Jesus said… “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NRSV) I cleaned out my closet yesterday. I did so because my… Read More Love One Another
Prejudice is often rooted in ignorance and fear. Prejudice against homosexuality can develop from a variety of factors, including cultural norms, religious beliefs, personal experiences, and societal attitudes. Educating oneself and engaging with LGBTQ+ individuals is the only way I can imagine to challenge negative stereotypes and stereotypes and reduce the current prejudice. Anti-gay prejudice… Read More The Right is Wrong
The phrase “love the sinner and hate the sin” is not explicitly found in the Bible, but it is often used as a shorthand for a Christian perspective on how to approach people who engage in sinful behavior. However, this phrase can be problematic because it can be misinterpreted or misapplied in ways that contradict… Read More Love The Sinner
Queer. As much as I own the description of queer, I appreciate that some do not. I don’t mean to conjure up awful memories when the term was used against someone in a derogatory way. I know how this feels, because I was accused of being a titzy-pritzel (a vulgar connotation of queer) when I… Read More Titsy Pritsel
I lived in a closet for 55 years. It was a lonely and scary place to live for so long. It was a secret that could never be told. The lonely life of a closeted queer man can be a difficult and painful experience. A closeted queer man is someone who has not yet come… Read More Closet Life
Transgender discrimination refers to the unequal treatment of individuals who identify as a gender other than their assigned sex at birth. This discrimination can manifest in a number of ways, including but not limited to, employment, education, healthcare, housing, and social interactions. Despite some progress towards greater acceptance of transgender individuals in recent years, discrimination… Read More Discrimination Awareness
Has mankind gotten religion wrong? I don’t mean completely wrong, but have we made the small things the main thing and the main thing irrelevant? I suppose that depends on what you fell the main things is. I think it’s the gospel as an expression of God’s love. So I think the church has gotten… Read More God Loves Me
Masks can change your appearance, but can never change who you truly are. Your appearance does though have a huge effect on the way you’re treated. Maybe this is fair, maybe not, but it’s true and yes, it’s true for men as well as women. I recognized this at an early age. I recognized early… Read More Perception Is Reality
Sandpiper is a good symbol for problem-solving and going great distances to achieve your goals, either physically, or geographically. I am the pastor of two churches. I sat in a bible study last night with one of my churches where the topic of discussion was a bible verse that seems to suggest homosexuality is to… Read More A New Normal
If a popular local politician and also a self-identified transgender individual walked into your church, who would be greeted first? Who would the church’s welcome team be more pleased to see, and go the extra mile to make sure they felt at home? Who would be invited back the following Sunday? If your honest answer… Read More Compassionate Community
Managing my life has been tiring there’s so much, I felt the need to hide but, my hope is that as I confide I am gay that my words in the end will be inspiring Like many, I am no stranger to the dark Hide away, I always felt “‘Cause people don’t want your broken… Read More This Truly Is Me
1982 was an eventful year, with Ozzy Osbourne eating a bat live on stage, the Falkland War taking place and a new British Prince being born. In August, 1982. Robin Herman, who is currently assistant dean for research communications at HSPH, was then a metro reporter for The New York Times. She was assigned to cover a… Read More 1982
made in the image 