"Faith in Our Families: Parents, Families, and Friends Talk about Faith, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity" is a more extensive look at who PFLAG is, what they do, and who they are, as well as more detailed personal stories that demonstrate how people from a variety of faith traditions have taken the journey to address their spiritual beliefs and the sexual orientation or gender identity of their loved ones.

Meet the hearts behind Wonderfully Made.

Wonderfully Made believes that love, belonging, and self-worth are essential to the well-being of every human being. We share a passion to see LGBTQ+ people truly accepted and loved by their families and community. Each one of us has our own journey and story that has brought us together to bring the vision of Wonderfully Made to fruition.

In a world often characterized by division, echo chambers, disagreement, and judgment, we hope to create a space for story, thought, and discussion. More often than not, parents, pastors, and friends follow what they believe their faith tradition instructs them to do, not realizing that it presents itself as complete and utter rejection and contributes to a deep sense of shame that has major implications on mental health and is a leading factor in suicide rates.

Our desire is to come alongside the LGBTQ+ community and their families and ignite meaningful conversations to bring to light the unintentional harm that has come about from historical faith traditions so as to create a better roadmap, one that helps people of all faith backgrounds to come together and love and include their LGBTQ+ family and friends.

Q Christian is a diverse community with varied backgrounds, cultures, theologies and denominations, drawn together through our love of Christ and our belief that every person is a beloved child of God. Over a decade ago, members of this organization began a pivotal conversation centered on discussing Christian perspectives relating to same-sex relationships. Posited originally as Side A and Side B, these theologies and the theologies that subsequently emerged from them, have become more nuanced as the LGBTQ+ Christian community has grown over time.

We are an LGBTQ+ affirming organization, but our staff and community members did not arrive at this conclusion casually. Many of us spent years in ex-gay or conversion therapy ministries, begged God for deliverance, or ruminated endlessly on the Bible verses we thought condemned LGBTQ+ people. For those new to conversations regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion and affirmation within Christianity, we welcome you to the table and invite you to learn and grow with us. No matter your questions, challenges or fears, we pray the resources and perspectives shared here will draw you closer to the unconditional love of God - including God’s unconditional love for LGBTQ+ people.

The Good Fruit Project Guide outlines the faith- and research-based evidence of the bad fruit of conversion therapy. The Good Fruit Project is a partnership of The Trevor Project and Q Christian Fellowship.

Q Christian Fellowship is a Christian nonprofit dedicated to pursuing a world where all LGBTQ people are fully loved by family, church, and community. The Trevor Project is a secular, research-driven organization that is on a mission to end suicide among LGBTQ youth. However different, the two organizations are united in their common experience of serving LGBTQ people who have been profoundly affected, and all-too-often deeply wounded, by the experience of conversion therapy in a Christian context. The Good Fruit Project represents our effort to bring together our different perspectives - Q Christian speaking to theology, with The Trevor Project bringing its experience supporting LGBTQ mental health - in the hope of creating something that will empower our various communities to better understand each other, and, God willing, may ultimately save lives.

Click on the faith tradition on this resource for an overview of their position on LGBTQ people and the issues that affect them.

For the last two decades, Justin Lee has been an influential Christian voice for LGBTQ affirmation, best known for working across areas of theological disagreement to promote grace and mutual understanding. He is the founder of the world’s largest LGBTQ Christian advocacy organization, the author of two books, and an internationally known speaker on faith, sexuality, and dialogue.

Justin’s first book, Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate, has been widely cited for its role in changing conservative Christians’ attitudes and helping Christian parents accept their LGBTQ kids. His newest book, Talking Across the Divide, offers strategies for having more productive conversations on controversial issues in a polarized society.

FreedHearts is a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization.
Our mission is to change the human conversation on love and inclusion.
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FreedHearts reaches into hurting communities with a message of love, inclusion, belonging, and hope —for parents, LGBTQ, educators, therapists, for the church. We have a worldwide network of thousands of MamaBears and PapaBears—but we are so much more! FreedHearts is in the trenches, providing safe spaces, inspiration, and encouragement. We have dynamic, transformational live, print and film resources to reconcile faith, families, and communities—to free hearts that change the world.

