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Oh God I'm Gay
"Oh God I'm Gay" is a new weekly audio podcast with host Alicia Ross introducing you to a variety of accomplished community and spiritual leaders from all different faiths, backgrounds, and points of view. She aims to gain insight into their unique spiritual journeys while exploring relevant social issues that affect the LGBT community. Notable guests include Rev. Dr. Mel White from SoulForce, Orthodox Rabbi Steven Greenberg, Ann Craig from GLAAD, and Angelika Torres a transgender singer/dancer. Listen to the episodes or subscribe to the podcast here.
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Finally
Christian and gay
This is great!
I'm subscribed and can't wait to dive into these first two episodes.
I support this!
My Grandmother would have been so happy...
I was raised Catholic----(I suspect this whole don't ask, don't tell thing may have started in Italy where my grandparents came from!)---and have had to sever ties with that religion for obvious reasons...so, I think its great to offer an outlet to the folks who remain conflicted about this.
Actually, in my house it was more like Don't Ask, Do Yell !!
(Stealing this quote from my own novel.)
--Mari
Mari SanGiovanni
Author of: Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer...
www.GreetingsFromJamaica.com
To check out the book:
I thought I was the only one - Thank you
Episode 3
Thanks,
...I'm in.
"Great minds think alike. They just don't always reach the same conclusion" - stolen from the Little Dutch Girl
Religion and LBGT
To add your voice to this discussion of religion and the queer community, or to gain more information on these topics and how they affect you, please visit this forum on AfterEllen.com.
To the Powers That Be: Thanks again for this series. I know it will be a relief to many just to know that it exists.
"Brains grow love."--H. H. the Dalai Lama
http://blog.myspace.com/ysubassoon
Future Guests
If you're looking for future guests, CA Faith for Equality, an interfaith coalition of faith communities that support civil marriage equality in California, can point you towards meaningful speakers. Please email kerry@cafaithforequality.org to let me know if you're interested.
Thanks for this program!!
Thanks!
YAY!
This sounds so awesome! I'm checking into it!
G O L D E N
Just what I need.
Very insightful. Looking forward to the next one!
Great Idea
thanks
Thank you for your insightful and much needed podcasts.
Coming Out of the Closet
Coming out as a Christian is often much harder than as a LGBTI person.
I work at a multicultural and multiracial church in New York City that recognizes that--and is dedicated to helping people with their LGBTI faith in a very diverse and energetic congregation, that includes LGBTI people, straight people, and people from all diffferent ethnic and social backgrounds.
I will let everyone know about this great program. And please excuse the promotion, when I let people know that they can learn more about us!
Please check us out at www.middlechurch.org. You can click on a button on the right or go to www.middlechurch.org/lgbti if you want to go directly to what we are doing as part of our mission.
Again, please excuse the promotion, but there is so much that gets done incorectly in the name of religion, that I wanted to show people what can be done correctly.
FINALLY ... Thankyou !
RESPECT to whoever is responsible .
I was beginning to think other gay people just run away from religion... and felt very lonely and stuck cos I love God and love talking about God.. and its hard to do when its literally such a Taboo topic with so many gay chicks!
=)
Re: FINALLY
Feedback
Thank you and God bless you - we need what you're doing. There's a void that you fill for a lot of us!
"Great minds think alike. They just don't always reach the same conclusion" - stolen from the Little Dutch Girl
Episode 6
.
Do you have the transcriptions?
I am unable to listen to the podcasts but really want to - Do you have the text version of what was said in the interview?
Such a great idea by the way :)
<>Love, Crayon <>
Hey Ally,Transcripts aren't
Hey Ally,
Transcripts aren't available right now, but that is definetly something I would like to make available at some point. What kind of problem(s) are you experiencing when you try to download the episodes?
Can you find some Muslim
Hey Alicia,
Can you find some Muslim guest who can speak to this issue. Their are a lot of us closet Muslimahs who are struggling right now.
