I was talking with my friend, John, recently about the wonderfully vigorous national conversation about marriage sparked last month by the Supreme Court hearings on Prop 8 and DOMA. John agreed with a politician who publicly expressed a fear that straight people might pretend to be gay so that they could get the special benefits of having a “gay marriage.” I shared with him how this made no sense to me.
What a momentous thing that Jason Collins has become the first American NBA player to come out as gay! At the same time, I agree with Frank Bruni at the New York Times: This will undoubtedly bring a better day for our society, but the best day will come when matters like this are no longer a concern for anybody.
Rev. Debra Peevey became the first open LGBT person to be ordained in her denomination when she was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1981. She served as pastor of Findlay Street Christian Church and later as a hospice chaplain. While serving as chaplain, she attended Seattle University’s program in Transforming Spirituality and became a spiritual director. She continues her private practice as a spiritual director today. Debra was one of two statewide faith field organizers in California against Prop. 8 and also has served as the outreach director for More Light Presbyterians in their work to end ordination barriers for LGBT faithful. Most recently, she served as the faith director of Washington United for Marriage, helping to pass marriage equality for loving, committed same-sex couples in Washington State. Debra lives in Arizona with her partner of 29 years, Candy Cox.
The intensity felt during the two days of Supreme Court hearings concerning the freedom to marry may be fading from our minds, but we cannot let it fade from our hearts. The week of March 25th, for all the conversations it prompted both inside and outside the courtroom, will be remembered as a historic moment when the arc of history bent closer to justice for LGBT people. Here are 5 of my favorite tweets from the days following the Supreme Court hearings. What were your favorite posts?
Jean-Marie Navetta is the Director of Equality and Diversity Partnerships for PFLAG National. In her role, she leads PFLAG’s Straight for Equality project, an effort to invite, educate and engage new straight allies in the fight for equality. Her most recent accomplishment was the completion of be not afraid – help is on the way! straight for equality in faith communities, a publication, web resource and training series to engage more allies of faith to come out with their support for people who are LGBT. Jean-Marie lives in San Francisco, CA, with her wife, Jude.
We call it “coming out” when lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people share their full selves with others. The actual moment is often years in the making as we waken to, and then accept, ourselves enough to let the world know who we are. This is true for our loved ones and allies, too, as we have seen so dramatically this week in the public coming out of Senator Rob Portman and former Senator Hillary Clinton.
Who can deny that the heart of marriage is the love and commitment between the partners? Can you? So, it makes perfect sense to me that public opinion in the United States has moved inexorably toward supporting marriage for same-sex couples.
Many who are joining a growing number of Americans in support of the freedom to marry have moved there by knowing couples like my friends, Ralph and Van.
Andrew has been the minister at Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, MD for eight years. He is married to the Rev. Kate Foster Connors, and they have two daughters. Andrew serves as clergy co-chair of BUILD, a faith-based citizen power group in Baltimore, and is a leader in the NEXT movement in the PCUSA.
Creating Change is the annual organizing conference of the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce. It is big, refreshing, challenging—great for running into old friends and making new ones—and generally awesome. Creating Change shot me home like the ball out of a cannon. Let me try to inspire similar enthusiasm in you by sharing some reflections on my experience there.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Danny is 37 years old, the youngest of five children. He is the child of first generation Cuban immigrants. He is currently a member of the Riviera Presbyterian Church in Miami and a second year seminarian at St. Thomas University.
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