Resources
“What we know now is that changing the conversation is possible. Opening hearts and minds to God’s all-inclusive love is possible.” – My Mind Was Changed, A Communications Toolkit
A new way to talk with conflicted Christians about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in church and society. This communications toolkit, based on research in Michigan, offers what Auburn Media “believes to be the most powerful approaches to moving conflicted Christians from a place of standing against LGBT equality to standing for it.” The project was a collaboration of Auburn Media, Fenton, and Goodwin Simon Strategic Research and was funded by the Arcus Foundation.
This is a comprehensive LGBTQ guide of resources to empower Michigan faith groups to strengthen their welcoming, advocacy and service on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. The guide was published in 2012 by Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network with a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan. The Toolkit includes important information.
PFLAG’s Straight for Equality project is based on a simple present: The premise of the Straight for Equality project is pretty basic: There are many people out there who fall into the “I have a gay (or lesbian, or bi, or trans) friend and I want to be supportive” category, but don’t necessarily know what “be supportive” means—or, for that matter, if their support is even wanted PFLAG’s response is simple: Yes, your support is wanted and very much needed. More importantly, we can help you learn more about what your GLBT friends are facing, work through any of the challenges you may face to being an ally, and find ways to demonstrate your support, no matter where you are on your ally journey.
Faith Based Bibliography: Websites and Books
The bibliography includes general, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish resources, both websites and books. We would heartily welcome the addition of other resources, especially those recommended by persons who are adherents of faith traditions other than Christianity. Please e-mail suggestions to web@inclusivejustice.org
General
https://www.hrc.org/issues/religion-faithThe Human Rights Campaign Religion and Faith Program mobilizes people of faith to advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Although tilted heavily towards Christian resources, mention is made concerning the stances on LGBT issues of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
http://www.religioustolerance.org The website of the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, features a good overview of the debate over homosexuality, attempting to do so as objectively as possible. Although tilted heavily towards Christian resources, mention is made concerning the stances on LGBT issues of Bahai, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and other faith traditions.
Trans Youth in Michigan - StandWithTrans.org
Buddhist: Websites
Queer Dharma is a New York-based community of meditation practice for all people, founded and hosted by LGBTQ people [lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender, queer]. A broad range of Buddhist traditions are represented in their membership and visiting teachers.
http://www.gaybuddhistsangha.org We call ourselves a Sangha because we are a group of LGBT folk who, like the historical Buddha's Sangha, try to support each other in our practice as we explore together the Buddha way. Includes a listing of LGBT Buddhist groups by city and a listing of cybergroups.
Christian: Websites
https://www.thetaskforce.org/ The Task Force organizes, convenes and staffs the National Religious Leadership Roundtable (NRLR), a network of leaders from pro-LGBT faith, spiritual and religious organizations, and runs the Institute for Welcoming Resources (IWR), which works with the welcoming church movement in eight mainline Protestant denominations.
https://www.soulforce.org/ The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. Soulforce is a network of friends learning non-violence from Gandhi and King, seeking justice for Gods Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered children.
https://whosoever.org/ An online magazine for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Christians. 10 years of archived articles. A favorite resource of many.
http://www.otkenyer.hu/truluck/index.html The Rev. Rembert S. Trulucks Steps to Recovery From Bible Abuse, A Response to the Abusive Use of The Bible Against Gays and Lesbians and All Others Oppressed and Alienated by Religion.
https://godmademegay.weebly.com/ The response of former Southern Baptist Pastor Bruce W. Lowe to a friend of his, A Letter to Louise, who said to him and his wife, My brother hates God because God made him gay, and he knows he is going to hell, and I do, too, for that is what the Bible says." The appendix on Biblical authority is especially helpful.
Christian Denominational Resources: Websites
African-American Churches: The Fellowship radicallyinclusive.com
Unity Fellowship: unityfellowshipchurch.org
Baptist: Rainbow Baptists rainbowbaptists.org
Episcopalian: Integrity integrityusa.org & TransEpiscopal
Evangelical Non-denominational: Evangelicals Concerned ecinc.org/
Lutheran: Lutherans Concerned reconcilingworks.org/
United Church of Christ LGBT Ministries
United Church of Christ Michigan Open and Affirming Coalition
Metropolitan Community Churches: MCC mccchurch.org
Presbyterian: More Light Presbyterians mlp.org
First United Methodist of Ann Arbor fumc-a2.org
Unity LGBT Spiritual Resource Center https://www.unity.org/resources/lgbtq
Christian: Books
Anderson, Pamelajune "Can the LORD BE MY SHEPHERD If I Am Gay?"
Flunder, Yvette A. Where The Edge Gathers: Building A Community Of Radical Inclusion.
Glaser, Chris. Come Home: Reclaiming Spirituality and Community As Gay Men and Lesbians.
Glaser, Chris. Coming Out to God: Prayers for Lesbians and Gay Men, Their Families and Friends.
Glaser, Chris. Coming Out As Sacrament.
Glaser, Chris. The Word Is Out: The Bible Reclaimed for Lesbians and Gay Men.
Glaser, Chris. Uncommon Calling: A Gay Christian's Struggle to Serve the Church.
