High school students and staff are standing behind a gay football player after the notorious Westboro Baptist Church protested the teenager on March 12. The targeted student is a senior at the John Burroughs School in the St. (more…)
Tag: Christianity
All the latest breaking news on Christianity and the LGBT+ community. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features and commentary on Christianity and the LGBT+ community.
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Westboro Baptist Church protests gay teenage high school football player
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Catholic group criticises Tom Daley for baby news
“Tom Daley’s baby will be deliberately deprived of a mother”
Without knowing any of the facts surrounding the birth of a baby for Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black, a spokesperson for the Catholic pressure group, Catholic Voices has described the decision for Tom and Dustin to have a child is depriving the baby of a mother and its loss of identity.
Neither Tom or Dustin have announced whether a mother will be involved in the upbringing of their child, nor have they released any details on whether they are using a surrogate mother.
It’s also not known whether the mother involved has asked for anonymity.
On Valentine’s Day, both Tom and Dustin released a picture of an ultrasound, featuring a baby. The news was met with both praise and horrendous homophobia.
Elizabeth Howard from Catholic Voices told news outlet, Christian Today, “A baby is always a blessing and someone of inestimable value.
“However, Tom Daley’s baby will be deliberately deprived of a mother, and no matter how much Tom Daley and his partner love the baby, it will not make up for the enormous loss inflicted on him or her.”
Ms Howard describes herself as a “donor-conceived person” and said that growing up without her genetic parent meant she felt a “huge loss of identity” and had a sense of “not belonging”.
Catholic Voices describes itself as a project to “improve the Church’s representation in the media”.
Why are the Christians so obsessed with Tom Daley?
This isn’t the first time a Christian based group has criticised Tom Daley. In 2016 an article claimed that Tom was “seduced into sodomy” after the tragic death of his father.
The article by Stephen Green argued, that a “degree in psychology” wasn’t needed to work out why Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black were in a relationship together.
Stephen Green wrote, “Tom Daley, he was seduced into sodomy by an older man, not very long after the untimely death of his beloved father. You don’t need a degree in psychology to work out what’s going on there.”
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Gay teacher fired by Catholic school after wedding
A Miami teacher returned to work after celebrating her wedding to her partner only to get fired from her job. The Catholic school teacher, Jocelyn Morffi, posted photos her marriage last weekend to Facebook and was fired from the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School on Thursday after returning to work the day before. “This weekend… (more…)
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No Hazel-E we won’t forgive you for your dangerous homophobia
After writing that we should burn in hell, Love & Hip-Hop Hollywood star Hazel-E is asking for forgiveness.
Hazel E star of the Love & Hip-Hop Hollywood TV show is apparently asking her gay fans to forgive her after saying “burn in hell just like God said in the bible”!
She made the comment in a comment on her boyfriend’s already homophobic Instagram post, which proclaimed that he said he hoped all gays would die and go to hell.
Why did this all come about? Well, some troll apparently accused her boyfriend, Rose Burgundy of being gay and he was not happy about it. Taking to Instagram he wrote, “You really want to know how I feel about gays so bad well here you go I hope all gays die and go to hell…”
Hazel-E then commented under his post saying, “Burn in hell just like God said in the Bible!”
TMZ gave the star a platform to explain herself and her remarks.
In a video, she says that she didn’t think her comment was a good idea and that she relied on the LGBT community for supporting her career. She also said that she didn’t mean the entire community – just that one troll.
She said, “OMG, my life this hair, this makeup, this glam, my world would like, fall apart without the LGBT community”
Watch as she asks for forgiveness and then tries to explain her comment away.
Ermmm… No
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COMMENT | Religious bigots don’t deserve to keep their jobs
The Archbishop of Sydney has said that religious believers could lose their jobs if same-sex marriage is legalised in Australia. If these religious believers are acting bigoted or being narrow-minded, then quite frankly, they don’t deserve to keep their jobs.
He went on to say those religious believers could also face discrimination suits and bullying if the bill is passed. But what about the bullying and discrimination homosexuals have faced for years? He clearly doesn’t care about the homosexuals facing this. Hypocrisy. And such a caring attitude for a religious leader. Please excuse my sarcasm.
He told worshippers that the government should “keep out of the friendship business and out of the bedroom.” Maybe he should take his own advice and keep out of the situation also. What right does being the Archbishop give him to interfere in friendship and bedroom matters?
