Sexuality

A priest in a red and maroon robe is giving a sermon.

At Brentwood Cathedral, Year of Mercy Mass Strives to Welcome LGBT People

By pwsbuilder / April 26, 2016 / Comments Off on At Brentwood Cathedral, Year of Mercy Mass Strives to Welcome LGBT People

During Lent in England’s Diocese of Brentwood, the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Helen scheduled a Mass for the LGBT community, in honor of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. While the Dean of the Cathedral, Fr. Martin Boland, presided at the liturgy, the homily, based on the story of the woman caught in adultery…

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A painting of a man carrying a cross.

Gay Christian Facebook Ads Rejected & Resurrected

By pwsbuilder / March 23, 2016 /

Image Detail: “Jesus Goes to His Execution” by Doug Blanchard When Facebook repeatedly rejected ads for an LGBTQ book on the Passion of Christ recently, it revealed how religious dialogue can be limited in the social-media age. Censorship in social media, especially social-media advertising, is a legal grey area with few laws and precedents to…

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A couple walking down the street holding hands.

When I Loved A Woman

By pwsbuilder / October 16, 2015 / Comments Off on When I Loved A Woman

I thought because I hadn’t seen a healthy relationship my entire life, and had my formative years tainted with unwanted advances, I was doomed never to truly love anyone—not even myself. But, I did love her!  Having just escaped an abusive heterosexual relationship, meeting Karen became a breath of fresh air. I knew she had to be my…

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Two men standing at a podium in front of a sign.

Remembering Mario Cooper

By pwsbuilder / June 15, 2015 / Comments Off on Remembering Mario Cooper

The email took me by surprise. Sean Strub, the founder of POZ magazine, asked if I would write a few words about our friend Mario Cooper. “What happened to Mario?” I wrote back obliviously. Before Sean had time to respond, I called my friends Maurice Franklin and Phill Wilson and found out for myself. Our…

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A man holding up a cross with the words at the end of the day.

At The End Of The Day: A Journey Towards Affirmation

By pwsbuilder / June 5, 2015 / Comments Off on At The End Of The Day: A Journey Towards Affirmation

I’m sorry! I had no idea. How could you? You only answer questions. You never ask any. This bit of dialogue from the film At The End Of The Day gets to the heart of its message. At The End Of The Day a dramatic comedy about a conservative Christian professor who experiences a profound…

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The shadow of a couple holding hands on a path.

Gay Christian Mingle: A Story Of LGBT Second Adolescence

By pwsbuilder / September 19, 2014 /

When I was in 10th grade my friends started having sex. Of course, several had already done so and some until this day have not, but in 10th grade people began to talk openly about their experiences, or at least their thoughts about their future experiences. Contrary to what one might think, the Evangelical communities…

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A group of people holding signs that say still gay.

Celibacy Shouldn’t Be The New Ex-Gay Ministry

By pwsbuilder / August 13, 2014 /

Embracing celibacy as an appropriate religious calling to be a God-abiding LGBTQ Christian is now on the rise. And I didn’t know my sexual orientation was still up for debate—no joke.  Progress has been made on federal and state levels concerning LGBTQ civil rights, but many churches, especially in certain religious conservative circles, are far…

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A bald eagle perched on a rock near the water.

Where We Go Next

By pwsbuilder / August 4, 2014 / Comments Off on Where We Go Next

Two weeks ago, I was invited to the White House. I received an email asking me to be present for President Obama signing his executive order banning LGBT employment discrimination by federal contractors. It was an incredible honor to be present for a historical event like that. The whole event went by fast, but I…

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Hobby lobby is a store with an orange sign.

The Crosshairs Of Religion

By pwsbuilder / July 3, 2014 /

The Supreme Court made a ruling at the end of June that will have repercussions for years, possibly for generations to come. The court decided that “closely held corporations” now have freedom of religion and can force women to go outside of the company-provided health insurance for birth control. Reproductive freedom is every woman’s issue,…

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A man with a beard sitting at a table in a restaurant.

Where Do I Go?

By pwsbuilder / March 26, 2014 /

I was sitting in Rev. Vance Rains’ office at the Florida State Wesley Foundation the first time I said the words “I’m gay” out loud to any other living human. I specify because of the countless memories I have of telling people in dreams, and also prayerfully informing my deceased grandmother, who I firmly believe…

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