LGBT people and faith

For LGBT religious, choosing between their sexuality and their faith is not a choice they want to make. It is a choice that they may not actually have to make. This section intends to provide resources, links and contacts to help people reconcile both their spiritual and sexual natures.

I think God appreciates it even more because He created you in His image. At least that's what I was always taught. And since God is love and God doesn't make mistakes, then you must be exactly the way he wants you to be, the way he intended you to be. And that goes for every person, every planet, every mountain, every grain of sand, every song, every tear… and every faggot. We're all His. He loves us all. - Ted Schmidt

Local Resources

We are contacting all the faith advisers of the university to establish how they would minister to LGBT religious people. In the meantime, Reverend Chris Howson at Desmond Tutu House is always willing to speak with people who are struggling with their sexual and religious identities. Desmond Tutu House is just opposite the University, next to the Treehouse, and also houses a Liberation library, which has a small section of queer theology.

Detailed Information

Wikipedia now has a reasonable collection of discussions on LGBT issues in most faiths: LGBT_and_religion_topics

External Links

Islam

"If anyone harms (others), God will harm him, and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him." Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1625.

Imaan - LGBT Muslim social support group based in the UK.

The Safra Project - A group on issues relating to lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender Muslim women.

Al-Fatiha - An American non-profit for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed and questioning Muslims.

A Jihad for Love - Recent documentary on the lives of lesbian and gay Muslims.

Judaism

Orthogays - A resource for frum Orthodox Jews.

Orthodykes - A website for Orthodox Jewish lesbians.

Keshet - An organisation to support reinterpretation of scriptures and change attitudes within the Conservative movement.

Dear David - An in-depth responsa from a Masorti Rabbi on the topic of homosexuality.

Liberal Judaism - I'm reliably informed its the only UK denomination where you can be out and proud.

Keshet Manchester - a LGBT Jewish group in Manchester.

Christianity

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" - 1 John 4:18 (New Internationalist Version)

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." - Romans 15:7

LGBTQ inclusive churches in Bradford include the SoulSpace and Bradford Cathedral. Soul Space is just across the road from the University in the Desmond Tutu House. The Revd. Chris Howsen puts on SoulSpace on Sundays as well as JustChurch on Tuesdays, for active discipleship focusing on peace and human rights, as well as the interfaith party SoulJam. The Desmond Tutu house, as well as being home to the Victor Jara Liberation Theology Library whish has a special section on queer theology.

Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement - Encourages fellowship, friendship, and support among individual lesbian and gay Christians and supports lesbian and gay Christians subjected to discrimination.

Quest - Laity-led group for lesbian and gay Catholics in the UK.

Dignity - American support group for lesbian and gay Catholics.

Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians - "The important things for us are our faith as Christians and the knowledge that God loves and values us for who we are. We therefore firmly believe that there is no contradiction in being both gay and Christian."

SisterFriends Together - A LGBTQ women's site, but with resources on men’s issues as well.

Hinduism

The Gay and Lesbian Vaishnava Association - "An international organization dedicated to the teachings of Lord Caitanya, the importance of all-inclusiveness within His mission, and the Vedic concept of a natural third gender."

Sikhism

SARBAT - A group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Sikhs.

Sikihism and Sexuality - A leaflet from a Sikh educational site mentioning homosexuality.

Mormon

Affirmation - a group for LGBT Mormons [http://www.affirmation.org/]


Please help us help you. We are very keen to hear from adherents of the faiths listed above, your experiences of being LGBT and religious, and what we can do to support you. If there is a faith that you would like to see included in this section, please don't hesitate to contact us at moc.liamg|tbgldrofdarB#moc.liamg|tbgldrofdarB.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License