{"id":8819,"date":"2017-02-24T03:02:31","date_gmt":"2017-02-24T09:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/unfundamentalistchristians\/?p=8819"},"modified":"2017-02-24T00:35:21","modified_gmt":"2017-02-24T06:35:21","slug":"glitter-serious-business-story-behind-glitter-ash-wednesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/unfundamentalistchristians\/2017\/02\/glitter-serious-business-story-behind-glitter-ash-wednesday\/","title":{"rendered":"Glitter Is Serious Business: The Story Behind Glitter Ash Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

This guest post was written by Marian Edmonds-Allen<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"glitter\"<\/p>\n

Glitter is serious business.\u00a0 No, really.<\/p>\n

On March 1st, as the Christian world enters the holy season of Lent, LGBT and LGBT affirming clergy will be offering ashes mixed with a bit of purple glitter as a means of welcoming LGBT people who may have felt rejected by the church and as an affirmation of God\u2019s love for all. The project is a partnership between Parity<\/a>, Liz Edman (the author of Queer Virtue<\/a>)<\/em>, and Metropolitan Community Churches, and has clergy from a variety of denominations who will be participating throughout the country, currently in eleven states.<\/p>\n

Parity has been receiving criticism that our Glitter Ash Wednesday project is \u201cBlasphemy!\u201d \u201cSave glitter for Fat Tuesday,\u201d some critics say, because glitter betrays the \u201csomber time that is Ash Wednesday.\u201d<\/p>\n

We disagree. In fact, the whole point of Glitter Ash Wednesday is to reflect the deep, somber, serious faith in Jesus\u2019 life, death, and resurrection that millions of queer Christians have. And yes, there are millions of us queer and queer positive Christians. Surprised? No wonder, because the lie gets told over and over again that \u201cGod hates fags\u201d and that homosexuality is sinful.\u00a0Precious few queer Christians survive the hate and make it through to become visible members of the church.<\/p>\n

I spent five years working with LGBTQ+ youth and their families in Utah, and saw time and again hundreds of youth and children kicked out for being\u2013or even seeming\u2013LGBTQ+. Parents told their kids, \u201cI wish you had never been born\u201d\u00a0and even \u201cI wish you were dead.\u201d One week eight young people died by suicide. One night a young girl slept in the snow because her parents told her to leave at bedtime. One Christmas a young teen found himself with a suitcase and no place to go. One trans girl, kicked out by her father the Bishop, walked for miles to \u201csafety,\u201d only to be assaulted again and again.<\/p>\n

And why? Because of the misplaced belief that God hates queer people. That queer people are not born that way, that they need to change or face the consequences of their sin. The still burgeoning field of \u201creparative therapy\u201d attests to that, with thousands of people to this day subjected to terrifying experiences, including physical punishment, all trying\u00a0to win God\u2019s (and parental) love.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrow religion out!\u201d is the rallying cry, and no wonder. While 20% of mainstream Americans don\u2019t identify with a religion, 50% of LGBTQ identified people refuse religious affiliation. Some say this is further proof that God hates gay people, that gay people hate God back. My experience with queer youth, especially queer homeless youth, shows the opposite: spiritually gifted people whose gifts are denied long enough that they no longer even try.<\/p>\n

What happens when queer people lose faith? The majority wins. The very people who say God hates gay people are the people who control churches, communities, and governments. Laws are passed, and the cycle continues. Try telling a trans kid that the reason they can\u2019t use the bathroom that matches their gender identity is because \u201cGod made Adam and Eve,\u201d and watch their face fall and then harden.\u00a0Religion is killing kids and expelling them from their homes. Religion is excluding queer people from assuming leadership positions.<\/p>\n

But\u00a0Jesus despised religion and loved people who were hated and excluded\u2013He gathered them to Himself. This Glitter Ash Wednesday, queer Christians are not being silly and disrespectful. They are claiming their birthright as children of a God that loves them, exactly as who they are. These queer and queer positive Christians are claiming the journey that is Lent, towards the persecution and death of Jesus. And these queer and queer positive Christians also claim the resurrection of Jesus. For when those ashes sparkle, that glitter shines, it is a reflection of the very light and life of Christ Himself, given up as a gift for all people. Queer Christians claim that gift, on Ash Wednesday, for all to see.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.queervirtue.com\/glitter-ash-wednesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Rev. Marian Edmonds-Allen is the Executive Director of Parity, a faith-based organization that works to empower LGBTQ and allied people as they explore the intersections of their spiritual, gender and sexual identities. Parity offers a range of education and advocacy programs for adults and youth, and supports new and prospective LGBTQ faith and social justice leaders. Find out more at\u00a0parity.nyc<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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