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Full-Text Articles in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies

7 Things Churches Can Do To Make Queer People Feel Welcome, Erin E. Duran, Christin N. Taylor Apr 2015

7 Things Churches Can Do To Make Queer People Feel Welcome, Erin E. Duran, Christin N. Taylor

Center for Public Service Research

For as long as I can remember, the church, for me, has been a place characterized by shame and hurt. I remember Christian high school friends telling me that I would go to hell for being Queer. I remember hearing sermons from televangelists about the evils of homosexuality, and church leaders pressuring youth leaders to cast out their Queer members. I've heard more talk of "love the sinner, hate the sin," and "God didn't make gay," than anyone should, and I've even received personalized hate mail declaring that "God hates dykes." [excerpt]


The Cross In My Closet, Ann M. Sasala Feb 2015

The Cross In My Closet, Ann M. Sasala

SURGE

All this changed when I turned fourteen. Suddenly the quiet peace was shattered by my raucous, rebellious response to the “Adam and Eve Not Ann and Eve“ chanted by my neighbors, teachers, and family. The solace I once felt during prayer became a black hole of hate; instead of listening for words of kindness, instead of finding serenity, I spit in the faces of my family, friends, and religion. Hoping to purge my body of its new found, fiery anger, I turned to a priest who told me there could be no salvation: “man shall not lie with man…it is …