Religious leaders say they’re victims of LGBT rights

Catholic bishops, evangelical leaders and even Republican presidential candidates are frequently suggesting they are victims of intolerance and religious persecution in LGBT civil rights battles, according to this article. Some of the fights are over government contracts -- including one for adoption services -- that many church-backed institutions have relied on for years. LGBT advocates argue that the First Amendment doesn't guarantee government contracts to anyone, especially not to groups that violate state non-discrimination rules.

HRC comments on President's Executive Order Reforming the Faith-Based Initiative

Last week, President Barack Obama issued an executive order instituting a series of reforms to the Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, incorporating recommendations made by the office’s Advisory Council last spring. Reverend Harry Knox, Director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion and Faith Program and former member of the Advisory Council issued the following statement:

“The reforms embodied in today’s executive order are important steps toward assuring all Americans, including LGBT people, that their government will protect all communities – religious and secular – as it seeks to serve the most vulnerable among us. As a former member of the Council, I am pleased to see our consensus recommendations put into action. Unfortunately, today’s order does not address the troubling Bush Administration policy allowing faith-based organizations to discriminate in hiring using taxpayer dollars. Until this administration makes clear that religious groups cannot circumvent federal, state and local antidiscrimination protections to discriminate against LGBT employees, the faith-based initiative will remain a deeply flawed program.”

First openly gay Episcopal Bishop announces resignation

Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Bishop in the Episcopal Church, recentlyl announced that he would retire from his position in early 2013. HRC recognizes the tremendous voice that Bishop Robinson has been for LGBT Americans in faith communities, and looks forward to the work that he will continue after his retirement from the Diocese of New Hampshire.

On November 6, Robinson announced his intention to retire from his role as Bishop in January of 2013 to pursue a greater role in worldwide evangelism and in his work with LGBT advocacy. Robinson expressed that he would continue to commit his full energy to his diocese until that date. Robinson’s retirement will come at the culmination of 35 years in the diocese, nine of which will have been spent as Bishop, and a career devoted to physical and spiritual wellness – including immense work on AIDS education and prevention.

"Bishop Robinson has been among the chief spiritual leaders in the movement for LGBT freedom,” said HRC Religion and Faith Program Director Rev. Harry Knox. “His courage, poise, and grace in the face of vitriolic attacks on his humanity and faith have made him a model by which the rest of us judge our daily actions. We rejoice that he and his husband Mark are anticipating more time together in Bishop Gene's retirement and that our esteemed bishop will be free to do even more advocacy on behalf of LGBT justice beginning in 2013."

Bishop Robinson was a founding member of HRC’s Religion Council, a group of religious leaders offering a prophetic voice to issues critical to the LGBT community and committed to equal rights for all Americans. To learn more about the council or Robinson’s role check out www.hrc.org/religion.

Catholics for Equality want a word with Archbishop Timothy Broglio

Catholics for Equality, took action this week as a newly founded Catholic group dedicated to amplifying the voices of Catholics who support fair laws for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. First actions included outreach to Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services in the United States of America and meetings with key senators and Catholic leaders on Capitol Hill, calling for a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

In a letter sent over the weekend, Catholics for Equality, requested a meeting with Archbishop Broglio to address inaccurate and misleading statements made in a June 1, 2010, statement against the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. In the statement Archbishop Broglio argued against the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell by comparing gay servicemembers to alcoholics and makes other misleading and false arguments such as, overturning discrimination in our armed forces would force Catholic Chaplains to perform same sex marriages.

"Archbishop Broglio's arguments are based on outdated concepts not facts," says Acting Executive Director Phil Attey. "No legislation would ever be considered that would force a military chaplain to perform duties, contrary to their faith. Further, the Archbishop's comparisons of gay people to alcoholics shows a profound ignorance of American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association standards of which every pastoral counselor should be aware."

Metropolitan Community Church San Francisco celebrates 40th Anniversary

Metropolitan Community Church San Francisco is celebrating its 40^th year as “a House of Prayer for All People and a Home for Queer Spirituality … where every life matters and every person belongs.”  As part of that celebration, Saturday, April 24, at 7 p.m., they will screen the new documentary film Call Me Troy, heralding the remarkable four decade career of the dynamic founder of MCC, the Reverend Troy Perry, who will be in attendance and available afterwards for a question and answer session.  What began as a civil rights struggle and evolved into churches all over the world, the history of MCC is sure to make a riveting motion picture and a proud benchmark for LGBT Christians everywhere. 

