LGBT

A group of women in blue t - shirts posing for a photo.

Out Under The Rainbow

By pwsbuilder / November 14, 2013 /

Have you ever looked into a person’s face and felt truly needed? Sometimes, I look into the face of another person who definitely needs me in some way, but the need itself is unspoken, unfamiliar, uncomfortable—or out of tune with the time and place—and instead of addressing it, I move on to what’s next, feeling…

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

Honoring LGBT Veterans

By pwsbuilder / November 13, 2013 / Comments Off on Honoring LGBT Veterans

I’m always a little surprised by how many veterans there are within predominantly LGBT congregations. This past Sunday was no different at Dallas’ Cathedral of Hope, when veterans were invited to stand and be recognized for their service, and I would guess around 30 or more rose at each worship. A nice touch was that the…

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A woman in a blue jacket smiling in front of a wooden wall.

Bishop Resigns From Her Pastorate After Revealing Her Same Sex Marriage

By pwsbuilder / November 12, 2013 /

I must say that it is truly an experience to be “outed” when you are a community leader and religious figure. I always knew that at some point I would have to share with my congregation that I married the love of my life—and that she is a woman—but I wanted to wait until the…

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The capitol building in washington, dc.

ENDA Passes U.S. Senate

By pwsbuilder / November 7, 2013 / Comments Off on ENDA Passes U.S. Senate

wWe are thrilled that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed today in the U.S. Senate. After decades of advocacy, this is the first time ENDA has been approved in the Senate. Though a version of ENDA was passed through the House of Representatives in 2007, it did not offer protections based on gender identity. The…

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A statue of mary holding a child in front of a stained glass window.

How To Protect LGBT Employees In Catholic Institutions

By pwsbuilder / November 6, 2013 / Comments Off on How To Protect LGBT Employees In Catholic Institutions

In this past year, at least one dozen people were fired from Catholic institutions because of LGBT issues. Some were fired because they legally married a same-gender partner. Others were fired because of their support for such marriages or because of their gender identity. In 2012, five people were fired for these reasons, so we…

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A painting of a large group of people.

All Saints Day: Why We Need LGBT Saints

By pwsbuilder / November 1, 2013 / Comments Off on All Saints Day: Why We Need LGBT Saints

LGBT saints are important because people are searching for alternative ways to lead loving lives. Churches have tried to control people by burying queer history. The LGBT saints show us not only their place in history, but also our place—because we are all saints who are meant to embody love. We can tap into the…

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A woman praying in a dark church.

Changing Hearts: A Plea For Christian Dialogue

By pwsbuilder / October 31, 2013 / Comments Off on Changing Hearts: A Plea For Christian Dialogue

When I was in college, a friend asked how I as a Christian viewed her as a lesbian. I told her that I didn’t think of her any differently than I did of other non-Christians because I believed any life not based on the Lord Jesus Christ was sinful and destructive. Oof! At least I…

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The sun is setting over a snow covered area with trees.

Full Of Grace & Truth

By pwsbuilder / October 29, 2013 / Comments Off on Full Of Grace & Truth

I was a junior in high school, it was a week after Christmas, and it was bitterly cold. On St. Stephen’s Day a blizzard of Biblical proportions blanketed Massachusetts in a chrysalis of snow. Peripatetic winds had buffeted those icy banks, sculpting them into miniature topographical masterpieces, complete with condensed peaks and vales. I worked…

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