Yes, absolutely!! Look for
Yes, absolutely!! Look for an interview in the coming weeks with Raquel Evita Saraswati, who is the Executive Director of Project Ijtihad.
If you know of anyone else let me know!!
Suggestion
Great and they don't have to
Great and they don't have to be female, or necessarily LGBT to be a guest on the podcast..there is a fun episode coming up with a guest that doesn't identify as LGBT but does work around spirituality and health in the gay community.
and of course there is Angelika Torres which was just posted today who identifies as a transgender female.
Stay tuned!
Discussion Topic
Hi all, I got this comment from a listener and so with her permission I'm re-posting it here for discussion:
I have been out for 11 years and a born again Christian 2 years. But very recently the church I had been going to really started to show their beliefs on gays & lesbians. It has made it very difficult for me to continue going. I hear all the arguements of what "man" says is in the Bible but does anyone really know? I just know that since I found God, my life has been fuller, richer and more peaceful. Any thoughts or suggestions of what I could do about the church thing?? I know it would be easy to leave and find another one but aren't we suppose to forgive those who have hurt us?
What do you all think about this?
Argh!
See me as I am
I am a gay christian latino. I believe that whatever you hide in the dark will someday come out to light. If your going to church and they don't believe in what you believe in then leave. If they found out that she was gay they will not involve her in church activities no matter how much they say they love her and would want her to stay. I believe churches are like clubs. If you don't follow the rule you won't be able to participate in club activities or you will get booted. Be out n about where ever you go otherwise you will live a more stressful life.
By the way... As you can see I am not a chic.. Is this sight only for chics?
God sees me as I am
Hey thanks for commenting,
The Church of Christ...
...is in the body of His believers. He said that where ever two or more are gathered He is with them and this fits perfectly with your statements about "church" I agree wholeheartedly with you. That's all the Church I really need. I do go to Church on Sunday to be enlightened about scripture and for fellowship, but not because I feel I have to go. I don't worry too much about others judging me, they have been warned about that.
Hey Muse, you do not have to give up faith because you're gay. We are created by God and we are His children. He has said He will not forsake those who believe in Him. I think I'll just take Him at His word and disregard the noise from foolish people and religous orders corrupted by man.
"Great minds think alike. They just don't always reach the same conclusion" - stolen from the Little Dutch Girl
new to this site
I wonder if the Gay Christian Network will make it on this....
The Word of God
Hello. I love those of you who are here, and you should hear an opposing veiwpoint. Without seeing both sides you will never know the truth. Jesus said you will know the truth, and the truth you set you free. Before you read this please know, this isn't hate, this is the facts. Those who claim this to be hatred are really just afraid and they don't want to hear something as powerful as this. If you are right, then you should be able to prove I am wrong.
It really shocks me that so many of you can quickly assume that the Bible actually endorses homosexuality! All it takes is a quick read of Romans chapter 1 to see the truth on what the Bible has to say. I've been saved (born again) and I know the Word of God. You cannot take one scripture and forget the entire bible. There are many different scriptures that show that Homosexuality is wrong--and I'm talking New Testament scriptures.
You must approach your search for the truth without bias. If you go trying to justify homosexuality, you will end up twisting the scripture, and make illogical conclusions to make homosexuality right. Peter warned that many would do this to the Apostle Paul's letters---read 2 Peter 3:16 and you'll see that those who go searching for loopholes in Pauls letters will fall into error. The Holy Spirit is not a God of confusion, and truth is not difficult. The Bible is very clear and very easy to understand. Homosexuality is clearly condemned over and over again in the New Testament. To say otherwise is a blatant denail of the obvious and clear truth.
For those of you who know Ezekiel 16, God said the men of Sodom and Gomorrah died because they practiced abomination in addition to not helping the poor. When we look at the account in Genesis, we obviously see that Satan had totally overwhelmed the city with sexual perversion--namely homosexuality. Violence, rebellion, and sexual immorality led to judgment. As it says, “the men of Sodom were exceeding sinners before the Lord”
to Nick:
Did you come here just to preach at us and tell us what we already know? I promise you, just about every gay person alive has had those verses thrown at us.
