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LGBT: Home For The Holidays?
The holidays are coming. Thanksgiving is on its way. Christmas is just around the corner and we’re all starting to talk family plans for who’s going to be there. Not to kill the buzz, but this is where the seasonal tensions start. The time of year where we the threat of proximity can ignite our…
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‘You Must Come Out’: How Harvey Milk’s Challenge Resonates With Gay Christians Today
Gay brothers and sisters,… You must come out. Come out… to your parents… I know that it is hard and will hurt them but think about how they will hurt you in the voting booth! Come out to your relatives… come out to your friends… if indeed they are your friends. Come out to your…
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New Book : Facing The Music
I've always loved questions. (Perhaps you've noticed — my lyrics are riddled with them.) I love musing about life's winding road, always curious about what adventure lies around the next corner. Through the years, I've learned to appreciate the many questions that I have faced, both in my own private life as well as those…
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Affirming Faith Voices Crucial For Advancing LGBT Civil Rights
It didn’t take long for Michelle Shocked’s ‘misunderstood’ anti-gay rant to make the headlines last week. Her choice of language was repugnant. (A few days later, she apologized.) Although she has received more press in recent days than she has had in the last decade, for now, she only has cancelled concerts to show for…
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Wear Purple For Spirit Day!
One of the most frequent questions I am asked while advocating for LGBT social justice is: “What can I do to help?” My simplest suggestion: Make it known that you are a friend. It is easy enough to get swamped by the diverse range of specific issues that accompany LGBT equality. In broad terms, increasing…
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National Coming Out Day 2012
October 11th is National Coming Out Day. Much has changed in terms of public awareness and acceptance of LGBT people in our modern history. I wasn’t yet born when the pain of anti-gay prejudice erupted into the Stonewall riots. I have some consciousness of “the Twinkie Defense” but had little clue as to who Harvey…
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The Love that Dares to Speak Its Name (HuffPost Blog 5.10.12)
From the moment that I publicly revealed my sexual orientation the whirling vortex of religious authority has not ceased in its attempt to claim sovereignty in defining the rights, privileges and value of my most intimate relationship. For all the ways that my faith has come to shape the integrity with which I hope to…
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George Fox University
I will be heading to Newberg, OR March 14th on behalf of George Fox University students and alumni. As is often the case with faith based universities, the current policy of George Fox University prohibits any LGBT faith conversation on campus that does not directly endorse celibacy. It is for this reason that it is…
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The Building Phase
Hey folks! Glad you made it. Please pardon the bare-bones construction work and be careful not to step on any nails! As you can see, the site is up but we’re still piecing things together. I have big plans for this website and for IOF. But you’ll have to keep coming back to find out…
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Breaking the Silence
From the moment I began to acknowledge my connection to women, many of my Christian friends began to immediately critique my spiritual standing. The conclusions always jumped to my lack of self-control, some failure of mine to “respond to the Holy Spirit” or that I was willfully sinful, headstrong and purposed to throw out my…