Whosoever You Love is our semi-monthly series affirming the worth and full value of LGBTQ persons within and beyond religion. This series of conversations, so important at a time when anti-LGBTQ sentiment is being stoked for nakedly partisan political purposes, is supported by the Arcus Foundation, dedicated to the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world. Learn more about Arcus and its partners at ArcusFoundation.org.
- Whosoever You Love: Imam Daayiee Abdullah July 13, 2019 1:47 pm
A number of religious traditions are struggling with issues of inclusivity and respect for LGBTQ+ people. It’s a struggle that is particularly challenging within the Muslim community, in which there are only a handful of openly gay Imams. This week, Welton will sit down with one of those imams – Imam Daayiee Abdullah – to …
- Whosoever You Love: Sister Simone Campbell June 29, 2019 11:09 am
Last month, Welton was in Washington, D.C. and had the opportunity to sit down with Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. Sister Simone is best known for being the leader of the Nuns on the Bus, an effort to call attention to critical issues facing the country. This week, …
- Whosoever You Love: Dignity USA June 15, 2019 7:35 am
While public acceptance of transgender individuals may be growing, the Vatican recently issued a document denying the existence of transgender identity. The document, entitled Male and Female He Created Them: Towards a Path of Dialogue on the Question of Gender Theory in Education, informs Catholic education and emphasizes the existence of a gender binary, essentially …
- June 8, 2019 – When Pride is not a Sin June 7, 2019 7:00 am
Happy Pride Month! In June, communities around the world recognize, salute, observe and/or celebrate their LGBTQ friends, family and neighbors. More and more, religious communities are joining in this tradition as well. On this week’s State of Belief, the weekly radio program and podcast from Interfaith Alliance, host Rev. Welton Gaddy will spend the full …
- A Christian Case for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Church April 20, 2019 12:38 pm
Remarkably productive, relentlessly inspiring, Brandan Robertson is a young evangelical LGBTQ activist, author, and the pastor of Missiongathering Christian Church in San Diego, California. This week, Rev. Welton C. Gaddy, host of State of Belief, will sit down with Brandan to discuss his newly released book released, entitled, The Gospel of Inclusion: A Christian Case …
- Southern Equality April 14, 2019 2:02 pm
Not unlike the historical “Southern Strategy” in which Republicans sought to drive a wedge between voters of different races in the 1960s to win elections, many on the right have led intentional efforts pushing for continued fear and loathing of LGBTQ Americans, particularly in the South. Yet, when you look more closely, there’s plenty of …
- Whosoever You Love: Bishop Yvette Flunder February 23, 2019 6:31 pm
Throughout Black History Month, we usually look back to remember the leaders of the past. On questions of civil and minority rights, we are likely living in historic times in our own right. And so we want to also focus on today’s leaders who are amplifying a prophetic message that inclusion, celebration of diversity and …
- Whosoever You Love: Amber Cantorna February 2, 2019 6:33 am
Millions of LGBTQ Americans grow up in families that are openly hostile to their identities. The pain and alienation that this can cause is not something that should be inflicted upon anyone. Amber Cantorna experienced a particularly extreme case of growing up in an unaccepting family: her father is an executive with the conservative, anti-LGBTQ …
- December 29, 2018 – Ready for a New Year December 29, 2018 8:26 am
As 2018 comes to a close, two themes that brightened what has been a dark year for many are the advances women made in electoral politics and other leadership roles, and the growing influence of progressive faith movements – often referred to as the “religious left” – in public rhetoric and activism. This week on …
- December 22, 2018 – Christmas with Chely December 22, 2018 10:05 am
Happy holidays from all of us at State of Belief Radio and Interfaith Alliance! For many, especially LGBTQ individuals, living as their authentic selves can be daunting, particularly during the holidays. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll take an in-depth look at one person’s struggle to live …
- Whosoever You Love: Lesléa Newman November 24, 2018 6:53 pm
In 1989, Lesléa Newman first released her book Heather Has Two Mommies. The children’s book about a little girl and her two mothers simultaneously helped give birth to a new literary genre and caused an uproar among the political religious right. The American Library Association ranked it as the 11th most challenged book in the …
- Whosoever You Love: Rabbah Rona Matlow October 27, 2018 3:56 pm
Transgender Americans are a frequent target of the Trump administration, including an abrupt presidential Tweet announcing an imminent ban on Transgender servicemembers in our military. This week, a leaked memo from the Department of Health and Human Services outlined a proposed plan to re-define gender as “a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth,” …