Boulder Pride organizes community forum to address preschooler refused enrollment because of gay parents

As first reported by 9News in Denver last week and now covered by news outlets internationally, Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Boulder has refused to re-enroll a preschooler because the preschooler has two moms.

Since the news broke, Boulder Pride, Boulder County's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Community Center, has received many calls and emails from concerned community members and heard from many straight allied parents, who have also been angered and saddened by the school's decision.

Boulder Pride asks the gay community to join them on Monday, March 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Boulder Public Libraryin the Boulder Creek Room for a Community Forum. The Forum will provide a respectful, peaceful space for concerned community members to connect, mobilize and organize further.

Boulder Pride also encourages the community to continue to write Letters to the Editor of the Daily Camera and to contact Sacred Heart School and the Denver Archdiocese directly at the contact information below:

Sacred Heart of Jesus School
1318 Mapleton Ave
Boulder, CO 80304
(303) 443-0684
breslinw@shjboulder.org

Archdiocese of Denver
1300 South Steele Street
Denver, CO 80210
303-722-4687
info@archden.org

Jay Michaelson: Why gay rights is a religious issue

Jay Michaelson is a writer, scholar, and actvist whose work focuses on the intersections of spirituality, Judaism, sexuality, and law.

He will be presenting his talk 'Why Gay Rights is a Religious Issue' on March 9 at Sturm Hall at the University of Denver at 7 p.m.

Michaelson's website says that the Christian Right has succeeded in characterizing opposition to rights as a religious issue — but what about support of gay rights? Unlike African-American civil rights, for example, gay rights is rarely seen as a religious imperative, as a moral rather than purely liberal/constitutional cause. Yet this is tactically, ethically, and spiritually disastrous. In fact, there are several reasons why, if one is religious, one should be for equality for sexual minorities. This evening, we’ll discuss at least ten of them.

The talk is presented by Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity and co-sponsored by Judaism Your Way , the DU Hillel and the DU Queer Straight Alliance.

Religious Institute launches Acting Out Loud

As hundreds of thousands of people converge on Washington, D.C. for the Oct. 10-11 National Equality March for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, the Religious Institute is launching Acting Out Loud, a new resource for full inclusion of LGBT persons in the religious sphere.

Acting Out Loud is an online guide for religious leaders who want to take the next step toward full inclusion of LGBT persons and their families in congregational life. A multifaith resource, Acting Out Loud offers resources and tools applicable across a range of Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist traditions.

“Churches and synagogues have made extraordinary efforts to welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregants, but even the most welcoming congregations can do more to fully embrace LGBT individuals and families as full and valued members of the community,” said Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute.

A recent Religious Institute survey found almost unanimous support for LGBT equality among progressive clergy. However, the survey also revealed that support did not always translate into preaching, youth and adult education programs, support groups or advocacy efforts serving LGBT congregants.

Acting Out Loud offers guidance for creating ministries and policies that support the diverse needs of LGBT persons, addressing sexuality issues in congregations, leading a congregation through a formal welcoming process, and speaking out on behalf of LGBT concerns.

Acting Out Loud will serve to educate congregations and motivate people of faith to speak out as Congress debates the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect people from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and the Respect for Marriage Act of 2009, which would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). “As the nation continues to debate LGBT equality, religious communities and people of faith must indeed ‘act out loud’ in the name of justice,” Rev. Haffner said.

The Religious Institute is among more than 200 faith-based and secular organizations that have endorsed the National Equality March. The March is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of activists and allies to Washington to demand equal protection in all matters governed by civil law throughout the U.S.

Was this year the second coming of the Summer of Love?

The Rev. Jay Emerson Johnson makes the case that the summer of 2009 was momentous for gay causes if not quite another Summer of Love.

HRC's 'Out in Scripture' collection

For the past three years, week-by-week, the HRC Religion & Faith program provided conversations on Bible passages from more than 100 scholars and pastors representing 11 denominations. These conversations are now available in a complete collection online at www.hrc.org/Scripture.

“This unique collection showcases the extraordinary momentum we’re seeing by people of faith committed to LGBT equality,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Through this resource we are helping to assure that no one will again have to choose between who they are and what they believe.”

