GLAAD’s Religion, Faith & Values program works to elevate LGBT-affirming voices of faith in mainstream, regional, and community media. To find out more, visit www.glaad.org/faith. 

Spirit Day is fast approaching on October 19. We encourage all faith organizations to get involved. If your organization or faith community would like to be listed as a Spirit Day partner, please email faith@glaad.org. Individuals are encouraged to take the pledge to go purple.

African American Christians have become more of a political focal point, particularly concerning marriage equality. Some outlets are claiming that marriage equality limits their support for President Obama, while others focus on the support for marriage equality coming from African American church leaders. Catholics are also garnering attention in Minnesota and Washington, which both have votes on marriage equality.

A gay minister in Reno had his radio show pulled from a Fox News Radio Affiliate, while the Worcester Diocese cancelled the sale of a mansion for fear of potential marriage ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples.  This video compresses two weeks’ worth of the struggle for LGBT equality in the United Methodist Church into 30 minutes, and one Presbyterian pastor challenges her church’s ban on marriage equality.

Matthew Vines, the 22-year old biblical scholar, had a profile in the Sunday Style section of the New York Times (photo above from NYT with GLAAD Director of Religion, Faith & Values, Ross Murray, Matthew Vines, and Rev. Shari Brink of Marble Collegiate Church). Bishop Gene Robinson has a new book, while a blog asks questions of a transgender Christian. Unitarians continue to support LGBT people, both locally and beyond. LGBT Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah, and Mr. Gay Denmark is Muslim. Fortunately, he’s not alone.

For additional religion and faith updates, be sure to subscribe via our online registration form. We welcome suggestions at faith@glaad.org.

Black Churches

• Gay marriage debate: Why did Harry Jackson pull out of the scheduled Howard University forum?
  • Washington Post, September 13, 2012
• President of NC NAACP Writes "Open Letter to Clergy Who Are Trying to Confuse African American Voters on Wedge Issue of Marriage Equality"
  • Equality North Carolina, September 13, 2012
• Divide and Conquer--Remix
  • Huffington Post, September 13, 2012
• African-American Christians waver over vote
  • Associated Press, September 16, 2012
• Atlanta Seminary Prof. Claims Being Anti-Gay Got Him Fired
  • Edge Boston, September 17, 2012
• Maryland pastors rally support for same-sex marriage
  • Washington Examiner, September 18, 2012

Catholic

• Mass. gay couple sues Worcester Diocese for denying opportunity to buy church-owned mansion
  • Associated Press, September 10, 2012
• Franciscan University Deviant Behavior Class Equates Homosexuality With Rape, Murder
  • Huffington Post, September 11, 2012
• Gay Couple Sues Worcester Catholic Diocese, Alleging Discrimination
  • Rainbow Times, September 12, 2012
• Catholic college links homosexuality with crimes; draws fire from alumni
  • Columbus Dispatch, September 13, 2012
• Local Catholics Voice Their Opposition to Marriage Amendment
  • WDIO, September 16, 2012
• In Washington State and Minnesota, Catholics Can Make the Difference on Marriage Questions
  • Bondings 2.0, September 17, 2012

Christian

• Radio station cancels public affairs program over interview with LGBT advocate
  • LGBTQ Nation, August 30, 2012
• Exodus Board Member resigns over Alan Chambers acknowledging the possibility of gay Christians
  • Box Turtle Bulletin, September 10, 2012
• Can you be out and proud as a black, gay Christian?
  • The Voice, September 11, 2012
• Ask a transgender Christian
  • Rachel Held Evans, September 15, 2012
• Del. church, Scout troop part ways on gay ban
  • USA Today, September 18, 2012

Episcopal

• Bishop Gene Robinson's new book examines gay marriage, argues for its acceptance
  • Lexington Herald Leader, September 14, 2012

Evangelical

• Turned Away, He Turned to the Bible
  • New York Times, September 14, 2012
• Matthew Vines | Reforming the Gay Christian Debate
  • Canyonwalker Connections, September 18, 2012

International

• Exclusive Brethren doctor banned after giving gay 'cure'
  • Gay News Network, September 7, 2012
• France's most senior Catholic cleric says same-sex marriage will lead to incest
  • The Telegraph, September 17, 2012
• Jamaican Christians liken gay sex to bestiality in ‘Love March’
  • Gay Star News, September 17, 2012

Jewish

• Boston’s Keshet Welcomes LGBT Jews for Rosh Hashanah
  • Edge Boston, September 17, 2012

Marriage Equality

• Same-sex marriage rally draws nearly 500, takes religious tone
  • Bangor Daily News, September 10, 2012
• True And False Religious Freedom
  • Huffington Post, September 13, 2012

Methodist

• San Francisco's Glide Memorial Church Joins The Fight For Gay Rights (VIDEO)
  • Huffington Post, September 14, 2012
• Church to honor expelled minister
  • Northwest Arkansas Online, September 15, 2012
• Another View: Marriage equality is boon, not threat, to religious freedom
  • Portland Press Herald, September 17, 2012

Mormon

• Mormon marchers taking new strides toward LGBT harmony
  • Salt Lake Tribune, September 14, 2012

Muslim

• Mr. Gay Denmark Michael Sinan Thomsen Comes Out… As A Queer Muslim
  • Queerty, September 5, 2012
• Coming out for queer Muslims
  • Q Magazine, September 16, 2012

Presbyterian

• Explaining my past and ongoing Christian witness to LGBT communities
  • The Layman, September 13, 2012

Unitarian Universalist

• Community activist Marian Beddill recounts her gender journey in autobiography
  • The Bellingham Herald, August 29, 2012
• Uphold marriage equality
  • The Columbian, September 1, 2012
• The gay flag
  • South Coast Today, September 6, 2012
• New Grand Rapids pastor 'didn't come here to bring gay marriage to Michigan'
  • M Live, September 10, 2012