Just a few years ago, public opinion placed Christianity clearly in the “God vs. Gay” camp. Today, despite what Rick Perry would have us think, nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans agree that gay and lesbian relationships should be accepted by society, including majorities of all major religious groups except white evangelicals (Public Religion Research Institute, 8.29.11).

The events of 2011 demonstrated this shift in profound and thrilling ways. Following are our top ten:

10. Sojourners’ snub of Believe Out Loud inspires action: On Mother’s Day, BOL attempted to launch its viral video – Got Mom’s? – via a paid ad in Sojourners’ e-newsletter. Rather than “take sides” on LGBT acceptance in the church, Sojourners rejected our ad buy, inspiring more than 100 news and blog reports, and a petition on Change.org asking Sojourners to change its anti-LGBT position.

9. Perry’s anti-LGBT Christian rhetoric sparks outrage: In November, Presidential Candidate Rick Perry’s ironically named “Strong” video made a misguided attempt to rally the faithful by dissing gay and lesbian military personnel. Instead, he unleashed a firestorm of criticism – especially from Christians – outraged by his discriminatory worldview and became the most disliked youtube figure of the year.

8. Bullying gets the attention it deserves: While the tragic consequences of bullying continued to manifest in 2011, pro-LGBT anti-bullying initiatives and attitudes kept apace. When Michigan attempted to provide a religious loophole for hate, more reasoned voices won the day. Two terrific faith-based responses to bullying included Lutherans Concerned/North America’s “Where All Can Safely Live”, an anti-bullying curriculum for churches and In Our Shoes, a teen-driven effort to tell the stories of bullied teens by walking a day in their shoes.

7. UCC nears 1,000 open and affirming congregations:  The United Church of Christ, long a leader in LGBT-inclusive Christianity (they ordained an openly gay pastor in 1972 and endorsed marriage equality in 2005) welcomed their 971st “open and affirming” congregation in October, putting this ground-breaking LGBT-inclusive denomination on pace to have 1,000 open and affirming congregations by spring 2012.

6. Transgender Episcopal priest appointed chaplain of BU: In November, Boston University appointed the Rev. Cameron Partridge as its college chaplain, making him the first transgender pastor serving at a major university.

5. LGBT Coalition holds historic meeting with Southern Baptist Convention – Faith In America spearheaded an unprecedented meeting between a coalition of faith-based and secular activists and the Southern Baptist Convention, delivering a petition signed by 10,000 urging the SBC to apologize for the harms they have caused the LGBT community.

4. Methodist activists put LGBT equality front and center: There was a whirlwind of LGBT-inclusive activism in the United Methodist Church this year: from the grassroots support for Rev. Amy DeLong when she was put on trial (and essentially cleared) for performing a same-gender holy union, to 900 Methodists in New York and Connecticut who organized to make weddings available to all people, to the now more than 1,000 UMC clergy across the United States who have declared to make an Altar for All and marry or bless same-sex couples. This activity is setting the stage for the UMC’s General Conference 2012, where activists hope their efforts will result in LGBT-inclusive denominational policy.

3. Presbyterian Church (USA) approves ordination of LGBT clergy: In May, after years of struggle, the Presbyterian Church (USA) ratified Amendment 10-A, a historic constitutional change that allows lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons to be ordained in the denomination. In October, Rev. Scott Anderson became the first openly LGBT person to be ordained under the new policy.

2. New York passes marriage equality: In June, New York became the 6th state (plus D.C.) to recognize marriage equality, a victory that more than doubled the percentage of Americans living in a state that allows this fundamental right, and which owes much of its success to the tireless activism of faith-driven activists, including more than 700 clergy and lay leaders who actively supported the law. 

1. U.S. State Department vows to promote LGBT equality abroad: Earlier this month, in a soaring speech to the United Nations, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the U.S.’s intention to actively combat human rights violations against LGBT persons. Addressing a range of issues typically used to dismiss LGBT rights, including religion, Secretary Clinton boldly and unreservedly reminded the world that “no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us.” Indeed, she eloquently made the case that religious traditions can and should be used as “sources of compassion and inspiration to our fellow human beings.” 

Couldn’t have said it better ourselves. May it be so in 2012.

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Image Flickr davidyuweb