“The state has no business telling us who we should love and how, sexually or otherwise.” In his arrogance, he is, ironically, showing support of same-sex marriage. Thank you for that Archbishop. For once, we might actually agree on a point. No one should play God and tell anyone who they can love or marry. Pun intended. The fact we still need to vote on such matters is a disgrace in itself.
This delightful human being carried on saying that it’s best for children to have a mother and a father. So Archbishop, what about the poor children who have been bought up in a single parent family because one parent died? Or the awful stories we hear of children being sexually abused by their mother and father?
I’m no genius, but that is clearly not best for children. Issues in our society are not so black and white. It’s not a simple case of stating children should have heterosexual parents, one being a woman and one being a man.
In my eyes, it’s best for children to have a role model who cares for them and loves them unconditionally and teaches them right from wrong. This could be a single parent or a mother and father or a mother and mother or a father and father.
He continued in his arrogant preaching by saying if marriage is redefined, it will be very hard to speak up for real marriage anymore. What is real marriage, Archbishop? Beg my pardon for my simplistic views, but I thought marriage was the joining of two people who love each other whilst committing themselves, for richer, poorer, in sickness and in health etc.
He said the vote had implications for religious freedom. This is actually so angering because the vote actually has massive implications for human freedom. The freedom for people to marry who they want to marry.
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Oxford students banned Christian Union from Freshers’ fair over homophobia concerns
Students at Balliol, one Oxford University’s most prestigious colleges, banned the Christian Union (CU) from its Freshers’ Fair, citing homophobia and neo-colonialism as its reasoning.
The CU was banned from attending and recruiting student members at the college’s Freshers’ Fair this year after organisers said that their presence could cause harm to communities “struggling to feel welcome in Oxford.”
President of the JCR, Hubert Au, wanted the event to be a “secular environment.”
Au wrote, “Christianity’s influence on many marginalised communities has been damaging in its methods of conversion and rules of practice, and is still used in many places as an excuse for homophobia and certain forms of neo-colonialism”.
The decision was reached through discussions with the JCR Welfare subcommittee.
In the end, a general, multi-faith religious stall was allowed at the fair on the understanding that no representatives from any of the faith societies staffed it. There was a vote by students at the college, on Sunday that said the decision was a ” violation of free speech and religious freedom.” The motion prohibited the barring of official religious societies from future freshers’ fairs.
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Anglican Church penalises Scottish arm over gay marriage
The Anglican Church on Tuesday disciplined its Scottish branch for deciding to allow same-sex couples to get married in its churches. The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) voted in June to change its law on marriage, removing the reference to it being between a man and a woman. As a result the first gay wedding in a… (more…)
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History is made as two men wed in a UK Church
A gay couple in Scotland has made UK history after getting married in a Church.
Peter Matthews and Alistair Dinnie have made history after becoming the first same-sex wedding to take place in a church wedding. The marriage was permitted because rules around gay marriages in churches were relaxed earlier this year – but only for churches in Scotland.
The couple Peter Matthews and Alistair Dinnie were married at St John’s Church, run by the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC).
The Scottish Episcopal Church was the first Christian church in the UK to allow same-sex marriage in its churches. The rule change was not mandated however and clergy will not be forced to officiate at those marriages if it goes against their conscience.
The amendment to canon law on marriage, which removed the stipulation that marriage is only between a man and a woman, was carried by the Synod in Edinburgh.
Same-sex marriages cannot take place in Church of England churches or at all in Northern Ireland.
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This Brighton church welcomes its first non-binary, trans man ordained minister
A Brighton church is the first to welcome their first non-binary, trans man minister.
Rev. Peta Evans is to join the church in Brighton as an Associate Pastor. The Village Metropolitan Community Church is a church which was created by LGBT+ Christians, their families, their friends and allies.
The Reverend’s first sermon is due to be given on the 8th October at 6 PM at the Village MCC. In 2010 Peta left Brighton to train a clergy intern in North London and now is returning to Brighton
When not ministering, Peta is a care-worker and tailor.
Rev. Peta said, “Returning to Brighton, I am excited to serve again in the community which first welcomed me and supported me in both my ministry journey and my gender transition. I would love to see the sincere passion and integrity of The Village MCC reach out even more widely to people of all ages, gender identities and walks of life.