- Whosoever You Love: Mitchell Gold October 13, 2018 6:47 pm
Mitchell Gold, co-founder and CEO of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, is on a mission. He’s seeking to end discrimination and bullying of LGBTQ youth across the country. Having grown up under the weight of harassment for his own sexual orientation, Mitchell now travels the country, speaking on how we, as a country, can …
- Whosoever You Love: Q Christian Fellowship October 6, 2018 6:28 pm
Last week, the Trump State Department announced that it will no longer issue visas to the same-sex partners of United Nations employees and other foreign diplomats unless they’re married – despite the fact that many of their home countries do not allow same-sex marriage and some even criminalize same-sex relationships. Discriminatory policies like this are …
- Church Clarity September 15, 2018 6:46 pm
Far too many people, especially LGBTQ people of faith, find it difficult to discern what a given church might really teach about inclusivity when they first step in the door. One organization is working to change that by advocating faith communities make their position clear so that people know what they’re walking into. Sarah Ngu, …
- Love with no limits September 15, 2018 6:44 pm
Welton will speak with Dr. Jacqueline Bussie about her new book, Love Without Limits: Jesus’s Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions. The book investigates how what she identifies as the genuine following of Jesus’ teachings requires inclusivity of everyone and how it could lead to a more peaceful and loving world. Dr. Bussie is …
- Whosoever You Love: TransFaith August 4, 2018 6:04 am
The fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States has progressed at an incredible rate in less than twenty years – one of the fastest changes in public opinion ever. Sizeable majorities of Americans now support same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. Despite – or because of – this progress, the political religious right …
- Whosoever You Love: Bishop Gene Robinson July 14, 2018 6:00 pm
In the inaugural installment of our new Whosoever You Love interview series, Welton will speak with the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, who was the first openly gay man consecrated as a bishop within the Episcopal Church and led the diocese of New Hampshire until his retirement in 2013. A gentle but fearless warrior and inspiring voice …
- The case of the unmade cake June 9, 2018 3:41 pm
Last week, we promised a follow-up with author, activist and attorney Rabbi Jay Michaelson once the Masterpiece Cake Shop decision was handed down by the Supreme Court. Jay is a member of the Supreme Court bar, and will join State of Belief host Rev. Welton Gaddy again this week to discuss the ruling and what …
- No Cake for You June 3, 2018 7:58 am
With only four weeks left in this year’s Supreme Court session, some of the most high-profile and consequential cases have yet to be decided, including a ruling that will determine whether businesses have the right to discriminate against LGBTQ people based on religious beliefs. Rabbi Jay Michaelson, author, activist and attorney, will join State of …
- Goodbye to the Most Dangerous Woman in America April 21, 2018 8:04 am
LGBTQ rights, religious freedom, prison reform – over the years, if there was an issue that was hurting people, it was impossible to keep activist and organizer Donna Red Wing from getting involved. This past Monday Donna left us, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was an unwavering supporter of Interfaith Alliance and a …
- Brandan Robertson – Our Witness: The unheard stories of LGBT+ Christians April 14, 2018 5:02 pm
Activist, author and pastor Brandan Robertson argues that no stories are untold, but, rather, they are unheard. An advocate for the faithful inclusion of LGBTQ persons in religious life, he told his own story in the 2016 book, Nomad: A Spirituality for Traveling Light. Now he’s helping make sure the stories of others are heard in …
- Serving LGBTQ People of Faith March 3, 2018 5:18 pm
Earlier this year, the Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner was with us to talk about how the shifting in policies and priorities here in the United States is impacting the women and LGBTQ people of faith that she works with around the world. She will join us again on State of Belief this week to catch …
- Fighting for Global Justice January 13, 2018 7:00 am
At the start of each year, Welton sits down with the Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner, senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of New York, where she ministers to LGBTQ and other marginalized communities of faith. In the face of overwhelming odds facing the LGBTQ community around the world – and growing threats here at …
- After Orlando: Bishop Gene Robinson Extended Interview and Transcript June 30, 2016 10:34 am
Having spent much of his life in the crosshairs of anti-gay hate, both inside and beyond the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, retired Bishop of New Hampshire, shares his moving thoughts on the lessons of the mass shooting at Latin Night at The Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Scroll down to …