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Serendipitydodah

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Category Archives: Ally

Free Mom Hugs Tour

16 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by Liz in Affirming, Ally, Children, Christian, Education, Family, GLBT, Inclusion, LGBT, LGBTQ, Mama Bears, Parent, Parenting, Serendipitydodah for Moms, Story, Youth

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

#LGBTQFamilies, Free Mom Hugs, Free Mom Hugs Tour, LGBT, LGBTQ, Mama Bears, March, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Press Release, Serendipitydodah for Moms, Stonewall Inn

I have a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids. We have more than 1,600 moms in the group. The group was especially created for open minded Christian moms of LGBTQ kids who want to develop and maintain loving, healthy, authentic relationships with their kids. One of the bonuses of the group is that many of the moms become passionate advocates for all LGBTQ people. Sara Cunningham and Laura Beth Taylor are two of those moms! They are both passionate LGBTQ advocates who pour their hearts into working to make the world a kinder, safer place for all LGBTQ people to live and this spring they plan to hit the road and take their love and support for LGBTQ people across the country and they are calling it the “Free Mom Hugs Tour.”

FMH 3

photos by Taylor Elaine

I’m really excited about the Free Mom Hugs Tour that Sara Cunningham and Laura Beth Taylor are putting together!!!

Their adventure will begin in Oklahoma City and end up in New York City on Mother’s Day near the historic Stonewall Inn. Along the way they will stop at 10 cities where they will meet with local community leaders at a planned luncheon to discuss the necessity and value of supporting the LGBTQ community. Following each luncheon they will march through an area of each city with the Free Mom Hugs banner.

The purpose of the tour is to demonstrate what love and support for the LGBTQ community can look like and educate community leaders about the unnecessary risks LGBTQ children, youth and young adults face on a daily basis.

Sara and Laura put out a press release this week and it has lots more details.

Please share it if you can!!

PRESS RELEASE:

Oklahoma City, OK – On May 1, 2017, the first ever “Free Mom Hugs Tour” will launch in Oklahoma City, making its way through 10 cities and wrapping up near the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City on Mother’s Day.
 
The purpose of the Tour is to reassure the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning) community that they are valued and loved, and to raise awareness of their dignity and worth.
 
The Free Mom Hugs Tour is the brainchild of two mothers of LGBTQ children: Sara Cunningham of Oklahoma City and Laura Beth Taylor of Dayton, Tenn. Cunningham, the parent of a gay man and author of How We Sleep at Night, is a well-known advocate for participating in PRIDE events, carrying her “Free Mom Hugs” banner. When she reached out to Taylor, a transwoman who is the parent of LGBTQ children and author of Shattering Masks, the plan took shape.
 
“This isn’t a march; we’re not setting out to protest something, but rather to attest that all people – regardless of the margins in which they find themselves – are deserving of love, dignity and compassion,” Taylor explains. “Our goal is to express that in each city we visit as we encourage others to do so, too. It’s a simple exercise of loving our neighbors,” she adds.
 
Cunningham notes, “Every time I’m out with the banner, I meet more youth and young adults who need reassurance that they are not alone, that there are people who love and support them. I also meet parents who need to be encouraged on their path of loving and accepting their LGBTQ kids. That’s the message we will carry along with our banner.”
 
The event will include a luncheon for civic and faith leaders in each community along the Tour, followed by carrying the Free Mom Hugs banner through an area. Cities on the Tour include May 1 – Oklahoma City, Okla.; May 2 – Tulsa, Okla.; May 4 – Kansas City, Mo.; May 5 — St. Louis, Mo.; May 6 – Indianapolis, Ind.; May 8 – Cincinnati, Ohio; May 9 – Columbus, Ohio; May 11 – Pittsburgh, Pa.; and May 13 – Philadelphia, Pa. The Tour culminates in New York City on May 14, which is Mother’s Day, near the historic Stonewall Inn, considered by many to be the birthplace of the LGBTQ equality movement. Subsequent annual Tours will conclude on Mother’s Day at other landmarks significant in the history of the LGBTQ equality movement.
 
The overall rate of homelessness and suicide in the LGBTQ community is nearly 10 times the rate of the general population, according to the CDC. Furthermore, it is estimated that 25 percent of LGBTQ youth who come out in religious circles are immediately turned away by their families. The Free Mom Hugs Tour will demonstrate what love and support can look like and educate community leaders about the unnecessary risks LGBTQ children, youth and young adults face on a daily basis.
 

For more information:

Sara Cunningham sara@sophiasojourn.com 405-473-2913
 
Laura Beth Taylor laurabeth@sophiasojourn.com 817-676-2739
 
To donate: www.gofundme.com/fmht17
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Stories That Change The World #31 – Jen Hatmaker is changing the world!

27 Thursday Oct 2016

Posted by Liz in Affirming, Ally, Christian, Church, Coming Out, Family, GLBT, Inclusion, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQ. letter, Mama Bears, Parent, Parenting, Same Sex Marriage, Serendipitydodah for Moms

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

#LGBTQFamilies, Christian, church, Jen Hatmaker, LGBT, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Same Sex Marriage, Stories That Change The World, Story

Stories have the power to change the world … they inspire us, teach us, connect us. This is the thirty-first installment in the “Stories That Change The World” series.

featurehatmaker1

I have a large private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ+ kids. We have more than 1,400 moms in the group and we continue to grow. The group, Serendipitydodah for Moms, is a place where the members share a lot of support and information.

One thing that is often discussed in the group is the pain and sorrow over the way that many Christian leaders speak and write about LGBTQ people and those of us who love and support them.

We know the pain of being rejected, shunned and misjudged.

So, when someone like Jen Hatmaker comes out and says she believes a same sex marriage can be holy, she would attend a gay wedding with gladness and she believes the church should welcome gay couples, we are VERY encouraged to say the least … so, today we sent the following letter to Jen to express our support and gratitude … because we believe people like her are changing the world!

Dear Jen,

We are members of a large private Facebook group for Christian moms of LGBTQ kids.

More than 400 of us are signing this letter to express our support and gratitude. We want you to know we have been encouraged by your brave stand for grace and love; and we commend you for being a Christian leader seeking to follow Christ’s example of radical love and inclusion.

Many of us have left our local faith communities because we no longer found them to be safe places for our family. Hearing about Christian leaders such as yourself gives us hope about the future for our families.

We understand how difficult it can be to take an affirming and inclusive position such as you have taken. We have firsthand experience regarding the cost of taking such a stand. We were disappointed and saddened to hear that LifeWay made the decision to no longer sell your books, but many of us plan to show our support by purchasing your books from other outlets. We appreciate the risk you are taking and are praying that God will protect, strengthen, guide and bless you.

We believe that the inclusiveness and acceptance of ALL God’s children reflects the idea that Paul put forth in Galatians 5:6 when he wrote “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” and are hopeful that other Christian leaders will follow your example of living a life of faith expressing itself through love.

We believe that people like you are helping change the world into a kinder, safer, more loving place for all LGBTQ people to live and for that we are forever grateful.

May God keep you and bless you abundantly!

