citizens, watchful Cuban government officials, and gay American singers visiting Havana. In the humid and unassuming mid-morning…

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How Long Will The Church Refuse LGBT People?

Silhouette of a woman in the woods.

There is a mighty move of God happening. It’s been going on for a while but it is growing in momentum! God is sending people to the very doors of God’s sanctuary all over this country. However, attachment to tradition may cause the church to miss a Golden Opportunity to show Christ’s love to those…

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The Equality Act Is A Visionary Piece Of Legislation—And Way Overdue

A group of people holding a rainbow flag with the word equality.

Something extraordinary happened last Thursday to advance fairness and equality in the United States. Members of Congress introduced legislation to amend the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 to embrace a more robust vision of equality. The bill—aptly named the Equality Act—would amend existing law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender…

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Pope Francis Urged To Meet With LGBT Catholics During Upcoming U.S. Visit

Pope francis waves to the crowd.

Today, The New York Times exclusively broke the news that GLAAD and DignityUSA, backed by nearly 30 groups and individuals, have asked Pope Francis to meet with LGBT Catholics and their families during his visit to the United States. A letter, signed by GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and DignityUSA‘s Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke and endorsed…

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Changing The Conversation On Catholic Church Workers’ Rights

A stained glass sign with the word hope on it.

It seems as if every few months, and sometimes weeks, Bondings 2.0 covers the story of a Catholic church worker who lost a job in an LGBT-related dispute made public. There are more than fifty such cases since 2008, but there are signs of hope as ecclesial forces increasingly resist these firings. Augustinian Father Paul Morrissey…

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Supreme Court Ruling Brings Nationwide Marriage Equality

Two men kissing in front of a crowd of people.

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…

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Where Have All the Black Men Gone?

A man holding up a sign that says hands up don't shoot.

A few weeks ago I was stunned by a front page New York Times article headlined, “1.5 Million Black Men, Missing from Daily Life.” As troubling as the recent deaths of young black men at the hands of law enforcement have been, they serve as tragic examples of a larger trend of our own “disappeared,”…

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