“Over the years my spiritual life and preaching has been transformed by ‘Out In Scripture,’” said Harry Knox, Director of HRC’s Religion and Faith Program. “This is one of our signature projects. As editor Sidney Fowler said, ‘The Bible is not about beating you up, but lifting us all up. It includes the seeds of liberation and justice.’ Be prepared to be transformed as well.”

The collection includes 175 conversations that span Bible readings organized according to the Revised Common Lectionary. The lectionary is used by numerous Christian denominations to guide worship and preaching.

Meet Dignity Denver

DignityDenver is a group of GLBT Catholics who gather for worship every Sunday at 5 p.m. at 1100 Filmore Street in Denver.

DignityDenver promotes causes of interest to the GLBT Catholic community, works to build a sense of community among their members, families, friends, and the greater Denver community, and believes that gay people can express their sexuality in a way that is consistent with biblical teachings.

For more information visit DignityDenver.org or DignityUSA.org.

HRC responds to historic Lutheran Church decision on gays

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, issued the following statement on today’s historic decision by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s (ELCA) to lift its ban on noncelibate lesbian and gay pastors and to allow for those in committed same-sex relationships to serve as ministers. This vote passed 559-541 and was followed by an earlier precedent shaping the decision to “allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.” In addition, on Wednesday, a 2/3 majority voted to approve a social statement on human sexuality to acknowledge without judgment the wide variety of views within the ELCA regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion.

"By allowing for same-sex couples in committed relationships to serve their call to ministry and by creating policies that respects LGBT people in their congregations, ELCA is modeling for other religious communities what it means to be a faith community that honors all of God's children," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "This is a joyous day for the LGBT Lutheran's who no longer have to choose between their spirituality and their sexuality."

"The Holy Spirit has moved powerfully in the community called the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, working through the courageous advocacy of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and our allies," said Harry Knox, Director for HRC's Religion and Faith Program. "Thanks be to God for our colleagues at Lutherans Concerned and all of the Goodsoil coalition! The ELCA has studied, prayed and listened to the witness of its LGBT sisters and brothers, and has come to consensus in community. This decision reflects the best of Lutheran tradition."

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

The role of faith and religion in the gay community

This article, based on the results of a survey of 9,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans conducted by an evangelical Christian pollster, looks at the important role faith and religion play in the lives of the majority of gays and lesbians.

"Although there are clearly some substantial differences in the religious beliefs and practices of the straight and gay populations, there may be less of a spiritual gap between straights and gays than many Americans would assume," pollster George Barna said.

Metropolitan Church of the Rockies and Open Door Fellowship are two of the most well-known gay congregations in Denver but you can check out www.GayChurch.org to find a gay or gay-friendly church near you.

Episcopal Church takes stand on gay issues

Newsy presents some news and views on the recent move by the Episcopal Church to allow gay bishops and same-sex marriage blessings.

Sarah Palin's hometown newspaper claims Antichrist will be gay

The title says it all.

You've got to read this bit of nonsense to believe it. The good news is that the author of the piece, the pastor for the Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla, Ron Mamman is getting righteously owned in the comments. Be sure to check them out.

HRC on Presbyterian Church commission

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a statement today following a ruling by a Presbyterian Church commission that set aside a vote to move an open lesbian forward in ordination. The case involved Lisa Larges, the director of the Presbyterian Advocacy organization, That All May Freely Serve. Last year, a regional body in the church approved Lisa's call to ordination. This decision represents the second time that a court has reversed such a decision for Larges.

“The decision today sets up another roadblock of confusion for lesbian and gay candidates for ministry,” said Harry Knox, director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion & Faith Program. “The Church needs these gifted ministers and it is time to make the denomination's policy plain. All should be welcome to serve God and humanity through the Presbyterian Church USA.”

Last year, the Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly, voted to remove restrictive language prohibiting lesbian and gay ordination from the church's constitution. The 173 Presbyteries are currently voting on this change, which needs a simple majority for ratification. The ruling in Larges’ case could have an impact on the remaining votes.

The Religion & Faith Program, part of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, has been following the case by Larges. On March 18, Harry Knox published an opinion piece that was featured on the HRC blog, HRCBackStory.org.

To learn more about the Religion & Faith Program at the Human Rights Campaign visit www.hrc.org/religion.

Good news and bad news regarding Heaven

The Good News:
We can get in!