With sincere gratitude and affection,

Liz Dyer, Founder & Owner
Abby De Fiesta Cortez
Adele Berardi
Alecia Moss
Aletheia Wall Zambesi
Alise D Chaffins
Alison Defrese
Allena Brown
Amanda Corry Thorderson
Amanda Curtis Dwyer
Amanda Dalton
Amy Goad
Amy Hansley Bennett
Amy Rueter
Andrea Larson Schultz
Angie Laws
Angie Silver
Angie Stratz Ashmore
Anita Jewell Carter Cockrum
Ann McGee Green
Ann Zweckbronner
Arlene Schulz
Barb Cressy
Becky Cantrall
Beth Barndt Ruthenburg
Beth Breems
Beth McGill-Rizer
Bethany Kirwen
Betsy Bruce Henning
Billie Jo Marrs
Bonnie Miranda
Brenda Holloway Bratcher
Bridget Murphy
Candace Winters
Carie Poynor Downes
Carla Iturregui Picasso-Brown
Carla Michaelsen
Carla Short Spivey
Carol Beth Wiggins Baswell
Carol Mason
Carole Bass
Caroline Williams Joyce
Carolyn Cage Johnston
Carolyn Walker
Carrie Garske Shank
Caryle A Cox
Cassy Taylor Campos
Cathleen Frantzen Schaber
Chasity Davis
Cheri Nill
Cheri Simpson
Cherie Walker
Cheryl Bakkila-Perkins
Chris Behne
Christie Hoos
Christie Nader
Christina Lehmann Bergevin
Christina Rosbury
Christy Emigh
Cilla Thomas
Cindy Helzer Baldwin
Cindy Jo Conner
Cindy Morgan
Cindy Richard Broussard
Colleen Hepler Brassington
Colleen Kane
Connie Dupuis
Crista Mason
Crystal Baker
Crystal Wagner
Cyndi Silva Raugh
Cynthia Corsetti
Cynthia Gaye Rahm-Clark
Dana Baker
Dana Huntington-Smith
Danette Mohring
Dawn Bellotti
Dawn Bennett
Dawn Pulley Ervin
Deb Gallagher
Debbie McCullough Hayhurst
Debbie Rogers Greenan
Debbie Wasielewski Tavarez
Debby McCrary
Debi Jackson
Debi Tucker Boland
Deborah Carlyle Enman
Debra Honeywell Myott
Dee-Ann Bodenheimer-Enslin
Deena Corwin Pfahler
Deleise Carper Brewer
Denise Ramirez-Tatum
Denise Trainer Webb
Derry Cronin Gleason
Diana Dermit McCarthy
Diana Walla
Diane Blevins Smith
Diane Simms
Donna Holmes
Donna Thompson Spencer
Donna Turner Hudson
Dorene Rose
Doris Wright
Elaine Falk Parker
Elisa Stoneman
Elizabeth McConnel Sutton
Elizabeth Pierce
Eva Sullivan-Knoff
Felicia Dodd
Frances Lavender
Gena Rogers
Genell Brown
Georgi Persons
Gerry Phifer
Gina Williamson
Glenda Crump
Glenda Purkis Boulton
Gloria Melton
Greta Medrano
Gretchen Doornek Mueller
Harriet Sutton
Heather Clevenger
Heather Gee-Thomas
Heather McCracken Bottoms
Ineka Estabrook
Irene Gilliland
Jacqueline Rutledge
Jade Cutter
Jamie Hovland
Jamie Tessing Bruesehoff
Jammie Risley Hahn
Jan Pezant
Jan Roberts
Jan Wightman
Jane Clementi
Jane Moody
Janet Phillips
Janice Dunn White
Janie Romine
Janine Sarah Moore
Jaron Terry
Jeannette Cona-Larock
Jeannie Babb
Jenna Robertson
Jennie Young-Walczyk
Jennifer Donovan Jasgur
Jennifer Dunnam Stringfellow
Jennifer Hancock
Jennifer Robinson
Jennifer Schaffner Burkhardt
Jennifer Seeger
Jennifer Stake White
Jennifer Teeter
Jennifer Wilkins Pearson
Jenny Bishop Morgan
Jerri Surles Collins
Jessica Fahlgren
Jill Blythe
Jill Johnstone
Jill Pote Yarbrough
Jillian Jones
Joani Lea Jack
JoAnn Forsberg
Joann Thompson
Jody Miller Vanderzell
Joy Denton
Judie Brown Gordon
Judith K Volkar
Judy Witzel Harper
Julia Lunardo
Julie Ackerson-Armstrong
Julie Bean Bisgaard
Julie Elliott O’Neal
Julie Greene
Julie Kennedy Eaton
Julie Lenox Haines
Julie Manning Waters
Karen Adams
Karen Decker Kusserow
Karen Sullivan
Karin Paulus
Karin Triola
Katherine Brown Leidy
Kathi Nicholson
Kathie Moehlig
Kathrine M Kraft
Kathryn Zentner
Kathy Ann
Kathy Ewing-Finley
Kathy Green
Kathy Reim
Kathy Renne Post
Kathy White
Katie Jenifer
Katie Willhite Brooks
Katrina Black
Kay Kelley
Kay Otting
Kay Whistler
Kelli Henry Alamond
Kelli Lewis Decker
Kellie Taylor- Lafevor
Kelly Beane
Kelly Cantwell
Kelly Dembiczak
Kelly M Hunsaker
Kelly McKinsey
Kelly Rae Holiday
Keri Lynn Riley
Kim Belcher Messick
Kim Freeman Weill
Kim Kendall
Kim Lue
Kim McMahon
Kim Sonntag
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Shappley
Kimberlyn Graham
Kirsten Shaw
Kris Gromm
Krista Burdine
Kristen Capp
Kristi Chenoweth Dubois
Kristi Kodos
Kyle Jump
Lannette Sargent
Laura Beth Taylor
Laura Sparks Turner
LeAnn Fenner
Leba Shallenberger
Lee Ann Howdershell
Lenora Lea Gill
Lesa Edwards-Schepers
Lesley Davis
Leslie Jones Webster
Linda Baker
Linda Ling
Linda Rooney
Linda Slater Tow
Linda Wiebe Dickinson
Linda York O’Connell
Lisa Bray
Lisa Cousins
Lisa Giordano Bontemps
Lisa Golden Dugger
Lisa MacGregor
Lisa Maniscalco Hildebrand
Lisa McCrystal Holley
Lisa Osborne
Lisa Reinhart Hard
Lisa Schramm
Lisa Scott Wofford
Lisa Wetmore Shinn
Liz Dyer
Loretta Davila
Lori Black Manning
Lori Bradley-Lewis
Lori Chavers Blankenship
Lori Love-Wise
Lori McCoy Simmons
Lori Rogers
Lyndah Kolkmann
Lynette Joy
Lynn Kato
Madai Girard
Maleea Shaver Castillo
Mally Shell Hatch
Marcie Castiglione
Margi Wilmans
Margie Candler
Maria Breeden
Marianne Minier Walker
Marjorie Rudolph
Marlene Hoefer Brummond
Marlene Lund
Marsha Ladd
Martha Maust
Marti Parsons Grahl
Mary Estelle Montgomery
Mary Jo Whitley
Mary Kay Weil
Meg Shull Bierwirth
Melea Broekers
Melissa Ballard
Melissa Brady Silva
Melissa Morritt Coble
Melissa Sosenko DeStefano
Meredith Webster Indermaur
Merryl Dietz
Micah Hoshi
Michele Engle
Michele Manuel Fuselier
Michele Wessel Tarnow
Michelle Bradshaw McComb
Michelle Zulch
Millie Donnell
Miriam Pendley
Monica Ausderau Larmon
Monica Maday
Monica-Niki Elenbaas
Morven Roberts Baker
Najla Samaan
Nancy Barron Booher
Nancy Johnson Campbell
Nancy MacDonald
Nancy Ruh
Nancy Thompson Flikkema
Nancy Villegas
Nancy Wance
Nicole Havlen Hair
Olivia Santos
Paige Gant
Paige Stover
Pam Ensinger Antos
Pam Swendig
Pam Walsh
Patricia Detzel
Patricia Sjöberg
Patti Atwood Grossman
Patti Mercer Churner
Patti Stone
Patti Stratton
Paula Unrau
Pauline Carlson
Pauline Daly
Phyllis Barber
Rachel Drouillard
Rachel Keyte
Rachel Sargent
Rebecca Fako Uecker
Rebecca Hedges Lyon
Regina Pitts Woods
Renay Boyes
Renee Utley Bennink
Rev. Mally Baum
Rhonda Hartzell
Rhonda Morrison
Rita Daruvala
Rob Ullinger
Robin Gowan
Robin Protsman
Robinette Nacca-Cooke
Robyn S Haag
Ʀosaııie Ĺane
Rose Stucchio
Roseanne M. Shannon
Rosemarie Varrichio Campbell
Rossana Neglia McLaughlin
Roxanna Villars Gambrell
S Anderson
Sandra Cathers
Sandra Van Dyne
Sandy Collins
Sandy McClure
Sara Cunningham
Sara Hoel May
Sarah Langley
Sarah Mills Holbrook
Sarah Thacker-Estell
Shannon Eaton
Shawna Dicintio
Shay Bisbee Haude
Shelley McBride
Sheri Martin
Sherrl McFerrin Townsend
Sondy Eklund
Stacey Frazier
Stacey Jackson Baeumler
Stacy Gouge Drake
Stephanie Anderson
Sue Howard
Sue Tresatti
Susan Berland
Susan Cloys Seaman
Susan Cottrell
Susan Foss Naranjo-Stultz
Susan Hammontree Fortney
Susan Ledbetter
Susan Merritt Slattery
Susan Metcalf
Susan Wardzinski
Susy Rowe Barnhill
Suzanne Lambert Mann
Tamara Darbin
Tamara Totoro Dick
Tammi Perkins
Tammy Flowers Mejdrich
Tammy Watson
Tammy Wenzinger
Tamra Jennings
Tana Lightbown Hendricks
Tari Card
Tenley Dyck
Teresa Medlin Poston
Teresa Parker
Teri Henderson
Teri Stueland Kay
Terri Cook
Terri Gervasi
Terri Nolt
Terri Schempf
Terry Hall Sanchez
Theresa Moore Martinez
Theresa Tasker
Tina Tocheri Thomas
Tonda Campbell Hoyt
Toni Ann Bradley
Tracie Sells
Tracy Jepson
Tricia Kaufman-Waddell
Tricia Willard
Valerie Amoling Cronin
Vanessa Horton-Hendershot
Vanessa Melchiori
Vicki Kemp Whorton
Vicki Westphal
Vicky Barnes
Vlada Knowlton
Zenia Robertson

