Auschwitz Pink Triangle – A Familiar “Teaching of Contempt”

Last updated on: January 29, 2015 at 1:36 pm By Susan Cottrell

Auschwitz. Terror. Gas ovens. An efficient killing machine that murdered millions of people. Millions. The total numbers of those murdered in the Holocaust have been estimated at some 11 million, though recent discoveries have raised the toll to up to 20 million people. More than half of them Jews, the rest priests, pastors, Jehovah’s Witnesses, disabled, and other minorities – including homosexuals, not just Jews but Hitler’s own SS officers, all forced to wear a pink triangle to identify them... Read more

The Complicated Pain of Hiding Your True Colors

Last updated on: November 17, 2015 at 10:46 am By Susan Cottrell

To come out as LGBTQ can be excruciating. Such a high price is extracted, so much is at stake, who can blame people who hide their true selves? My heart weeps. Today I bring you a post that gives us a glimpse into just how hard it is, from my beloved friend Marg Herder at Christian Feminism Today. I offer this as a counter-balance to yesterday’s difficult and challenging post by Stephen at Sacred Tension. Please, read it with your heart open. No... Read more

Is ‘Side B Required Celibacy’ the New Ex-Gay?

Last updated on: January 14, 2016 at 8:10 pm By Susan Cottrell

I am honored to share a thought-provoking article. It may not be one with which I or you may agree, but it is important that we all hear & understand the reality of this author’s story & perspective. Written by Stephen, “an amateur musician, writer & communicator at Sacred Tension – a blog about faith, doubt, art & sexuality.” Stephen has a tender-hearted style and his story is compelling… Sometimes, your heart starts to break, and you don’t know why.... Read more

Jesus Blog: You Are Loved, Exactly As You Are!

Last updated on: January 24, 2015 at 11:02 am By Susan Cottrell

More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… My friend, I want you to know that God loves you exactly the way you are. Exactly. You may have been told you have to change before God will embrace you. You’ve been given a list of conditions before you can be a child of God. Hear me now: GOD DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT OF YOU. God loves you exactly as you are, completely, no exceptions, no requirements, no change... Read more

It’s A Matter of Life or Death

Last updated on: January 21, 2015 at 10:09 am By Susan Cottrell

Leelah Alcorn. Ryan Robertson. Tyler Clementi. “The message prohibiting LGBTQ relationships is a message of death,” Danny Cortez, a Southern Baptist pastor, said at the Gay Christian Network Conference in Portland, as he described his journey from nonaffirming pastor to affirming pastor and dad. If you’ve been in these circles you’ve probably heard Danny’s story. Death. Shame. Rejection. Conditional love. Limits to God’s acceptance. There is no life in any of that. If it brings shame, it’s outside our parameter... Read more

To a Church That Dehumanizes Gays

Last updated on: January 19, 2015 at 8:28 am By Susan Cottrell

“We need to attend church somewhere that is farther along in wrestling with these complex issues, somewhere John and any of his LGBT friends can join us if they wish and hear about God’s grace without having to feel defensive or ‘less than.'” This is a letter my friend wrote to their church. It beautifully expresses the need for churches to love LGBTQ. It’s worth the read. Dear Pastor, Last time we talked with you, we said we needed to... Read more

7 Reasons the Church Should Be Afraid NOT to Affirm LGBTQ

Last updated on: June 25, 2015 at 7:24 pm By Susan Cottrell

“What if you’re wrong about defending gays?” A dear friend asked me this yesterday, with sincere concern about my ongoing advocacy. Then the followup, “Aren’t you afraid of leading people astray?” This seems to be the underlying fear for so many in the church. What if homosexuality is wrong, as they’ve been taught since birth, in the church and in the culture? Fear has so consumed the church and larger culture on this issue, fear it has been spoonfed for... Read more

Our OTHER Daughter Comes Out! (Facebook, Wine & Cornflakes)

Last updated on: September 30, 2015 at 11:35 am By Susan Cottrell

It’s 8:28 am, I open my laptop, Facebook pops up, I click on “family” and Hannah, our daughter, has publicly announced to the world that she is a lesbian. OMG… I love this girl! 🙂 She is wise beyond her years and bolder and braver than me. This is Rob, Susan’s husband and a proud Daddy, writing you today. Hannah told us she was gay a couple years ago, but not many other people knew. She finished her schooling early... Read more

Jesus Blog: Live True To Who You Are. Be Free!

Last updated on: January 10, 2015 at 10:41 am By Susan Cottrell

More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… My beloved, did you forget that I came to set you free? Galatians 5:1-26. Free from condemnation. Romans 8:1. Free from fear. John 8:32. Free from slavery. Galatians 4:6-7. Free from corruption. Romans 8:21. Free from the law. Free from others’ opinions of you! Romans 14:1-23. Come to me all who are weary, worn out, carrying heavy loads — I will make you free to live 2... Read more

Dear Susan: Is My Gay Son Separated From God?

Last updated on: January 9, 2015 at 12:30 pm By Susan Cottrell

Even before we came out as parents of a gay child, and as allies and advocates, we had been accused of taking grace “too far.” If you can take grace too far, then it’s not grace. We have always been about love and life, more than behavior and performance. This is why a question like this really touches something deep within me. Parents are worried, confused, scared – but they need to understand that ANY teaching that says that their... Read more