MamaBears and PapaBears are choosing their child, giving free hugs, standing in, standing up, and speaking out. LGBTQ are healing deep wounds from family and religion, so they can love and be loved as they deserve. Churches are becoming more affirming and inclusive. Educators are better navigating relationships with LGBTQ students and their non-affirming families. Therapists are more equipped to deal with the tragic impact of faith-based family rejection. We are there for all of them. That is what we do. We are FreedHearts.

FAQ's and Resource lists

Focused on Christian congregations, this guide provides practical suggestions Christians can take to build safe and inclusive communities and congregations. Creating safe and inclusive spaces for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer is crucial. When asked, Jesus told us that the greatest commandment was to love and that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. This is an important lesson when thinking about the role of our faith communities in ending the violence, fear, discrimination, and rejection that many LGBTQ people experience. It’s in this spirit that we are pleased to launch our latest resource, “A Christian Conversation Guide: Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces for People who are LGBTQ.”

This guide includes a step-by-step conversation guide for small group discussions on the health and well-being of LGBTQ people, a list of actions faith communities can immediately take in their congregation and communities, as well as a comprehensive glossary of useful terms when talking about sexual orientation and gender identity. The guide is a new resource developed by the Religion and Faith Program and Project One America. If you have any questions, please contact Joseph Ward at joseph.ward@hrc.org.

Looking for simple ways to start being a more engaged and active ally in your faith community?
Try using a few of these ten suggestions to build your ally skills and start creating change!

Parents, families and friends talk about Religion and Sexual Orientation or
Gender Identity regarding their faith and how to appropriate handle conflicting beliefs.

Ministering to LGBTQ+ Christians and our allies around the globe. We feature the largest welcoming and affirming church directory in the world.

A detailed 10 section guide that delves into the topic of coming out in your place of worship or religious community; steps to take, tips for coming out, FAQs,

A two page overview (including twelve suggested discussion questions) of the video "Brave Spaces". Directed by award winning filmmaker Marc Smolowitz, "Brave Spaces: Perspectives on Faith and LGBT Justice brings" together 20 leading faith and community leaders to examine the past, present and future of coalition building and intersectional justice. The film asks the important question: how have faith leaders, LGBT advocates and broader communities been able to find common ground and work together to advance the causes of social justice? To request a screening in your area, visit http://hrc.wufoo.com/forms/film-screening-request-form/ or email at religion@hrc.org.

Austen Hartke, author of the forthcoming book "Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians," presents on the Bible and transgender Christians at The Reformation Project in Chicago on Saturday, October 28, 2017.

Here you’ll find guidance on: establishing and owning a faith identity, sharing your unique gifts, taking stock of your faith community, taking steps to prepare, encouraging inclusion within your community, and coming home — or finding a new one.

The fourth edition of the Guide to Being a Straight Ally reflects much of the progress that has been made, and the evolving barriers that remain on the path to active allyship.

This guide is aimed at LGBTQ Mormons who are on the journey toward living fully in their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and in their faith and its traditions.

In accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Mormons Building Bridges is a community of Latter-day Saints dedicated to conveying love and acceptance to all those who identify as LGBTQIA+ or same sex attracted or gender dysphoric.

The MBB community does not center itself around a single leader or organizational body; instead MBB is a movement centered around a sense of ministry and mission. It is not a formal organization and there are no formal members. The MBB ministry embraces and amplifies all thoughtful innovation and collaboration that helps LGBTQIA+ people to thrive.

This ministering guide is provided as an additional resource to help you better understand the experiences of the LGBTQ+ people, their friends, and families. The information provided within this resource was compiled by Rebecca Simpson Craft, M.Ed.S., LEP, Newport Beach Stake, California, from her perspective navigating her journey within this space. Includes helpful tips in ministering to His LGBTQ+ children.

This booklet was written to help strengthen families like yours with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children and adolescents. It was written
especially to help you create a nurturing and supportive environment
so you can help prevent your gay or transgender child’s risk for serious
physical and emotional problems—both when they are young and as
they become adults.

Located in NIPA Library