Pilgrimage Of Mercy Seeks Equality For LGBTQ Catholics

Four people standing in front of the supreme court building.

Greg Bourke and his husband were plaintiffs in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that brought the freedom to marry to same-sex couples nationwide in June 2015. Now the men, who were named Persons of the Year by the National Catholic Reporter, are leading a “Pilgrimage of Mercy” to celebrate and recognize LGBT Catholics—and calling…

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When Christians Erase My Bisexuality

A row of wooden pews in a church.

It’s hard on the heart to realize you’re invisible. That realization has fallen on me in all too many spaces: At school and work, among friends, and within the confines of the church. I am bisexual, and I have largely been blessed with accepting people surrounding me. I have only rarely been subject to violence…

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I’m Bisexual, Transgender, & Happy

A woman holding a bag of apples.

Standing amongst the rows of trees I stared across at my partner. She was smiling, grabbing apples from the trees with an excited exclamation as if each one was a new find, a sparkly treasure, with that same childlike wonder that made me first fall in love with her. Every time I see it, it…

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Discovering My Bisexual Christian Identity

A church steeple is silhouetted against a blue and purple background.

My first kiss was with my next-door neighbor—a young boy in my class. It was back when I didn’t know what it meant to be queer, what it meant to be bisexual, what it meant to be trans. We were together under a flagpole at recess, he told me that the previous night was “Hershey’s…

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The Body Of Christ Includes Bisexuals

A person's hand is raised in front of a church.

Shortly after coming out to my church, I began to notice just how many LGBTQ people our congregation had. While my time prior to deciding to come out had been full of nerves and worry, my time after was filled with new friends and role models. In particular were two couples, both made up of…

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Painting Mary Daly: Lesbian Feminist Pioneer

A painting of a woman holding a heart.

You don’t have to be perfect to be a saint. The saints who comprise my Holy Women Icons are far from perfect, but each one has made a difference in the lives of countless queer women. By giving iconography a folk feminist twist—by painting these women and calling them holy—it is my hope that their…

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Delegations Of Clergy Lead Moral Marches In Over 30 Capital Cities

A group of people holding signs in front of a building.

On Monday, September 12, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., delegations of clergy will lead “Higher Ground Moral Day of Action” marches at 30 state capitol buildings and the city hall building in the District of Columbia. Three new states have recently joined the moral march including Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan.   “The Higher Ground Moral Day…

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Believe Out Loud Director James Rowe Says Goodbye

Four people posing for a photo in an office.

I started working at Believe Out Loud almost five years ago. Before that time, I had no idea that there were places to turn to talk about the intersection of being LGBTQ and Christian, other than to talk about it from the harmful narrative that had been forced upon most of us for far too…

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Why Coming Out Isn’t For Everyone

Coming out is a powerful experience. It is a story that many people in the LGBTQ community have in common. Whether subtle or dramatic, disclosing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity is often met with celebration and praise. With the advent of inclusive religious institutions, scholars, and others who make a strong case of God’s…

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