Serendipitydodah for Moms is a private Facebook group created as an extension of the Serendipitydodah blog. The group is secret so that only members can find it or see what is posted in the group. The group was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 1,400 members. The space was specifically created for open minded Christian moms who have LGBTQ kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBTQ kids. In addition to providing a space for members to share info and support one another, a special guest is added each month for a few days. The guests include authors, pastors, LGBTQ people, bloggers and public speakers.

For more info email lizdyer55@gmail.com

National Coming Out Day Message

11 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by Liz in Affirming, Ally, Children, Coming Out, GLBT, LGBT, LGBTQ, Mama Bears, Parent, Parenting, Serendipitydodah for Moms, Youth

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#LGBTQFamilies, coming out, LGBT, LGBT Youth, Mama Bears, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Pride, Serendipitydodah for Moms

 

out
Happy National Coming Out Day!!

I love this day but I never want anyone to feel pressure to come out.

I have people contact me all throughout the year, but especially around this day, to talk about coming out.

I always tell them they should keep their personal safety in mind when thinking about coming out.

My advise is come out if you are ready and if you think you will be safe but safety should be the first priority.

Some LGBTQ youth are wise to wait until they are out on their own before coming out. I know of LGBTQ youth who have been kicked out of their homes or denied help with higher education or isolated from their support groups when they came out. Being in the closet is hard but sometimes it is necessary for a period of time.

I also realize that there is a right time for parents to come out as affirming and supportive of their kids. Sometimes relationships need to be managed and sometimes jobs are at stake. Each person and family has to weigh the risks.

The timing needs to be right.

But I do think we should all be working towards being out and helping our kids be out because keeping secrets takes a great toll on people. Keeping secrets, hiding who you are and what you really think and believe affects the ability to form intimate connections and causes a lot of anxiety on a daily basis.

When people can be themselves, live authentically, share honestly and live into the person they were created to be they are always healthier in every way.

******************************************************

 

Serendipitydodah for Moms is a private Facebook group created as an extension of the Serendipitydodah blog. The group is secret so that only members can find it or see what is posted in the group. The group was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 1,400 members. The space was specifically created for open minded Christian moms who have LGBTQ kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBTQ kids. In addition to providing a space for members to share info and support one another, a special guest is added each month for a few days. The guests include authors, pastors, LGBTQ people, bloggers and public speakers.

For more info email lizdyer55@gmail.com

 

Activist Mommy

30 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by Liz in Affirming, Ally, Christian, Church, Equality, Family, GLBT, Inclusion, justice, LGBT, LGBTQ, Love, Parent, Parenting

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

#LGBTQFamilies, acceptance, activistmommy, children, Christian, church, family, GLBT, LGBT, LGBT Youth, LGBTQ, love, Moms of LGBT, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, parents

13501546_1232621876749048_1319989362568808150_n

***Thanks to Sara Cunningham for allowing me to use this picture. Check out the notes at the bottom of this post to find out more about Sara and her book “How We Sleep At Night: A Mother’s Memoir”

 

There’s a new #ActivistMommy on the scene these days. I would guess that she is probably a member of the “One Million Moms” group on Facebook that has less than one hundred thousand members. LOL  You know the group – it’s the one who boycotts any business or organization that shares anything positive about LGBTQ people.

Anyway … this new #ActivistMommy is similar to the members of the One Million Moms group as she likes to complain and rant (in videos and in Facebook posts) about how horrible the world is because of Pride parades and same sex marriage and inclusive churches and businesses that allow people to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.

She is all about the doom and gloom and likes to talk about how those who affirm same sex marriage and support churches that are fully inclusive are not really Christians.

Her supporters are even more bold and are likely to tell someone like me that I am going to burn in hell and am leading my gay son into the pit of hell with me … oh, and they are predicting the end of the world will probably happen any day now. LOL

Well …

I’m an #ActivistMommy too but I’m not trying to spread a doom and gloom message.

Instead, I’ve created an online community for open minded Christian moms who have LGBTQ kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, authentic, loving relationships with their LGBTQ kids.

The group was started in June 2014 and we have over 1,100 members now.

We share a lot of info and support in the group and inspire each other to do what we can to make the world a kinder, safer, more loving place for all LGBTQ people to live.

That’s the kind of #ActivistMommy I am.

Email me at lizdyer55@gmail.com for more info about the private Facebook group and how to join.

To all the moms out there who love and support their LGBTQ kids I propose that we take over the #ActivistMommy hashtag and use it to spread a positive message of love and light.

If you post a picture of you and your family at a Pride parade use the hashtag #ActivistMommy.

If you post something that supports equality or protection for LGBTQ people use the hashtag #ActivistMommy.

If you post a picture of a same sex couple getting married use #ActivistMommy.

If you post something about #PFLAG or #GCN or #HRC or #TheTrevorProject or #GayStraighAlliance or #TrueColors or anything that is a positive support system for LGBTQ people – especially LGBTQ youth – use the hashtag #ActivistMommy

That way, when people search for #ActivistMommy they will receive a post or picture or video or thought that will help make the world a better place for all of us to live.

Your move!

************************************

Serendipitydodah for Moms is a private Facebook group created as an extension of the Serendipitydodah blog. The group is secret so that only members can find it or see what is posted in the group. The group was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 1,100 members. The space was specifically created for open minded Christian moms who have LGBTQ kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBTQ kids. In addition to providing a space for members to share info and support one another, a special guest is added each month for a few days. The guests include authors, pastors, LGBTQ people, bloggers and public speakers.  For more info email lizdyer55@gmail.com
************************************

 

***Thanks to Sara Cunningham for allowing me to use her picture for this post. Sara Cunningham is one of the members in the Serendipitydodah for Moms group. She is my kind of #ActivistMommy

She organized a group of moms who went to OKC Pride this year. They marched in the parade, set up a “Free Mom Hugs” booth and helped shield LGBTQ people from those who were there to spread negative messages.

Sara is also the author of “How We Sleep At Night: A Mother’s Memoir” which tells the story of how a Christian mother comes to terms with her son being gay through a personal journey that starts with the Church and ends at the Pride Parade. It’s a great book that I highly recommend.

You can find out more about Sara by following her Facebook page.

 

 

A letter of support to Trey Pearson

02 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by Liz in Ally, Christian, Coming Out, GLBT, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQ. letter

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

affirming, Christian, letter, LGBT, LGBTQ, Moms of LGBTQ Kids, Trey Pearson

I have a private Facebook group for open minded Christian moms of LGBTQ kids. We have more than 1,100 moms in the group and one thing we love to do is send letters of support, encouragement and thanks out from our group to people or organizations that we can have a positive impact on.

