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. For additional religion and faith updates, be sure to subscribe via our online registration form. We welcome suggestions at faith@glaad.org.
Wedding bells in Washington will ring for all couples starting next week! Even a month after the election, support for LBGT equality continues—particularly among faith communities around the country. Our very own Wilson Cruz wrote a pretty little thing for NBC about marriage equality, and the LA Times featured a Christian case for marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Soulforce—a religious LGBT equality organization—began a campaign this week, calling anti-LGBT leaders to “repent.”
Read about ways in which religious communities participated in this year’s World AIDS Day.
MCC moderator Nancy Wilson wrote an op-ed about Uganda, God, AIDS, and LGBT people. More religious groups spoke out about the looming anti-LGBT bill in Uganda, like the United Church of Christ and president of the American Jewish World Service. One amazingly brave transgender, Pentecostal Ugandan woman penned an open letter calling for support.
Read more about the anti-LGBT Uganda bill here.
After the recent ban on so-called “ex-gay” therapy in California, various religious groups have come out in support of LGBT survivors of the destructive practice. The founder of the Gay Christian Network called it spiritual abuse, orthodox rabbis affirmed its harm, and a group of Mormon and Jewish men are suing their old therapists for fraud. Our Director of Religion, Faith, and Values and Director of News and Field Media were both interviewed by Dr. Oz about reparative therapy and religion.
Black Churches
- How many transgenders have to die before the Black Church gets involved?
- Urban Cusp, October 13, 2012
Catholic
- Catholic teen's gay marriage stance unsettles Minnesota town
- Los Angeles Times, December 4, 2012
Christian
- Campaign Calls on Anti-Gay Leaders to “Repent”
- Religion Dispatches, November 28, 2012
- Gay Former Christian College RA To NOM: Recant Your Attack on Gay RAs
- The New Civil Rights Movement, November 29, 2012
- The Christian case for gay marriage
- LA Times, December 2, 2012
Episcopal
- Episcopal priests offer spiritual support for gay unions
- Sun Sentinal, December 4, 2012
- Just Like a Prayer
- Outlook Columbus, November 30, 2012
Evangelical
- Rick Warren: Churches are ‘Probably’ Responsible for Negative Attitudes Towards Gays
- Think Progress, November 29, 2012
- Christian’s year of living 'gay' leads to dramatic change, sparks controversy
- CNN, December 2, 2012
"Ex-Gay"
- Gay Christian Network founder: Ex-gay therapy is spiritual abuse
- The Raw Story, November 27, 2012
- Reparative Therapy, GLAAD and GLSEN Respond
- Dr. Oz, November 28, 2012
- Reparative Therapy and Religion
- Dr. Oz, November 28, 2012
- The Walls Are Closing In on the Ex-Gay Industry
- The Huffington Post, November 29, 2012
- Outlawing gay conversion therapy
- CNN, November 29, 2012
- Conversion therapist: Lawsuit won’t stop us
- CNN, November 30, 2012
- Orthodox Rabbis Say Gay ‘Cure’ Doesn’t Work
- The Daily Beast, December 1, 2012
- Religious Therapy is Quackery, Rabbis Agree—But That Doesn’t Mean It’s OK to be Gay
- Religion Dispatches, December 2, 2012
- Filmmakers Weigh in on Lawsuit Against 'Ex-Gay' Org JONAH, Wonder if Founder's Gay Son Will Testify
- Towleroad, December 3, 2012
International
- Little Support by African Churches for Gay Rights
- Deutsche Welle, November 27, 2012
- Status of Uganda Anti-Gay Bill Unclear; U.S. Religious Right Support Isn’t
- Religion Dispatches, November 28, 2012
- Transcript: Ugandan Trans Woman Pens Courageous Open Letter to Parliament
- Advocate, November 28, 2012
- Bishop of Quebec authorizes gay blessing
- Anglican Ink, December 1, 2012
- Viewpoint: Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill a Christmas Alarm for Christians
- Time, December 4, 2012
Jewish
- Gay men sue counselors who promised to make them straight
- CNN, November 28, 2012
- American Jewish World Service Condemns Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill
- Box Turtle Bulletin, November 29, 2012
- Standing in Solidarity with LGBT Ugandans
- The Huffington Post, November 30, 2012
- Queer Clergy in Action: Rabbi Reuben Zellman
- Keshet, November 30, 2012
- Has the tent become too wide?
- SHMA Online, December 2012
Lutheran
- Illinois’ Augustana College to allow same-gender ceremonies on campus
- ReconcilingWorks, December 3, 2012
Marriage Equality
- After gay marriage successes, gay activists look to build on new faith outreach techniques
- CNN, November 30, 2012
- Op-ed: Gay marriage, one of these things is just like the other
- NBC Latino, December 3, 2012
Mennonite
- Mennonite Church Casts Out Gay-Inclusive Flock
- Queerty, November 29, 2012
Metropolitan Community Church
- Uganda, AIDS, God and gays: Rick Warren and a punch in the nose
- The Washington Post, December 2, 2012
Mormon
- Mormon, Jewish Gay Men Sue “Conversion Therapy” Outfit for Fraud
- Religion Dispatches, November 28, 2012
Muslim
- Why I want to open a gay-friendly mosque in Paris
- The Guardian, November 26, 2012
- Activist speaks about living as LGBT Muslim
- The Collegian, November 28, 2012
- Gay-friendly mosque to open its doors in Paris
- MSN, November 29, 2012
- Gay Muslims: The Elephant in the (Prayer) Room
- Huffington Post, December 3, 2012
Reformed Church in America
- Gay Wedding Was A Trial For The Reformed Church
- NPR, November 25, 2012
Salvation Army
- Dear Salvation Army: Time to Condemn “Kill the Gays” Bill
- Owldolatrous Press, November 28, 2012
Unitarian Universalists
- Transgender Day of Remembrance
- Westport Daily Voice, November 20, 2012
- Unitarian Church of Staten Island to be honored for support of LGBT community
- Staten Island Advance, November 26, 2012
- Same-sex marriage: Port Townsend church puts out welcome mat for weddings next Sunday
- Peninsula Daily News, December 1, 2012
- After 8 Years, Spokane Pastor Will Perform Marriages, Gay And Straight
- KUOW, December 3, 2012
United Church of Christ
- Penn. UCC church to host concert for scholarship, LGBTQ awareness
- UCC News, November 26, 2012
- Petition against Uganda bill criminalizing LGBT citizens
- UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, November 30, 2012