Category Archives: Gay/lesbian

Confessions of a Beauty Queer: Saying Goodbye to Denial

Everyone keeps asking me, “What was it like navigating the pageant world as a queer woman?” I’m honestly not sure what answer anyone is looking for, but the answer I have is simple: It wasn’t like anything. Why? Because I …

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Why I became honest about my truth as a Black, gay preacher

The Christian faith is about love and justice, but talking about life and light from the dark space of a closed closet would only perpetuate death. My words would be weakened if I weren’t honest about my own truth.

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What kind of father?

You could probably call my father a social justice minister because he outwardly acknowledged the devastating effects of racism, the gaps between those who had and those who did not, the lack of humanity for people in prison, and the …

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A changed heart

The history described, of a written conversation with a friend about United Methodist and Biblical language about same sex unions and marriages is factual. A recent conversation with that friend, has led me to write this “imaginary letter” that he …

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Talk is Cheap. Truth is Expensive.

Rev. Dr. Thomas Ogletree, a retired UMC elder, retired dean of Yale Divinity School of Divinity and former dean at Drew Theological Seminary, may now be the next clergy to face a church trial as a result of officiating the …

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Breaking the cycle of shame and silence

This conversation was long overdue, and the time had finally come. For decades I had been living silently in my mother’s presence. I had grown tired of feeling like a coward who couldn’t speak his truth. I entered the guest …

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Disclosure: Finding one’s voice amidst HIV/AIDS stigma

His 26 year old body was calculating comfortable, sprawled over a disheveled collection of towels and sheets constituting a makeshift mattress, littered with blood-tinged gauze pads, a towel soiled with oral secretions and a crusty suction tube. Upon seeing me …

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A Letter to Queer Christians

I was moved to rage during a particular worship moment several years ago. I sat on the pew in disbelief while the rest of my sisters and brothers in the congregation were ecstatically offering praise to God. It happened when …

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Making black history for gay rights

  Last spring when President Barack Obama announced his “evolving” support for marriage equality, many conservative groups were confident it would woo black voters to their side and ultimately deliver a death-blow to the president’s reelection bid. They, as is …

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Living in Sodom 2012

On May 9th, 2012 the President of The United States of America gave his support of marriage for same gender loving people. While many have cheered, the cries that President Barack Obama is turning America into Sodom 2012 have been …

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