When we heard about Christian music artist Trey Pearson coming out we knew he would be facing some negative responses so we put together a letter of support and gathered signatures from members of the group and sent it off to him.

We wanted Trey to know that there are people in his corner, rooting for him and loving him for who he is.

Trey

Here is the letter we sent to Trey:

Dear Trey,

We are members of a large private Facebook group called Serendipitydodah for Moms. The group was created for open minded Christian moms of LGBTQ kids who love and support their kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, authentic, loving relationships with their LGBTQ kids. We have more than 1,100 members in the group and many of us are working to bring attention to acceptance and equality, sometimes in personal relationships and sometimes publicly.

We are writing to you because we want you to know that we care about you and recognize the courage it took to come out publicly. We are moms who understand because some of our own children have had to exhibit the same kind of courage when they finally determined to come out and begin living fully into the person they were created to be.

Although there is a lot of ignorance and hate out there, we want to encourage you. Every day there are more and more people who are supportive and affirming of LGBTQ people. The tide is turning and things are getting better. Laws are changing and many, many people do care about you and support you.

So, hang in there and never give up on your dream to live a full, happy, successful, good life.

More than 300 of us are signing our names to this letter with much love and encouragement sent your way.

We will continue to fight for you, pray for you and support you just as you are.

Love & light,

Abby De Fiesta Cortez
Adele Berardi
Aletheia Wall Zambesi
Alise D Chaffins
Alison Defrese
Allena Brown
Amanda Curtis Dwyer
Amy Hansley Moorehead
Angie Laws
Angie Silver
Anita Jewell Carter Cockrum
Ann McGee Green
Ann Zweckbronner
Arlene Schulz
Barb Cressy
Becky Cantrall
Beth Barndt Ruthenburg
Beth Breems
Beth Yoder
Bethany Kirwen
Betsy Bruce Henning
Billie Jo Marrs
Bonnie Miranda
Bridget Murphy
Carie Poynor Downes
Carla Iturregui Picasso-Brown
Carla Michaelsen
Carla Short Spivey
Carol Beth Wiggins Baswell
Carol Fuss Reed
Carol Mason
Carole Bass
Caroline Williams Joyce
Carolyn Cage Johnston
Carrie Garske Shank
Cassy Taylor Campos
Cathleen Frantzen Schaber
Chasity Davis
Cheri Nill
Cheri Simpson
Cherie Walker
Cheryl Bakkila-Perkins
Chris Behne
Christie Hoos
Christy Emigh
Cindy Helzer Baldwin
Cindy Morgan
Colleen Kane
Crista Mason
Cyndi Silva Raugh
Cynthia Corsetti
Dana Baker
Dana Huntington-Smith
Danette Mohring
Dawn Bellotti
Dawn Bennett Jones
Dawn Pulley Ervin
Deb Gallagher
Debbie McCullough Hayhurst
Debbie Rogers Greenan
Debbie Wasielewski Tavarez
Debby McCrary
Debi Jackson
Debi Tucker Boland
Deborah Carlyle Enman
Dee-Ann Bodenheimer-Enslin
Deena Corwin Pfahler
Deleise Carper Brewer
Denise Ramirez-Tatum
Denise Trainer Webb
Derry Cronin Gleason
Diana Dermit McCarthy
Diane Blevins Smith
Diane Simms
Donna Holmes
Donna Turner Hudson
Dorene Rose
Doris Wright
Elaine Falk Parker
Felicia Dodd
Frances Lavender
Gena Rogers
Genell Brown
Georgi Persons
Gerry Phifer
Greta Medrano
Gretchen Doornek Mueller
Harriet Sutton
Heather Clevenger
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Ineka Estabrook
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Kimberlyn Graham
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Marjorie Rudolph
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Mary Jo Whitley
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Rob Ullinger
Robin Gowan
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Robinette Nacca-Cooke
Ʀosaııie Ĺane
Rose Stucchio
Roseanne M. Shannon
Rosemarie Varrichio Campbell
Roxanna Villars Gambrell
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Serendipitydodah for Moms is a private Facebook group created as an extension of the Serendipitydodah blog. The group is secret so that only members can find it or see what is posted in the group. The group was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 1,100 members. The space was specifically created for open minded Christian moms who have LGBTQ kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBTQ kids. In addition to providing a space for members to share info and support one another, a special guest is added each month for a few days. The guests include authors, pastors, LGBTQ people, bloggers and public speakers.

For more info email lizdyer55@gmail.com

 

Stories That Change The World #23 – How to Love the Sinner & Hate the Sin – 5 Easy Steps by Emily Joy

02 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by Liz in Ally, Christian, GLBT, LGBT, LGBTQ, Poem, Story

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Christian, Emily Joy, hate the sin, LGBT, LGBTQ, love the sinner, Poem, Poetry, Spoken Word, Stories That Change The World, Story

Stories have the power to change the world … they inspire us, teach us, connect us. This is the twenty-third installment in the “Stories That Change The World” series.

Emily Joy

There are so many ways to tell a story. This week I am featuring a story that is told in a beautiful, powerful spoken word poem by Emily Joy.

Emily Joy is a spoken word poet and Midwest native currently residing in Nashville, TN. She cut her teeth on the Chicago slam poetry scene while getting a degree in theology from Moody Bible Institute, then spent a brief hiatus in the Arizona desert, where she met her husband. She now makes her living as a freelance writer, traveling poet and full-time cat mom to a tiny ball of fur named Clive Staples Lewis. Emily is passionate about challenging the status quo of the universe through art and empowering people, especially women, to pursue justice, speak their truths and ask hard questions.

Emily Joy‘s new poem, “How to Love the Sinner & Hate the Sin – 5 Easy Steps” tells a story that too many can relate to.

“This poem is for all the people who’ve ever been made to feel like who they are is a sin or an abomination or unworthy of divine or human love. I love you. God loves you. Your sexuality is a gift, not a curse. Let’s change the story.” – Emily Joy

Watch the video here:

Here are the powerful lyrics:

How to Love the Sinner & Hate the Sin: 5 Easy Steps

By Emily Joy

1. Make sure the sinner knows how you feel about their lifestyle choices.

Silence is considered tacit approval.

Seize every opportunity to remind them your god says they are going to hell.

Don’t be fooled into polite dinnertime conversation,

The devil is in the details.

Structure your entire relationship around opportunities to ask them to change their mind.

Ask them, “Don’t you think this is just a phase?”

Ask them, “Why do you have to find your identity in a word?”

Remind them your word says they are an abomination,

You can’t change that, it’s not your fault,

God said it, not you.

2. Pray with your vote.

Religious freedom means never having to say you’re sorry.

You can still love people and take away their rights,

Trust me, we’ve been doing it for years.

Resist all attempts to allow the sinner equal access

To the legal and social benefits you enjoy,

You don’t want them to think they deserve it,

Let’s not reward deviants and perverts.

Put signs in your yard

Letting the whole world know that you’re voting “NO”

On marriage equality,

It’s much more polite than a banner that says

GOD HATES FAGS.

3. Ask the sinner to meet for coffee.

Tell them you’re concerned for their salvation.

You wondered if they would do a Bible study with you.

It just so happens to be in Romans.

Ask them if they’re a practicing homosexual.

Ask them questions you wouldn’t ask your closest friends,

If they don’t want to answer,

Tell them,

You should have thought of that before you chose to be gay.

Before you go,

Let them know that all sins are equal in the eyes of God.

Bestiality, child pornography, mass murder, voting Democrat,

It’s all the same when viewed from above.

You’re only saying this cause you love them.

When they stop meeting you for coffee,

Remind yourself that this is not your fault.

That the gospel is offensive

And calls us to sacrifice,

And the gospel must have been a bit too pricey for the sinner.

Put them on your prayer list anyway.

There’s not a heart that God can’t change.

When you see them in the grocery store,

Say hi.

Try to ignore the bags under their eyes.

Ask them how they’ve been

But don’t wait for an answer.

You don’t want to know.

4. Under no circumstances should you ever attend their wedding,

Even if the sinner is your child.

Especially if the sinner is your child.

Being there would just send the message that you approve of their lifestyle.