Let's talk about what you said, shall we? You dissect the Bible. I'm going to dissect you.
"I love those of you who are here," Do you really? If you love us, why are you coming to OUR website and telling us we're abominations?
"and you should hear an opposing veiwpoint." Not here. This is a place for support.
"Without seeing both sides you will never know the truth." "You must approach your search for the truth without bias. " Are YOU looking at both sides? Are you approaching without bias? Clearly you are not. You're approaching from the bias and side of the Bible.
"Before you read this please know, this isn't hate, this is the facts." "I know the Word of God." The facts according to YOU. The Word of God according to YOU. The simple fact that there are many other interpretations makes it fairly clear to me that no one person knows the truth. Unless you have recently had a long talk with God, you don't know anything but what you get out of the translation of a translation that you read. And undoubtedly someone else helped you out, someone who translates, for instance, the sin of Sodom as homosexuality.
"Those who claim this to be hatred are really just afraid and they don't want to hear something as powerful as this. If you are right, then you should be able to prove I am wrong." Alternatively, we just don't believe it. Because, Nick, it's belief. You have no more proof than I do. I can't prove you wrong, because I can't prove anyone's BELIEFS wrong. But you can't prove mine wrong either.
"All it takes is a quick read of Romans chapter 1 to see the truth on what the Bible has to say." "and I'm talking New Testament scriptures." I'm Jewish. So first you have to convince me that my entire religion is wrong, and THEN you have to convince me that being gay is wrong.
"you will end up twisting the scripture, and make illogical conclusions to make homosexuality right." Surely no one would ever twist Scripture! the Crusades, the Inquisition, Queen Mary's reign, the Puritans burning witches--that wasn't twisting Scripture. Why do you get to decide what is twisting and what is not? I'm sure that Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand were just as vehement and certain as you are when they burned Jews at the stake.
"Homosexuality is clearly condemned over and over again in the New Testament. To say otherwise is a blatant denail of the obvious and clear truth." Again, perhaps using something that the majority of the world doesn't believe in isn't gonna help. Who are Peter and Paul to tell me anything? Were they on Mount Sinai, having the Torah dictated directly by God? Why should I listen to them?
"God said the men of Sodom and Gomorrah died because they practiced abomination in addition to not helping the poor. " Actually, there are other ways to read it, based on the Hebrew. I don't read Hebrew, but I've heard lectures from rabbis who do (and Biblical Hebrew, which is what matters), and it's possible that the sin was incest. The Torah isn't terribly clear on a lot of things, and it's likely that the translators of that day decided to go with homosexuality, being homophobes.
"we obviously see that Satan had totally overwhelmed the city with sexual perversion--namely homosexuality." I don't believe in Satan, and I don't believe he's mentioned in the Torah. Again, sexual perversion can mean a number of things.
Nick, you are free to believe what you want. But it is out of line to come and do it here. I don't go to Christian websites and tell them that they're abominations, or try to tear them down. I especially don't do it using scriptures that a large chunk of them may not believe. There are many places for you to say these things. Please don't come to a website where many of us look for love and support and tell us that God condemns us--especially since you don't know that. I don't know that. I can get a rabbi, a priest, a monk, an imam, and a minister together and no one will agree, but they will all be equally passionate. And I fully respect your right to your passion--but please take it elsewhere.
Just so you know, clapifyoulikeme...
I clapped. Thanks for writing.
"Brains grow love."--H. H. the Dalai Lama
Blog update! http://blog.myspace.com/ysubassoon
Wow!
Any post that begins with the subject line "The Word of God" makes me cringe (as if people have some type of "special connection" that gives them the privilege of being self-righteous...) and your opposing arguments are intelligent and well-constructed.
Religion, Scripture, and the message boards.
