International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The pink triangle was rediscovered as a sign of pride for the gay community in 1990.

Today, January 27th, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The pink triangle was a symbol of oppression against homosexuals during the Nazi regime, but it has been reclaimed by the LGBT community as a sign of hope and recognition.

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Epiphany is Here to Liberate Us

A christmas card with three camels and the word joy.

Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, proclaims and rejoices in the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, this day serves as a remembrance of the visit from the foreign, gift-bearing astronomers to the Christ Child. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they came…

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BOL Bookshelf Review: “I Am Jazz”

An image of a man with dreadlocks and a book.

Welcome to the first installment of The Believe Out Loud Bookshelf! This segment will highlight LGBT-oriented books and authors that are making a difference in the community. The first book to be reviewed on The Believe Out Loud Bookshelf is “I Am Jazz,” co-authored by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas.…

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Advent Reflections

Four cards with the words faith, peace, and hope.

In Advent, while we await the birth of Jesus, so many things come to life. Lights flicker on trees, wreaths are hung and typical house plants are replaced by festive poinsettias, all seeming to symbolize expectation and arrival, an outward hope. However, the anticipation of a cozy and cheerful holiday is not accurate for many…

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The Jewish Festival of Light

Happy hanukkah love and light.

Today at sundown begins Hanukkah – the Jewish festival of light. Hanukkah commemorates the rebellion and victory of a small and poorly armed group of Jews over the powerful army of Syrian king Antiochus who had brought Judea under his control and subsequently outlawed Judaism, desecrated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and violently forced Jews…

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Joyful Expectation and Preparation at Advent

A poster with three candles and the words'joyful remembrance and presentations at advent.

Our devotional provides scriptural excerpts, meditations and prayers for all four Sundays in Advent. We created it with the firm understanding and belief that all people should have access to spiritually affirming texts to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Click here to download the devotional in the language…

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How Do You Believe Out Loud?

A poster with the words always be you.

Have you seen our compilation of ten wonderfully and marvelously made people sharing with us how they believe out loud? Believe Out Loud has always been a space of affirmation for LGBT people of faith and their allies. With our “How do YOU believe out loud” campaign, we turn the microphone back to you –…

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Arm Wrestling for Our Lives

A group of birds flying in the sky.

Trigger Warning: Discussion of suicide and depression

As our collective consciousness was recently focused on the themes of depression, suicide and suicide prevention, I wish to express what many of us in our community know: LGBTQ+ people are at an increased risk for dying by suicide. Here’s my story of self-destruction, spiritual obedience and renewal.

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Keep it Simple

Three purple bracelets with the word love period on them.

I believe God empowers each of us to look at the most complicated problems with Divine simplicity. That is the beauty of the dissent written by Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Monday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 7-2 ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd., et al v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Justice…

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