Goss, Robert E. & West, Mona (editors). Take Back The Word A Queer Reading Of The Bible.
Griffin, Horace L. Their Own Receive Them Not: African American Lesbians And Gays in Black Churches.
Helminiak, Daniel A. What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality.
McNeill, John J. The Church and the Homosexual.
McNeill, John J. Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians, and Everybody Else.
McNeill, John J. Taking a Chance on God: Liberating Theology for Gays, Lesbians, and Their Lovers, Families, and Friends.
McNeill, John J. The Church and the Homosexual.
McNeill, John J. Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians, and Everybody Else. Miner, Jeff & Connoley, John Tyler. The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships.
Myers, David G. & Scanzoni, Letha Dawson. What God Has Joined Together? A Christian Case for Gay Marriage.
Nelson,Thomas Arthur, An Ordinary Catholic, A View from the Pew. Website
Perry, Rev. Troy D. & Swicegood, Thomas L.P. Don't Be Afraid Anymore: The Story of Reverend Troy Perry and the Metropolitan Community Churches.
Scroggs, Robin. New Testament and Homosexuality.
Watkins Jr., Rev. Tommie L. Living Out Loud.
White, Rev. Mel. Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America.
Wilson, Rev. Nancy. Our Tribe: Queer Folks, God, Jesus and the Bible.
Hindu: Websites
https://www.galva108.org/. This website is provided by 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. Its purpose is to educate Vaishnavas, Hindus and the public in general about the third sex as described in Vedic literatures.
Hindu: Books
The Man Who Was a Woman and Other Queer Tales From Hindu Lore by Devdutt Pattanaik
Love's Rite: Same-Sex Marriage in India and the West by Ruth Vanita
Same-Sex Love in India: Readings from Literature and History by Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai
Tritiya-Prakriti: People of the Third Sex by Amara Das Wilhelm
Islamic: Websites
http://americanislamicfellowship.blogspot.com/ The American Islamic Fellowship provides an open forum and spiritual community based on Islamic principles for the diverse voices of people of faith, valuing gender equality in all areas of life and worship and believing that all people, regardless of age, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, culture, language, social status, religious or philosophical affiliation, or education, have the ability to be valuable contributory members to the fellowship.
https://www.mpvusa.org/ Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) is an inclusive community rooted in the traditional Quranic ideals of human dignity and social justice. We welcome all who are interested in discussing, promoting and working for the implementation of progressive values human rights, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state as well as inclusive and tolerant understandings of Islam.
Jewish: Websites
https://www.jccdet.org/arts-culture-education/jewish-gay-network/ The Jewish Gay Network of Michigans mission is to serve all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews, their families and friends, by providing community, information, empowerment and education in an environment of respect.
https://www.mpvusa.org/ A social/support group made up of frum/formerly frum* gay, lesbian, bi, and trans Jews ages 17-30, Features an anonymous online discussion group.
https://www.keshetonline.org/ Keshet is a national grassroots organization that works for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) Jews in Jewish life. Led and supported by GLBT Jews and straight allies, Keshet offers resources, trainings, and technical assistance to create inclusive Jewish communities nationwide.
Jewish: Books
Albert, Rebecca. Like Bread on the Seder Plate: Jewish Lesbians and the Transformation of Tradition (Columbia University Press, 1997)
Alpert, Rebecca T., Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, & Shirley Idelson (eds).
Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation (Rutgers University Press, 2001)
Beck, Evelyn Torton (ed). Mentsch: On Being Jewish and Queer (Alyson Press, 2004)
Beck, Evelyn Torton (ed). Nice Jewish Girls: A Lesbian Anthology (Beacon Press, 1989)
Beck, Gad. An Underground Life: Memoirs of a Gay Jew in Nazi Berlin (University of Wisconsin Press, 1999)
Boyarin, Daniel. Unheroic Conduct: The Rise of Heterosexuality and the Invention of the Jewish Man (University of California Press, 1997)
Boyarin, Daniel, Daniel Itzkovits, & Ann Pellegrini. Queer Theory and the Jewish Question (Columbia University Press, 2003)
Greenberg, Steve. Wrestling with God and Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition (University of Wisconsin Press, 2005)
Heger, Heinz. Men with the Pink Triangle: The True, Life-And-Death Story of Homosexuals in the Nazi Death Camps (Alyson Publications, 1994)
Raphael, Lev. Journeys & Arrivals: On Being Gay and Jewish (Faber & Faber, 1996)
Rapoport, Rabbi Chaim. Judaism and Homosexuality: An Authentic Orthodox View (Vallentine Mitchell, 2004)
Rose, Avi & Christie Balka (eds). Twice Blessed: On Being Lesbian, Gay, and Jewish (Beacon Press, 1991)
Ruttenberg, Danya (ed). Yentls Revenge: The Next Wave of Jewish Feminism
Schimel, Lawrence (ed). Found Tribe: Jewish Coming Out Stories (Sherman Asher Publishing, 2002)
Schimel, Lawrence & Rachel Kramer Bussel. The Burning Bush: Jewish Women Write about Sexuality
Shneer, David & Caryn Aviv. Queer Jews (Routledge, 2002)
Shokeid, Moshe. A Gay Synagogue in New York (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002)