I'm clapping
Nick really should do his/her posting elsewhere. Perhaps some site more welcoming of people who climb up on soapboxes to preach what they believe to be facts.
I didn't see any name calling, except on Nick's part who apparently has a direct line to God. I really saw no signs of things getting out of hand or the need for a time out.
This site is a safe haven for a lot of women and even some men. A place where we can come and not be preached to or called abominations and sinners. A place where we feel acceptance. I commend clapifyoulikeme for her post!
The Word of God
Nick -- I'm going to suggest a book to you. . . . ."What The Bible REALLY Says About Homosexuality", by Daniel A. Helminiak, PhD. Then I'm going to ask you who assembled your Bible. . . .who approved the final version of it. . . . .who were the original translators out of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts. Did they get it right? Absolutely right? Or were there "errors" made in favor of the Catholic Church's heirarchy, at the time? Who decided which books to include in the Bible? Why is the Apocrypha excluded from the Prostestant version of the Bible? If you can answer all those questions not only to my satisfaction, but to the satisfaction of many other people who would also question them, you will gain a listening audience.
I would submit to you that God is and has always been much larger than Man. He defies description, as do His everlasting attributes. God cannot be "packaged" and sold the way He is in many churches, today. I will also submit a verse of scripture to you: Jesus, Himself, said, "First take the log out of your own eye. . . .then you can see to take the speck out of your brother's". That comes from the book of Matthew. Next, the Apostle Paul admonished those who would attempt to judge others saying, "Be careful wherein you judge another. . . . .for the very same standards by which you attempt to judge others, you will be judged". Live. . . .and let live.
Hey Nick thanks for your
Hey Nick thanks for your response. I think everyone here is well aware of the opposing viewpoints. I know them very well. I really encourage you to listen to some viewpoints that are different from yours. Have you listened to any of the interviews? If not, take a listen to a few and then come back and share your thoughts.
I do try and stay away from the "i'm right and i'm going prove you wrong" approach. So no, I'm not going to try and prove you wrong. Spirituality is very subjective, people derive many different meanings from the various sacred texts. Some rely on life lessons etc. I think that is a good thing and thats what this podcast is all about. I will say that for me, there is only one person I have to answer to. Thanks for your love and understanding.
Dear Nick
Honestly, that Satan! What is he like?! Pesky fellow, overwhelming the city like that with his sexual perversions (namely homosexuality).
My understanding is that he was also rather fond of making prank phone calls, which I'm sure you'll agree, is a far greater sin.
P.S. I am an atheist and so probably shouldn't even be posting in this thread, but I couldn't resist responding to your nonsense post with the frivolity it deserves.
So thanks, Nick, for giving me a good chuckle tonight.
Thank you
You guys who said such nice things about my post...wow. It made me cry. I lived in Oklahoma, the Bible Belt, for a few years, and it's incredible to find people who are on my side. I wish there weren't sides, but there are, and it's nice to meet you all.
I know that Nick isn't violating any rules. I'd be happy to hear his comments elsewhere, but it's just flat-out rude to come to a site where we try to support each other and try to tear us down.
But happy Halloween to everyone!! (I'm going as a drag queen.)
Yes, you all came out of the
Very
nice to meet you clapifyoulikeme! I was going to shorten that but it seemed odd to call you "clap"
It is too bad there are sides, perhaps one day things will be better.
Happy Halloween to you!
To nick!
This week's episode features
Great
I just joined up and am so glad to see this forum - I am working on listening to the cast - thank bunch for that too.
I see the tension in some of these post brought on by Nick. I believe religion is a very dangerous topic once you cross into the "straight/christian" community. We have all had those verse so over used on us that i don't think they even matter any more.
If you want a good love story read the book of Ruth. think on some of that for a while.
I believe i do not need a church to confirm what I believe or what I am. There is one verse that is all we all need -
Jesus said - "he who believes in me will have everlasting life."
He is my savior, and a church can not change that.
Welcome