LGBTQ+ people have always been part of the life of faith communities, but our stories are often not told from the pulpit, not included in adult formation programs or religious education classes, and rarely preserved in congregational archives. When a community does not know its queer history, it loses the valuable witness of people whose […]
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 […]
Click here for a video recording of this online CLGS event! In this workshop, we explore ways to honor Trans Day of Remembrance in congregations and community organizations. The workshop leaders share ideas from a variety of faith-based and secular settings, and participants shared questions and ideas from their own faith and community contexts. Workshop Leaders […]
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 […]