I’m the Parent of an LGBTQ Child… Two of Them! Our lives changed the day our child Annie called from college (at 20) to say they were bisexual. We lost family, friends, and community. A year later, our youngest came out as well! Our children took a great risk to come out and live their true authentic lives. I had to learn, and grow, and make mistakes. Annie gave me resources and I did extensive research. They told me stories... Read more
What are we to learn – and teach – from the Duggar family? A federal jury in Arkansas has convicted former reality TV star Josh Duggar of downloading and possessing child pornography. Josh admits to repeatedly molesting, assaulting and sexually abusing his younger sisters, and another unnamed minor, as well as cheating on his wife. The parents, Josh’s wife, and others – including prominent Evangelical Christian leaders – call it all a “mistake.” Yet these are the same people who,... Read more
Moms, would you sit with me here for a minute? Mother’s Day came and went. You went to brunch with family, got a call from the kids, maybe opened a card or a present. Or not. If you got a card, it is quite likely that reading those words of appreciation brought simultaneous joy and guilt! Seems to be the nature of motherhood. Please, come sit. I’d like to talk to you as a mom. Mother’s Day is supposed to make us feel appreciated (and sell cards), but it’s... Read more
Shhhhh. We have a secret weapon fighting for equality. Powerful. Effective. Ready to change the world. And it is hidden right in the middle of the nonaffirming conservative, evangelical church. There is a wall, erected by Christian leaders who are nonaffirming, between the church and people who just so happen to be LGBTQI+. Their teachings have encouraged or at least justified kicking LGBTQI children of their homes, removing their LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters out of churches, conveying an unBiblical, unChristlike... Read more
We are seeing the blatant hypocrisy from the nonaffirming religious community as they scramble to save face—actually, to save power. People like Franklin Graham have flung their hateful and incendiary remarks for years (see my blog post here), and now that it’s a full-blown dumpster fire, they want to back away, as they desperately pretend to now condemn a message they have repeatedly openly condoned. Too late! Do I sound angry? You bet I am. But am I hopeful? You... Read more
Leelah’s story is one you have probably heard. The transgender girl who committed suicide in 2014 by stepping in front of an oncoming tractor-trailer, citing her “Christian” parents’ rejection of her as the reason. Deep, sad sigh. Heartache. Anger. A life destroyed because of people’s ignorance and cruelty. On the Transgender Day of Remembrance we remember and mourn those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia. We also draw attention to the violence endured by transgender people. Some... Read more
You have seen the news: The president of a ultra-conservative Christian university resigns because of a torrid voyeur threesome relationship with his wife and another man; the Christian Texas lawmaker who argued against allowing two women, together for thirty years, to marry, while in the midst of his own 5th marriage. I could go on. Really, I could go on and on and on and on. Forgive me, but sometimes I just have to laugh. I mean, really. Maybe we... Read more
The Equality Act has all of this in the news again! Employers, foster care, adoption, florists, bakers, clerks… endless discrimination and attacks against LGBTQ+ in the name of ‘religious liberty.” I am not going to let you get away with it anymore. These stories, and others like it, are often trending and, as one of our readers said, “I’m sure we will always see the wave of persecution-whining on social media,” from those who claim to be losing their religious... Read more
“Saturday night, my daughter, Rachel, married the love of her life, Amy. This last year has been such a struggle of losing friends and strained relationships with family because we unconditionally love and support our beautiful Christian gay daughter. However we know we have made the right choice.” This post is about Randy, one of the Dads in our FreedHearts Dads Facebook group. With his permission, I want to share it with you. Here is Randy’s toast from the wedding... Read more
“Even in states with bans, the overwhelming percentage of conversion therapy still continues. Every state. Every day.” I see them on an increasingly regular basis. Social media posts celebrating another state that has banned conversion therapy. The latest was about Facebook’s decision to ban all conversion therapy ads on their platform and on Instagram. This is great progress and I celebrate as well! These bans are a large step and critical in a journey to bring this horrible, harmful practice... Read more
