The 52 Ways to Expand Your Welcome to LGBTQ+ People and Our Families Series
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 […]
Your congregation may have made the decision to welcome people of all sexual orientations before there was a significant awareness about including gender identity. You may have already talked about and worked on including gay, lesbian and bisexual people, but not transgender people. Now is a great time to revisit those conversations and expand your […]
This year we observe Banned Book Week from 22-28 September (2024) If you visit the American Library Association’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023, you will notice that a large percentage of them were targeted because they include positive portrayals of LGBTQ people. When these books are removed or not included in libraries—particularly public […]
Let’s face it: everyone needs to use the restroom. You can make your congregation more welcoming by providing non-gendered restroom spaces. These make an important statement about your openness to transgender and gender non-conforming people. Studies have shown that transgender people face significant harassment and violence in public restrooms; you can counter that by providing […]
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 […]
Creating affirming learning environments for youth in your community includes involving and supporting adults as well. Both parents and teachers play critical roles in the lives of our youth and have their own needs. To Support Parents: Parents of LGBTQ youth may face particular stress as their children return to school, knowing the odds of […]
As the summer draws to a close and school starts up again, your support for LGBTQ youth, parents, and teachers can make a big difference. We hope that going back to school – safely and in person, when possible – will be a positive opportunity for growth and learning for everyone; yet this is often […]