As the summer draws to a close and school starts up again, your support for LGBTQ youth, parents, and teachers can make a big difference. We hope that going back to school – safely and in person, when possible – will be a positive opportunity for growth and learning for everyone; yet this is often […]
Far too often, the welcome that LGBTQ+ people receive in faith communities does not fully extend to those who are disabled. People with disabilities are part of the LGBTQ+ community, yet they frequently experience exclusion from both mainstream LGBTQ+ spaces and congregations. A genuine welcome, one that reflects the expansiveness of God’s love, must actively […]
Raise Your Voice and Vote! As Candace Bond of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has written, “The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest.” For LGBTQ+ people, voting is absolutely crucial in the ongoing struggle to ensure the civil rights of […]
Providing opportunities for all couples to celebrate their weddings is very important to fully affirm LGBTQ people in your community. It is seen by many as a sign that a faith group has truly committed to equality for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Denominations and religions have a variety of positions on […]
Gay and bisexual men make up 70% of new HIV infections in the United States; communities of color and young adults are particularly hard hit. HIV testing is critical for both individual health and in the efforts to end the epidemic. When people know their HIV status, they can make healthy and informed choices about […]
Create Inclusive Space Congregational space can be an exclusive space, especially with regard to transgender individuals. For instance, most congregations still do not provide all-gender restroom facilities, and this omission can be a considerable barrier for transgender persons who belong, attend, or visit your congregation. Providing at least one accessible all-gender restroom is an important […]
By genuinely welcoming and integrating LGBTQ people into a congregation all members can experience transformation. When individuals who were once unwelcome and perhaps even unnamed are brought into a community of faith, new perspectives emerge on what it means to live as people of faith. When individuals who have been marginalized for so long enter […]