There’s Room For All of Us

A room with a lot of lights and decorations.

LGBTQ Jews have long been on the front lines, fighting for social justice. We are found on every page of the LGBTQ movement, from Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to office in California, to Avram Finkelstein, who co-founded the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP.

Read More

Please Help Us Find Some Lost Sheep

Two sheep standing in the snow.

A Pastoral Letter to the PCUSA: For some time, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA) has been working to reflect in the life of our church the place of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ) in God’s heart. This is all good. It is also a process.

Read More

My Religion And Yours: Where’s The Line?

A wall of books with a door in the middle.

For some people, religion has no influence their way of living. For others, religion is as important as breathing. Whichever way you experience religion, there’s no denying that it is a main topic of discussion, from the media to family dinner tables. 

Read More

#RefuseToBeComplicit with White Supremacy in Your Church

A black man crouching on the floor in front of a white background.

An open letter to white people of faith: 

At every point in the history of the United States there have been people whose faith has provided the bedrock for lifelong efforts to end violence, oppression, and inequity—Dorothy Day, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Bishop Gene Robinson—and there have been others who have used their religion as a weapon to further these same forces; to maintain the oppressive status quo rather than challenge it.

Read More

The Three Fault Lines Of Injustice Against Rev. Darlene Garner

A woman in a blue robe with dreadlocks smiling.

As we wrap up Black History Month, my mind and heart are returning to Rev. Darlene Garner and the injustice she experienced at the hands of the Metropolitan Community Church, a denomination to which she faithfully gave her leadership and ministry. I have been an ally of the Metropolitan Community Church since I attended my…

Read More

Only For A Moment

A quilt with a rainbow heart on it.

Only for a moment, was it an unmatched statistic. 

When 49 people were gunned to death in what was for some – the only safe space where they could be themselves; we watched, cried, and prayed in horror. But only for a moment did that stand as the largest mass slaying of Americans targeted by an “active shooter” actively engaged in unleashing a fusillade of bullets into a crowd of people in a confined space. Only for a moment.

Read More

Grieving through the Holidays: Painting Holy Women Icons of Grief

A painting of a woman holding a heart.

The holidays can be the toughest time of the year. We expect warm nostalgia, celebrations—both sacred and secular—overflowing with family warmth and bonding. For queer people estranged from their families of origin, this can be doubly difficult. Grief, too, can be one of hardest things to deal with around the holidays. Whether it’s grieving a…

Read More

Tips For Getting Through The Hard Holidays

A blurry image of a christmas tree in a living room.

The holiday season is rough for many people in the LGBTQ community. Extra expectations, financial strains, and social isolation cause depression rates to rise. Many people have tensions with their loved ones over their sexuality and gender expression. When that’s coupled with the extra religious observances that take place in the holiday season, it can…

Read More