The Bad News:
It's full of drug addicts and mass murderers!

Study shows support for GLBT inclusion among Jewish communities

Gay Jewish leaders released new research results on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusion in the Jewish world at a strategy session in New York City on February 22 and 23. The research showed deep support for the inclusion of LGBT Jews in Jewish communities.

Read more after the jump.


Clergy, experts on Jewish communities and synagogue transformation, along with Christian leaders experienced in welcoming congregations programs, converged at The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. They discussed the results of the research and strategies to help synagogues become more welcoming to LGBT people – as well as people with disabilities, those who have converted to Judaism, people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and religiously interfaith families.

Prominent speakers at the strategy session included Prof. Steven M. Cohen, Research Professor of Jewish Social Policy at Hebrew Union College-JIR, Dr. Caryn Aviv, Posen Lecturer in Secular Jewish Culture with the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver, and Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, PhD, noted author and professor of religion and women's studies at Temple University.

The research was based on a survey sent to over 3,000 congregations across North America with 1,221 respondents, representing nearly 1,000 unique congregations – more than 25% of all the Jewish congregations in North America. Respondents reflected all of the major Jewish movements. Response rates were particularly strong – reaching over 50% – from those synagogues affiliated with the Reform and Reconstructionist movements and with Aleph: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal. The most support for LGBT inclusion was with the Reconstructionist and Reform movements, while the Conservative movement trailed and Orthodox members were much less supportive. Regardless of their tradition, most of the 760 rabbis who responded (73%) already think their congregations do a good or excellent job welcoming gays and lesbians but very few use language in their mission statements or web sites to explicitly signal a welcome for LGBT Jews, and only 33% offer LGBT-related programs for congregants. Reflecting contemporary social and political concerns, events or activities connected to marriage equality were the most often-cited program with specific LGBT content.

"A sincere welcome for LGBT Jews must be demonstrated through visible action," said Gregg Drinkwater, executive director of Jewish Mosaic. "Although most rabbis who took our survey believe their congregations are inclusive and are likely sincere in their desire to reach out, we know from earlier research that without an explicit effort to welcome LGBT Jews, many LGBT people assume that such statements as "we welcome everyone" come with an invisible asterisk, with the hidden message that "we welcome everyone, except you," Drinkwater added. Rabbis in the study recognized the need for more learning and discussion about diversity. "Among the rabbis, 72% thought rabbinical seminaries should teach more about transgender Jews, 78% on gays and lesbians, 86% on racially and ethnically diverse Jews and 91% favor more on disabilities," Drinkwater said.

Jewish Mosaic and the Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation at Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion are teaming up to launch a welcoming congregations program that will give rabbis and congregations useful tools and resources so that LGBT people will not have to guess whether or not they are welcome. "Several Jewish denominations have guidelines that support welcoming but there has never been a comprehensive national structure and program to help individual congregations actually live up to the resolutions their denominations have passed. We are going to change that," said Dr. Joel Kushner, director of the Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation at Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion.

"While the full report will be published in the coming months, the initial findings paint a picture of synagogue leadership that is open to full inclusion. And as it turns out, inclusion is good for congregations. One of the findings is that 41% of rabbis whose congregations pro-actively reached out to gay and lesbian Jews reported gaining members as a result and only 2% reported losing members," said Drinkwater.

A second conference will be held in Los Angeles on March 1-2. Speakers will include more leaders from Judaism's main seminaries, experts in congregational change, leaders in LGBT inclusion from both Jewish and Christian settings and rabbis from each of the Jewish movements to discuss "best practices" and strategies for change.





After two years and 100 hearings Lutherans to consider recognition for gays

If the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America votes to allow individual congregations to perform same-sex unions and to hire gay and lesbian pastors, it's hard to tell what will happen in the Denver-based Rocky Mountain Synod. The synod's leader, Bishop Allan Bjornberg, sounds like he might be okay with it. He says:

"We have liberals and conservatives and a great middle ground. I think the great middle has become very comfortable with gay and lesbian people in their congregations. I don't know how comfortable the middle is with rostering gay and lesbian people in committed same-sex relationships as their pastors. But I know the great middle is exhausted by the conversation."

I'm exhausted by the conversation, too, and still wondering why anyone would be a member of a church that finds them disgusting and immoral. Not talking about the Lutherans necessarily but any church or religion. But that's just me.