When you RSVP, say something like

“Dear friend,

I regret to inform that I will not be able to attend

As I do not believe in celebrating sin.

Yours respectfully.”

Let everyone know why you’re not going.

But do send them a gift.

A bible. Highlight important passages in Leviticus

And put a bookmark in the story of Sodom & Gomorrah.

If they never speak to you again,

This is not your fault, either.

People hated Jesus too

Cause he spoke the truth,

Just like you’re doing

When you love the sinner and hate the sin.

5. If they commit suicide,

Well, at least you know where they’re going.

At least you can tell their family at the funeral

That they got what they deserved.

When you lay your head down at night,

Quiet your demons by imagining how pleased God must be with you

And all the crowns you’ll get in heaven

For your refusal to water down the gospel.

Don’t think about them popping those pills

Or tying that noose

Or crashing that car.

Don’t think about desperate last minute phone calls,

Bodies crumpled on bathroom floors,

Children sleeping in alleyways.

We live in a sinful world.

There will always be suffering.

You can’t be held responsible for theirs,

You were just speaking the truth in love.

Close your eyes.

Say your prayers.

Goodnight.

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This poem was especially meaningful to the moms of LGBTQ kids in my private Facebook group, Serendipitydodah for Moms. Unfortunately too many of us know what it feels like to be the recipient of this kind of love (?).

Serendipitydodah for Moms is a private Facebook group created as an extension of the Serendipitydodah blog. The group is secret so that only members can find it or see what is posted in the group. The group was started in June 2014 and presently has more than 1,100 members. The space was specifically created for open minded Christian moms who have LGBTQ kids and want to develop and maintain healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their LGBTQ kids. For more info email lizdyer55@gmail.com

 

Stories That Change The World #18 – An Answer To Michael Brown’s Open Letter To Bruce Springsteen

18 Monday Apr 2016

Posted by Liz in Ally, Christian, Education, Inclusion, justice, LGBT, LGBTQ, Parent, Story, Transgender

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

bathrooms, boycott, Bruce Springsteen, Christian, Gender, gender dysphoria, HB2, Identity, letter, Michael Brown, Moms of LGBT, North Carolina, sexism, stories, Stories That Change The World, Story, transgender

I have a private Facebook group for open minded Christian moms of LGBT kids. The group was started in June 2014 and has quickly grown to over 1,000 members. We share a lot of information and support with one another. This “answer to Michael Brown’s open letter to Bruce Springsteen” was written by, Alise, one of the members of that group. 

(If you are interested in joining the private Facebook group for moms of LGBT kids email lizdyer55@gmail.com and put “Moms Facebook Group” as the subject.)

download (3)

Stories have the power to change the world … they inspire us, teach us, connect us. This is the eighteenth installment in the “Stories That Change The World” series.

Answering Michael Brown’s Open Letter to Bruce Springsteen – by Alise

There’s an open letter to Bruce Springsteen making the rounds. In case you missed what prompted it, The Boss canceled a concert in North Carolina following the passage of HB2 which, among other things, demands that trans men and women use the bathrooms that align with their sex at birth, rather than their true gender.

I’ll be honest, I don’t have any strong feelings about boycotting a state. It feels a little too big, a little too hard to nail down. I’m going to guess that gay and transgender people have jobs there that are hurt by large boycotts, and I’m not sure how we help the LGBTQ population by damaging the economy of their state. I understand the desire to bring attention to the problem, I’m just iffy on the logistics of most boycotts.

But back to Michael Brown’s open letter to Springsteen. I feel okay answering this on Springsteen’s behalf, not because I know his exact thoughts, but because, shockingly enough, I don’t think the letter was actually written to Bruce so much as written about transgender people. And like most protective moms, I’m having a hard time letting some of the accusations made in this letter go, especially when they seem to be born of ignorance rather than actually seeking understanding.

First, how do you know if someone is really “transgender” or not? Is it determined entirely by how they feel about themselves? If so, do you think that it might be hard to make laws based entirely on how people feel? Did you ever stop to consider that?

I find this fascinating, since the entirety of HB2 is based on how people feel about LGBTQ people in general, and transgender people specifically. We don’t THINK they’re really who they say they are, so we make a law to protect the FEELINGS of those who FEEL like they’re at risk.

Second, what’s the difference between someone with “gender dysphoria” (or, as it used to be called, “gender identity disorder”) and someone, say, with schizophrenia or “multiple personality disorder” or some other psychological condition? In other words, if a man is a biological and chromosomal male but believes he is a woman, is he actually a woman, or does he have a psychological disorder?

If he does have a psychological disorder, should we try to treat that disorder or should we celebrate that disorder? And is it right to call biological males who feel they are women and biological women who feel they are men “freedom fighters”? Perhaps that’s not the best use of the term?

This is a classic case of begging the question. Brown asks if being transgender is a psychological disorder then continues to operate under the assumption that it is a psychological disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM-5, however, “gender nonconformity is not in itself a mental disorder. The critical element of gender dysphoria is the presence of clinically significant distress associated with the condition.” The answer is readily available to those who are willing to look for it.

But perhaps I’m being too abstract here, so let’s get really practical. Let’s say that a 6’ 4” male who used to play professional football and who has secretly agonized over his gender identity for years finally determines that he must be true to himself and live as a woman.

Do you think it might be traumatic for a little girl using the library bathroom to see this big man walk into her room wearing a dress and a wig? Should we take her feelings into account, or is she not important? What if that was your granddaughter? Would you care if she was traumatized? And when you speak of “the human rights of all of our citizens” does that include little girls like this?

This is where we get to the heart of the story. Cis men who are deeply uncomfortable with trans women. Because I have yet, in any of my reading about transgender people using the “correct” bathrooms, come across anyone raising concern about trans men being forced to use women’s bathrooms. There is no concern for the trauma of a little girl running into someone like Buck Angel in a public restroom. There is no concern for someone’s daughter or granddaughter seeing Aydian Dowling washing his hands when they come out of the stall.

images

The alarms being raised for the safety of our women are red herrings to distract us from the inherent sexism that rears up when  ….

Go here to read the remainder of Alise’s answer to Michael Brown’s open letter to Bruce Springsteen.

Would you still be beautiful?

04 Monday Apr 2016

Posted by Liz in Affirming, Ally, Christian, LGBT

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Christian, LGBT, LGBTQ, words

Words1
I often hear Christians saying words about and to  LGBT people that break my heart.

Evil

Going to hell

Not pleasing

Wicked

Broken

Sinful

I love you, but …

Unholy

Not welcome

Abomination

I wonder how they would feel if those words suddenly appeared on their skin?

Would they still think of the words as holy?  Would they still feel good about themselves?

Maybe if they looked in the mirror and saw those words written on their skin they would be compelled to try on some new words …

Loved

Welcome

Beautiful

Precious

Enough

If the words you say to others and about others suddenly appeared on your face … would you still be beautiful?

Moms of LGBT Kids Respond to Franklin Graham

05 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by Liz in Ally, Children, Christian, Family, GLBT, LGBT, LGBTQ, Love, Parent, Parenting, Youth

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

#LGBTQFamilies, ally, children, Christian, family, GLBT, LGBT, LGBTQ, love, Moms of LGBT, parent, parents, Youth

Earlier this week evangelical preacher, Franklin Graham, posted a message addressed to all LGBT people claiming that they are being told lies by enemies of God but he wanted to tell them the truth because he loved them “enough.”

Graham’s truth is that LGBT people are sinning if they fall in love and marry someone of the same sex. His truth is that a sincere prayer can “set them free.”

But LGBT people and their friends and family weren’t feeling the love and many of them have responded to Graham.

Many of the moms of LGBT children in my private Facebook group wanted to respond to Franklin Graham’s Facebook post. I am sharing some of their responses here with their permission but without their names.

These moms know what it means to love “enough” and they are certainly no enemy to God.

I hope you will take some time to listen to what they have to say to Franklin Graham.

Their voices need to be heard.