“I am also enthusiastic about reclaiming the Bible from those who have tried to make it a weapon against those who are different, and I’m starting a group for Trans people to do just that, ReTranslation, to look at the text for themselves without past interpretations getting in the way. I have a love for Celtic spirituality, which weaves together the practical and the spiritual, finding depth and delight in all things, no matter how mundane, and for creative expressions of spirituality, which I hope to share with The Village in the coming months.”
Rev. Michael Hydes, Senior Pastor of The Village MCC said, “I’m looking forward to working with Rev. Peta. Their rootedness in Celtic Christianity and experience working in the Trans communities are just two of the many gifts they bring to their work. I know we’ll all be enriched by their participation in our church life and leadership within our community of faith.”
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Brazil just ruled that being gay is a disease
A court in Brazil has ruled that gay cure therapy is legal
Despite having one of the largest LGBT+ prides in the world, a court in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, has ruled that homosexuality is a disease and that so-called “gay cure” therapy is legal.
Judge Waldemar Claudio de Carvalho ruled that homosexuality can be treated as a disease and that conversion therapy as a means of curing it, is legal. The ruling has caused widespread condemnation and concern amongst LGBT+ people and their allies.
The judge overruled a 1999 resolution which outlawed therapists from treating homosexuality.
The appeal on that resolution was put forward by an evangelical Christian, Rozangela Justino, who was banned from practising after offering conversion therapies.
A number of high-profile organisations and people have rallied against the ruling saying that they will appeal the decision. Toni Reis, who heads the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Alliance, said the ruling was a step in the wrong direction plans to appeal at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Brazil’s psychology council says it would appeal the injunction also.
Speaking to the Guardian, David Miranda, a gay councillor in Rio de Janeiro said,
“This decision is a big regression to the progressive conquests that the LBGT community had in recent decades”.
Brazil also has one of the highest crime and murder rates against LGBT+ people in the world. In 2016 it was recorded that one LGBT+ person was killed every day in Brazil.
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The Bishop of Liverpool just became the Patron of Pride 2017
Liverpool Pride today announces a new Patron for the 2017 festival which takes place over two packed days this month.
The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, says he is delighted to back the region’s established annual celebration of all things LGBT+, and is looking forward to taking part in this year’s festivities.
Liverpool Pride 2017 takes place on Saturday 29 July and Sunday 30 July, with the spectacular entertainment returning to the stunning St George’s Quarter for a third year.
The festival, in its eighth consecutive year, has an exciting star-studded line-up to make the 2017 free event a colourful celebration of all things LGBT+.
Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets for the colourful annual Liverpool Pride March on Saturday 29 July as it wends its way around the city centre. Bishop Paul will be among those invited to speak at the Muster outside St George’s Hall ahead of the march setting off on its route.
Atomic Kitten are headlining the main Barclays Festival Stage on 29 July, while there is also a packed programme planned for the annual We Are Family day on Sunday 30 July.
And there is a busy line-up of Pride Community events including exhibitions, workshops, music, literature, theatre and Pride at the Pictures.
Meanwhile, a host of Liverpool landmarks will be lit in rainbow colours as part of the Come Out of the Shadows initiative – helping make Liverpool the most visibly LGBT+ city in the UK.
Bishop Paul said,
“Ever since the tragic death of Michael Causer, Liverpool Pride has stood for the struggle for justice as well as the celebration of LGBTI+ life in our city and region. I am privileged to identify with Pride’s contribution to tackling prejudice and promoting awareness of the richness of our LGBTI+ community. As a Christian, I really believe that Jesus wants a community where all are included and free from fear.
“Now we all know that the Christian church in general, and the Church of England as part of that, can get itself into a twist over inclusion and equality issues. I myself have been advocating in the church for LGBTI+ inclusion, and all Christians have to agree that homophobia and hate crime are evil and are to be resisted.
“At the recent meeting of our General Synod the Church of England made some clear and positive statements resisting so-called conversion therapy and exploring services of welcome for trans people who want their true identity to be recognised before God.
“When I came to Liverpool three years ago and met LGBTI+ Christians across Merseyside, and in particular our Open Table LGBTI+ Christian community, I saw again the real joy we can know as a church when we are open and welcoming to all.”
Liverpool Pride’s Lucy Day added,
“We are all delighted that the Bishop is to be a patron of Liverpool Pride, and we welcome him to the Liverpool Pride family. We’re very much looking forward to him joining us at Pride weekend this month.
“Pride respects people of all religious beliefs.”
The theme of this year’s Pride is International Love, complementing the city’s wider 50 Summers of Love festival, which celebrates 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.