OutFront Workshops

As an LGBT organization that understands well the role of faith in American society and LGBT cultures, CLGS is uniquely positioned to address issues that link LGBT people of faith, their allies, and organized religion so that we might help to build a just and more equitable society. The CLGS OutFront Workshops is also one way in which the Center extends its mission across the United States.

The CLGS OutFront Workshops are designed to help progressive people of faith and their allies throughout the country become voices of authority and agents of societal change in the current heated debates surrounding homosexuality and religion by developing and/or increasing their expertise in matters of sexuality and religion. A primary goal of these workshops is to enable LGBT people of faith themselves (and their allies) to counter those who use religious argumentation (often very effectively) to alienate and marginalize LGBT people within communities of faith and within society at large.

By providing on-site weekend trainings on such topics as religion and homosexuality; religious issues concerning same-sex marriage and civil unions; homosexuality, race, and ethnicities; and the Bible and homosexuality, OutFront Workshops are able to offer uniquely valuable educational resources and networking opportunities for LGBT people of faith, local religious leaders, members of LGBT grass-roots advocacy organizations, and non-LGBT allies. In addition, CLGS OutFront Workshops assist members of these groups as they work together to develop progressive positions on religion and sexuality, to formulate effective strategies for social change, and to become an authoritative public voice in local and national debates relating to LGBT people and religion.

We currently offer five to six workshops per year. In 2005-2006 OutFront Workshops were held in Kalamazoo, Michigan; Portland, Oregon; Cleveland, Ohio; and Tampa, Florida.

2006-2007 CLGS OutFront Conferences include Montgomery, Alabama; Corvallis, Oregon; Atlanta, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; and Amherst, Massachusetts.

Upcoming Events:

• OutFront San Diego, October 12-14, 2007
• OutFront Portland, OR, April 3-6, 2008
• OutFront Walla Walla, WA, May 9-11, 2008
• OutFront with API Communities, San Francisco Bay Area, May 30-June 1, 2008
• OutFront Denver, CO, October 10-12, 2008

Past Events:

OutFront Hampshire College, Massachusetts
Out on Campus with LGBT Youth and Young Adults
April 27-29, 2007.
Click here for more info

OutFront Arizona
Blessing All Of Our Families
1-2 June 2007
First Congregational Church (UCC)
Phoenix, AZ
Click here for more info

OutFront Atlanta
Liberating the Bible
Saturday, 3 March 2007
Christ Covenant MCC(www.ChristCovenantMCC.org)
Feature: Bishop Yvette Flunder and Rev. Elder Jim Mitulski
Click here for Flyer with all the details.

OutFront Corvalis, OR
Transforming Faith: A Transgendered Witness.
October 20-22, 2006 at First United Methodist.
Click here for more info on this gathering.

OutFront Kansas City, MO
The Bible and LGBT People of Faith
February 9 — 11, 2007

If you are interested in bringing OutFront to your congregation, please contact Bernard Schlager at bschlager@clgs.org.

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