Love is just a word

 

I first gave my life to Christ at a Billy Graham revival sometime in the early 70’s. I have had an intimate walk with Jesus ever since. I have always loved your father. A few years ago our family went on a mission trip with your ministry to Kenya. We had a wonderful time! All four of my children ministered beautifully to the sick children in your hospital in Kijabe. I have felt very close to God most all of my life and have known God as Abba (Daddy) I’ve never been a rebel or had a time of great separation from God, I’ve been blessed that way and do not take credit for that myself. I have a very high sense of what is right and wrong, as does my husband. I have a sensitive Spirit to hear the Holy Spirit. My understanding of God grew exponentially after becoming a mother, because God is a parent and knowing Him this way made me see how He feels towards me. But, one night LOVE broke through and washed away all self-righteousness and my traditional understanding of God. It began the night my son told us he was gay. Absolutely no one wants what’s best for their child more than a parent. I am not the “Enemy of God’ you proclaim me to be by affirming and loving my child. I am the apple of God’s eye and a coheir with Christ-as is my son. I have prayed, fasted, sought counsel and prayed more. And when I say pray, I am talking about deep groans from deep in my spirit petitioning God to protect me from error. I am not a weak person and would have no problem standing firm if I thought my child’s soul was at risk. The parents of gay children are the closest thing this world has to the heart of God towards the LBGT community. I honestly doubt that anyone, including you, Mr. Graham, have stormed heaven’s gates over this issue more than Christian evangelical parents of gay children. I believe some heterosexual people as well as some homosexual people may be called to celibacy but it will be a call. However, most people (homosexuals and heterosexuals) will be called to marriage. There is not an institution on this earth that can carve and mold a person into the image of Christ quite like marriage, the melding together of two souls, be it opposite sex or same sex. Gal 3:28 says that in Christ there is neither male nor female but all are one in Christ. Unity and Love is Father’s business. Pointing out the sins of others is the work of the accuser. Being gay is not a choice, it is not a sin and Jesus adores these beautiful souls and He does not ever stand beside the religious who oppress the marginalized. Ever!

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I am not a theologian or Bible scholar. I am a simple person trying to figure out, through understanding the word of God, how to best serve God as the person that he created me to be. When I struggle to understand what the Bible is saying to me, I use 3 passages as a lens, or litmus test, 3 passages that Scripture tells us to apply to all other Scripture.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Mat 7:12)

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Mat 7:15-20)

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Mat 22:37-40)

Is treating someone as a second class citizen, as so many of the LGBT community have been, the way that you want to be treated?

Looking at your understanding of what the Bible says about the the sin of being homosexual or transgender, I fail to see any good fruit. But there is plenty of bad fruit. An obscenely high suicide rate within the LGBT community resulting from the stigma and stress placed on them by a poor understanding of Scripture. A homeless rate among LGBT youth that is 10 times higher than non-LGBT youth, because kids are kicked out of their homes and shunned by families who incorrectly believe they are following God’s law. Thousands of LGBT Christians being driven out of their church communities and away from relationships with God by church leadership following “the law”.

There is no love in telling someone that the way that they were created and cannot change is sinful.

I have often been asked, “What if I’m wrong, what if I’m leading people astray?” My response is that if I’m going to error, I’m going to error on the side of love. And I have to ask, what if you’re wrong? Isn’t it better to welcome people into God’s family as the people that God created them to be rather than push them away from a relationship with God because they are not the people that we want them to be?

I believe that we, the Christian community, need to reevaluate how we understand these few passages in Scripture that we use to cast judgement on the LGBT community. Just as Peter and Paul reevaluated there understanding of excluding Gentiles and cleanliness laws, just as the reformers reevaluated the need for intermediaries, and Christians reevaluated the morality of slavery and the domination of women as property. And, just as in all of these instances and many more, reevaluating the way we understand a few passages does not mean reinterpreting the Bible. It just means that we allow ourselves to understand a few passages in a way that will free us to better treat one another how we would want to be treated, to bring forth good fruits, and to better love our neighbor, and thus, better love God.

*************************************************

Mr. Graham, I can read the compassion you have tried to express in your post. I appreciate your call to repentance for all who have strayed from God’s desire for their lives. I also know, however, that your position on LGBT people is scientifically wrong, medically wrong, and spiritually damaging. The Bible says that we will be known by our fruit. The fruit of the kind of position you hold (“all LGBT people are a special kind of sinner and need to repent and deny who they were born to be”) is alienation, self-loathing, self-harm, spiritual pain as they realize that, no matter how much they pray and beg God to change them, they are still LGBT, and frequently spiritual and/or physical death. This is not good fruit! We have misinterpreted certain passages in the Bible many times in human history. We are fallible creatures. We got it wrong on slavery, big time! The church tortured and killed people for saying the the earth was not the center of the universe. The church killed people for daring to translate the Bible into accessible language. I believe that many Christians have it wrong here, as well. Yes, we all need to repent of our sins. But gay people cannot and should not be told to repent for being who God created them to be. I have a gay daughter who loves God with all her heart and has placed following God at the center of her life. She also is still gay, because this is not a choice and therefore not a sin. Please stop harming God’s children and go back to focusing on the good work you do helping God’s children. Better yet, try to learn something about the appalling treatment LGBT Christians receive at the hands of their so-called spiritual brothers and sisters. May God forgive you for the damage you words cause to those who cannot change who they are!

*************************************************

No matter where you stand religiously, historically and/or scientifically there is too much information out now to not be better educated on this subject and no one has searched this matter out MORE than a parent with a gay (me) child or the gay Christian (my child). We are accountable too! Precious people please for the love of God and all humanity get educated even if you look only the scriptures! Dig deeper!

 

*************************************************

As the parent of a gay son I wonder if you, Franklin Graham, have ever taken the time to talk to a gay man or woman – my son, a precious gift from God- a God who makes no mistakes- is a Christian who prayed for years and years for God to take the “gay” away- is not an abomination nor is he “choosing a lifestyle” – who in the world would “choose” to be singled out in posts like this, ridiculed, bullied, discriminated against and forced to live in fear based on who they were created to be? If this post is to share the love of Christ with “all” why is it addressed to specific people?

*************************************************

Mr. Graham,

Can you say AMEN to the following?

“You see, the Church Jesus established is to be a house of worship for all people, and that includes LGBTQ individuals. The Church exists to be a safe place, a place where people can come and connect with God, and a place where people can find love and healing from the wounds of this world– and that too, includes LGBTQ individuals. The moment they’re excluded, ostracized, or shunned instead of being embraced and loved, is the moment such a body ceases to be the Church.” By Benjamin Corey

*************************************************

In the church of Franklin Graham all who sin are welcome except those in the LGBTQ community. Even those who continue to sin, which pretty much is every single one of us. Here is a great example regarding adulterers. How many people do you know in the church that are not married to the person they lost their virginity to? How many in the church are divorced and remarried because of a reason not excused by the bible? Considering the rapidly rising rates of STDs amongst young adults and high school students, and a 50% divorce rate in this country there are plenty of people who fall into one of those groups. Now unless these people pray for forgiveness and return to their proper biblical spouses (or never have sex again) every single one of them is a non-repentant serial adulterer. And yet they are welcomed with open arms. LGBTQ people on the other hand are cast out from their homes as children and then aren’t even given a place at most homeless shelters because those places are run by faith based organizations. They are told they have no place in the church, bullied at school, fired from jobs, refused housing. Families are being torn apart by this and people are dying. This is not the love of Christ.

*************************************************

I believe what this Dr says, because so many of us have seen the nature of the child. The good, sweet child, designed and loved by our creator.

http://www.joanileajack.com/people-and-parts-and…/

 

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God created everyone. My daughter was born gay. The way He made her. Nothing turned her gay. She is the most beautiful, loving, accepting person I’ve ever known. I do not believe God makes mistakes. To suggest that her life is somehow wrong is not only hurtful and very un-Christian, but is questioning how God himself could have made a mistake. I don’t believe God makes mistakes. Mistakes are left to us humans to make.

*************************************************

As a Lutheran, I could choose to argue theology with you, but I don’t really see the point. Here’s what I know- God created my gay son exactly the same way he created my straight son- he’s a beautiful baptized child of God, sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Like all of us, he lives in the unconditional love of God, shown to us in Christ- the overflowing grace of God given us day after day.

