The first women’s rights conventions took place in Seneca Falls, NY in 1848. Seventy-five years later, a version of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was first introduced to Congress by feminist advocate Alice Paul who believed that the Nineteenth Amendment was not enough to protect the equal treatment of persons, regardless of sex. ERA […]
Same worship song, one week apart, yet today I’m pained. This emotional ache is not a new place for me. I’ve frequently found myself here over the past decade, and it’s become increasingly more difficult to withstand. For me, the worship portion of church services used to be so “me-centric.” I owned those song— me and God, me and Jesus, […]
Franklin Graham is bringing his “Decision America Tour” to Carson City, Nevada on Wednesday, March 30th. And, I will be there . . . with a protest sign. I’ll be standing as a silent (mostly) witness against grievous words repeatedly spoken by Graham against the gay and transgender communities, in particular, gay children and transgender children. I […]
This is the third in a series of posts challenging the sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender hierarchy/ binary teachings of Pastor Harvey Turner, Lead Pastor of Living Stones Church, Reno, Nevada. [Harvey is not alone in his teachings. Many conservative churches teach these principles, inclusive of members of the Acts 29 network, co-founded by now-shamed and fired Mark […]
This Sunday, attendees of the Living Stones Church, Reno, Nevada will hear a sermon partially focused on gender. Deuteronomy 22:5 is one of the proof texts being used to discuss gender so that hearers might be “biblically faithful and compassionate to those struggling with (gender dysphoria).” […]
THERE IS A 24 HOUR SALE 12/17 noon to 12/18 noon ET Register at https://gcnconf.com/register and use Code SAVE35 The annual Gay Christian Network Conference brings over 1500 Christians of all ages and backgrounds together for support, engagement, and more. This year, discover what’s next for the LGBT faith community—and for you. If you are a parent […]
In July 2015, Kathy Baldock and Yvette Cantu Schneider began hosting a weekly 30-40 minute podcast which will be archived. Canyonwalker Connections is one of the foremost organizations working to educate and invite productive dialogue for both religious inclusion, and for social equality for the LGBT community. Kathy Baldock is the Executive Director of Canyonwalker […]
I am part of the 2%. According the polls released by the Barna Group gathered from research immediately after the Supreme Court ruling extending federal marriage equality to same-sex couples, only 2% of evangelicals[1] strongly support the decision. Evangelicals, compared with all other denominations, and with all adults in general, are identified as the least […]
Canyonwalker Connections is developing several online seminar series to help train and educate. The new curriculum will be offered in repeated six-week sessions throughout the year. Each session will be specialized for targeted audiences including: Christian parents of LGBT youth, PFLAG chapters, and GSAs, and pastors and church leaders who are seeking understanding. Anyone is welcome to any […]
I get a lot of mail. Occasionally, the juxtaposition of incoming messages solidify, once again, why I am dedicated to educating and engaging the conservative church on equality and full inclusion for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians. Yesterday, there were two notes sitting in my “other” box on Facebook. One was from a youth […]
In 2001, I met a lesbian hiker along my local hiking trails. That friendship with Netto shook loose my cultural judgments about gay people, yet my biblical dogma about gays and faith remained firmly intact. Over the next few years, though I socialized with gay and lesbian friends and their friends, I never encountered any who professed […]
I’m never surprised when someone who claimed not to be gay suddenly announces that, surprise, they actually are gay. Like I’ve said many times before, I haven’t met a so-called ex-gay man I didn’t think was still gay. Not one. It’s one of many reasons I left the Christian Right and the advocacy work I […]
Last year many of you responded to a call for help for LGBT Russian youth in crisis. I’m back again to help a friend with a direct connection to a doctor working underground helping with medical care, HIV/AIDS medication and condoms. Last year a significant amount of money was raised through the connections I have […]
I sent Christian a note on March 11th, 2011, a few days after I had seen him on the Lisa Ling Our America: Pray the Gay Away show. There was something unsettling and robotic about him in the televised interview. He said he was no longer gay; to me he looked empty. Ling visited his apartment; […]
I am on the board of The Reformation Project (TRP), founded by Matthew Vines. The mission of the organization is to: seeks to reform church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. This fall, TRP will host our first leadership conference for 50 straight, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians who are committed to reform. From September […]