*************************************************

I’m wondering if your message from God regarding homosexuality has greater value than mine. Because after praying, weeping and begging God for literally years for an answer about my daughter’s soul, I not only received a message from Him that He has her in His hand, He made her and she is perfect. Your message contains Bible quotes, but I have studied the Bible, too, and find some things you left out. I believe in Jesus and his message which was to love God with all your heart and to love others as yourself. I’m sorry – I don’t see that commandment showing up anywhere in your messages. Blessings.

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I have to wonder why Franklin is so intent on condemning the LGBTQ community when, at best, there are only 6-7 verses in the whole bible concerning them. The verses are questionable to boot. I don’t hear him condemning divorce, same bible. I think Franklin must remove the giant plank in his eye, so he can more clearly see the speck in the eye of the ones he condemns.

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Do you really believe that the only way a gay person will make it into God’s Kingdom is if s/he stops being gay (same-sex attracted)? And the only way s/he can stop being gay is by God removing the same-sex attraction? Have you ever considered dialoging with the founders of the former Exodus, International about the reality of this never happening? You can put brown contacts in your blue eyes and call them brown, but the reality is your eyes would still be blue. Sexual orientation is innate and does not change. Behavior changes. So if you are saying that people who engage in same-sex sexual activity are outside God’s Kingdom, that’s one thing – but if you are saying that people with an inborn sexual orientation toward their same gender are outside God’s Kingdom simply because they are are born with something they didn’t chose, cannot change, and which not even Almighty God changes, then you are judging, adding burdens which Jesus has warned us not to add, and defiling the Gospel.

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Dear Mr. Graham, I am a Christian. As such, I am your Sister in Christ. Because I have a son, this means you also have a Nephew in Christ. Your Nephew’s name is Joshua, and he is an enormously giving, loving, and talented child of God. He also happens to be gay. At this point, based on the nature of our relationship in Christ, you can either choose to love your Nephew because you follow Christ, or you can choose to hate your Nephew because you do not follow Christ. I choose love. God is love, Christ modeled love, and love always wins. ♡ I’m looking forward to sharing a feast with ALL of my Brothers and Sisters and Christ at Heaven’s banquet table. Incidentally, your Nephew will be dining with us.

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To assume LGBTQ are not Christian is a grave error as over 40% hold Christianity as their faith. I knew my son was gay when he was 3. I never told a soul, not even my husband. How can a child of 3 choose a ‘lifestyle’? How can a child of 3 choose their orientation? They cannot. My son went through hell in his teenage years suffering from deep depression and suicidal thoughts. He prayed for YEARS for God to ‘take the gay away’ and he didn’t. I wish I could have been a better support for him then but I had no idea how to help because I was so filled with fear from evangelical teachings about homosexuality. My son unfortunately turned his back on God due to flawed interpretations of the scripture. Please, please, please people get educated. Re evaluate what you have been taught. Search the scriptures and the heart of God on this issue. So many comments on the post are simply filled with fear and fire and brimstone. It makes me want to turn and flee…I wonder how LGBTQ who read this are feeling? This is not the Jesus I know, love, and serve.

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I know you mean well, but you have obviously never sat across the table and had conversation with one of these “sinners” as you call them. Sin is when I choose to do something like lie, steal, have an affair or murder. For these precious people, their sexuality is no more a “choice” than yours was for you. Do you know that one in 1500 people are born “intersex,” that is having two genders? Life is not quite as simple as you make it out to be. It is not simply “male and female.” Ask any OB/Gyn, geneticist, or parent of a LGBTQ child. Please get back to the work you do well – helping children – and leave our precious children where God has put them, in his arms, loving them unconditionally.

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Dear Mr. Graham, I believe you believe with all your heart that you are honoring God by warning and calling lgbtq to redemption. I would have been very understanding and agreed with you at one time — before my son came out at age 38 (after trying to deny and pray his homosexuality away most of his life). Please please I beg you to open your heart and see the truth that hundreds of Christians have discovered. The unconditional love I have for all and freedom from judging makes my heart sing – and yes, in thankfulness to God for my gift of a gay son.

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Dear Mr. Graham, I didn’t feel any love in your letter nor any sense that you have taken time to understand the LGBT community. If there had been love, I am convinced you would have said, “my heart breaks for the pain you have experienced at the hand of Christians.” If there had been love there would have been a lot more seeking to understand, to listen, to recognize the struggles and issues for someone who identifies as LGBT. All you gave was the salvation message, which is needed by all, not just this group. Likewise, you seem to assume that people who are LGBT are not already saved, when I assure you is not the case. I am thankful to know many wonderful individuals who are LGBT and Christian. Their faith, their willingness to hold on to Christ despite the way they have been treated by Christians, amazes me. If there is any group in American being persecuted I think this would be it, and sadly, it is being done by Christians.

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Mr. Graham, you are making a major mistake assuming that because someone is LGBT that they have not prayed the sinners prayer. I can assure you that there are many LGBT people who have spent too many agonizing years imploring God to change them into the “image “the church assures us is God’s intention. These poor people have contemplated suicide, and sadly some have succeeded. All because the church says they are damaged. You have taken very limited references in the Bible to condemn people who you haven’t even tried to understand. Mr. Graham, have you even spent time with these struggling Christians who God has made clear that He has made them exactly the way He wants them to be? Why should you talk about sin and sex within marriage without addressing the rampant heterosexual pre-marital sex? Why condemn a group of people who want to be in a loving, long–term relationship when divorce of straight couples are at an all-time high? Sir, I realize you think that you are doing God’s work, but judging is to be left with God, we have been told that the greatest thing we can for God is to love one another. You are most definitely not showing love by continuously judging a group of people you know nothing about. I hope you’re prepared to meet God and explain why you felt the need to condemn some of His creation and push some into taking their own lives. Shame on you. My God is so much bigger than your small god who obviously condemns love. Your words hurt those who are already struggling in church and who are not sinning. Being LGBT is not a choice No one would choose to be on the receiving end of such vehemence!

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I pray God shows you more love and mercy then what you have shown those you judge.

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Have any of you shouting Amen ever sat with an LGBT person as they agonized over how to tell their “christian” family that they are gay because they knew they would no longer be welcomed at home? Have you sat with an LGBT teen who wants to end their life because they just can’t take the hate they feel from so many who claim they speak for God one more second? Have you talked to parents who can no longer attend their church due to the shunning they feel from people who used to be friends? You haven’t. You feel you have the “truth” and love to shout it at this community with your “love the sinner hate the sin” attitudes. They don’t feel your love. They feel contempt from you. They feel marginalized. And YOU ARE CHASING PEOPLE AWAY FROM GOD. People are leaving the churches in droves because of this kind of thinking and behavior. Shame on you Franklin Graham and your barely veiled hate for this community. You say you love them above but you have singled them out every where you can and “taken a stand” against this “sin”. You don’t model love. You don’t model compassion or grace towards a group of people starving for it. What you do speaks so loudly that what you say we can not hear.

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Mr. Graham, I’m sure you’ve prayed about this and studied the scriptures. However, I propose you extend your life learning to become more knowledgeable in how God created us. I didn’t “choose” to be heterosexual, anymore than LGBTQ’s “choose” to be how they were born. Perhaps you may wish to read “God and the Gay Christian” by Matthew Vines, or “Torn” by Justin Lee. May the peace of Christ be with you.

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If you want to preach about sin don’t call out the LGBT community. ..I am shocked by all the people supporting you in this post. Let me ask you a question …are you married? Loving and being loved is a human need we all have and if you are blessed with the opportunity to love someone who are you to take that right from another human being? God created LGBT the way they are as much as he created you to be heterosexual. No one understands the complexities of it unless someone you love is LGBT. THEN a light comes on in our heart and mind and most of us realize they are just like us and they need love and support and acceptance…yes they sin, we all sin… but their sin is not being LGBT or loving someone! Until you have an LGBT loved one keep your preaching private so you don’t cause more pain then they already endure, and if you already have an LGBT loved one shame on you for calling them out and making them feel less than you!!!

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To all hypocrites who call themselves Christians. There are many people who claim to be Christians and will tell everyone that’s what they are and then they set about to act in in hateful destructive ways, stirring up hate and harm, and secretly revelling in their ugly work. It is not too late to act as Jesus ( the one you claim to follow) instructs. Love. That is what we are called to. There are much greater problems that our world is facing. Stop your obsession with who loves who and work on loving your neighbour instead of judging them and deliberately causing harm.

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I prayed that prayer years ago and asked God to heal my gender identity and intersex condition. Instead He healed my understanding of scripture and of Himself. Messages like this only serve to alienate people from a God who seeks to love them. My heart hurts for all who may read this and rather than take a step closer to God as you intended, take their final step away from Him. My heart also breaks for a church that loves their own comfort and ideas more than the God whom they claim to serve. My prayers are with you, sir. It would take a great deal of humility for a man in your position to acknowledge your error on this issue, but that is a change I have seen God work in the lives of many.

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I know you mean well, but you have obviously never sat across the table and had conversation with one of these “sinners” as you call them. Sin is when I choose to do something like lie, steal, have an affair or murder. For these precious people, their sexuality is no more a “choice” than yours was for you. Do you know that one in 1500 people are born “intersex,” that is having two genders? Life is not quite as simple as you make it out to be. It is not simply “male and female.” Ask any OB/Gyn, geneticist, or parent of a LGBTQ child. Please get back to the work you do well – helping children – and leave our precious children where God has put them, in his arms, loving them unconditionally.”

*************************************************

Mr. Graham, some of us don’t think it’s the gays who need saving, but the very people who claim to be saved and yet hate their brother. (as demonstrated by many comments posted) I think this blog addresses the core problem with what Christians think salvation is. I hope you will read it, and reconsider your important message.

 

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Franklin Graham-I challenge you to read your fanbase comments to the LGBTQ community. They are full of some of the most nasty, disgusting and sometimes even violent comments. Are you inspiring the love and grace of the Christ you proclaim to follow?”

I am so saddened sometimes over this stuff.

It really makes me not love the fundamental crowd…which includes a large percentage of our family.

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As the parent of a gay son I wonder if you, Franklin Graham, have ever taken the time to talk to a gay man or woman – my son, a precious gift from God- a God who makes no mistakes- is a Christian who prayed for years and years for God to take the “gay” away- is not an abomination nor is he “choosing a lifestyle” – who in the world would “choose” to be singled out in posts like this, ridiculed, bullied, discriminated against and forced to live in fear based on who they were created to be? If this post is to share the love of Christ with “all” why is it addressed to specific people?

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If you are an LGBTQ person reading this post, please know Franklin does not speak for all Christians. I am a “born again” Christian and I do not agree with his stand on this issue. I believe you are wonderfully and beautifully made by the God who loves you just as you are. There are “affirming churches” that will recognize this and truly love you for who you are and not for who they want you to be You can find these churches through the Internet. My prayer for you is to know and love the God who loves you

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Well intended evil. ..words either give life or death. ..and You Mr. Graham have contributed an immense amount of vitriol which has caused bullying. ..suicide. ..discrimination. .you have blood on your hands and you do it in Jesus’s name…….

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All I can say is shame, shame shame on you…..how horrid and awful!

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Wrong. People are born LGBT. It’s not a choice. Therefore not a sin. Time to get educated in regards to what the bible is really saying and not saying. So many LGBT people are ostracized by the church and are told “hate the sin not the sinner” and sent on their way. What a load of dung! Why is it that this “sin” has a spotlight on it, yet divorced people are serving in leadership positions, pastors remarry and still lead etc etc….Jesus says NOTHING about homosexuality because He finished the work of the law. We aren’t under the law, if we were we wouldn’t be eating shell fish or pork or having sexual relations at certain times of the month, and the list goes on and on. All that aside it doesn’t matter anyway because the word homosexuality wasn’t even put into an English speaking bible until about 65 years ago and the original word is questionable to what it really meant. Scholars can’t even say definitively. Please educate yourselves people. Jesus loved the marginalized not the religious people. Use your God given brain and see through the eyes of love. People are hurting and mistreated for something they have no say over….their sexual orientation. I know because I have two gay kids and a straight one. We have loved them and raised them to love God. They haven’t been abused. They have Mom and Dad at home and we are both present. We noticed they were different when they were about 3 years old. I hope you take what I’ve said to heart as this is something the church really needs to start understanding and educating themselves on. Human beings bearing God’s image depend on it. Love one another

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Franklin Graham-I challenge you to read your fanbase comments to the LGBTQ community. They are full of some of the most nasty, disgusting and sometimes even violent comments. Are you inspiring the love and grace of the Christ you proclaim to follow?”

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And here are some blog posts they wrote responding to Franklin Graham’s Facebook post:

About Loving People Enough To Tell Them The Truth

An Open Response To Franklin Graham

Dear Franklin Graham: A Plea

 

There are more than 800 moms of lgbt kids in my Facebook support group. It is a place where moms of lgbt kids find and give a lot of support and share a lot of information. If you are interested in joining the private Facebook group for moms of lgbt kids send an email to lizdyer55@gmail.com and put “Mom’s Facebook Group” as the subject.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stories That Change The World #13 – Coming Out

08 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by Liz in Affirming, Ally, Children, Coming Out, Family, GLBT, Inclusion, It Gets Better, LGBT, LGBTQ, Love, Parent, Parenting, Story

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#LGBTQFamilies, Celebrity, coming out, LGBT, LGBT Youth, Stories That Change The World, Story

Stories have the power to change the world … they inspire us, teach us, connect us. This is the thirteenth installment in the “Stories That Change The World” series.

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In honor of the upcoming 27th Annual National Coming Out Day I wanted to share some coming out stories that I have found inspirational and moving. (go here to learn more about National Coming Out Day 2015)

I’m lucky enough to have a connection with Wendy Williams Montgomery, the Mormon mother in the video “Families Are Forever” and she is truly an inspiration to many families who have come out of the closet as being supportive and affirming of their lgbt kid.

 


Ellen Page made headlines after coming out at HRC’s Time to THRIVE conference in 2014 and has continued to share the positive impact coming out has had on her life.

 

 

Austin and Aaron Rhodes, YouTube stars and twin brothers, filmed themselves coming out to their father over the phone and posted the emotional video online.

 

 

Parker Camp came out in 2014 when he was on the swim team at the University of Virginia. It can be very difficult for male athletes to come out but Parker said that coming out to his teammates at the University of Virginia was easy compared to coming out to his family.  Go HERE to read Parker’s coming out story.

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Sometimes those recieving the news are just as inspiring as those who are coming out. Amanda Hite writes about coming out to her grandparents.

You can go HERE and read the story in The Huffington Post. 

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I absolutely adore the story about how the former lacrosse player, Andrew Goldstein, reached out to encourage a 12 year old lacrosse player who was struggling with being gay.

Go HERE for the full story.

 
Please share any other inspirational coming out stories in the comments!

 

 

SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS:

Coming out happens in different ways, at different times for different people. Each person must determine what is right for them. Coming out can sometimes have a negative impact on people in the immediate moment – therefore, now might not always be the best time to come out.

I always encourage people to be thoughtful about coming out, to seek some wise counsel and to take some time to consider the outcome. Coming out is ultimately freeing but timing is important. I would never encourage a young person to come out to their parents if they thought it could cause them to be homeless or to lose their ability to finish school. Some people have to consider that coming out could cost them their job and may need to prepare for that possibility. I look forward to the day when coming out is no big deal but for now it can sometimes be a difficult and even risky step to take.

I encourage all parents to be gentle and loving with your child if they come out to you no matter what you believe. A child that comes out to his parent is probably doing one of the bravest things they have ever attempted to do. They are probably afraid and worried about the reaction they will receive from their parents. You will never regret showing your child love and support at such a time. 

If anyone reading this wants to join a private facebook group for moms of lgbt kids please email me at lizdyer55@gmail.com and put “Mom’s Facebook Group” as the subject. The group is a place where moms of lgbt kids can learn to develop and maintian healthy, loving, authentic relationships with their kids. There are more than 600 moms in the group and it is a place where a lot of support, encouragement and information is shared. It helps a lot to be on the journey with others as we walk with our kids on this new adventure.

 

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