(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Thermal Thursday: Progressive Christianity and LGBTQ+ Again [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-05-04 Today’s Topic: I’m still untangling justice issues in my spare time. So let’s look at what happened this week instead: Zooey Zephyr (transgender legislator in Montana) sues for being censured when she addresses trans rights, www.dailykos.com/… Mauree Turner (nonbinary legislator in Oklahoma) censured for (allegedly) helping a trans protestor, www.dailykos.com/… Zooey Zephyr and her girlfriend survive attempts at SWATting (when aholes call the police on people they want injured or killed), www.dailykos.com/… Erin Reed, in addition to being Zooey Zephyr’s girlfriend, regularly reports on LGBTQ issues. Given these, the attempts to pass laws denying trans medical care, the attempts to silence discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in schools, the constant ridiculous accusations of “grooming,” I think Christians need to do more than accept LGBTQ+, we need to vociferously stand with them. FWIW: Grooming: The Oxford English dictionary definition is “the practice of preparing or training someone for a particular purpose or activity,” with a variety of benign applications. Teaching children to be more accepting of people who are nonbinary, gay, trans, etc. might be considered benign grooming, training children to live together amiably in a diverse society. But the right-wing implication is that sexual grooming is going on, “Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.” www.nspcc.org.uk/… The intent is no doubt to create panic in the gullible, up to and including violence to protect their children. This is what we have to speak up against, loudly and often. Teachers are not grooming children so they can be exploited. Fortunately, there are Christian leaders speaking up in wholehearted support of LGBTQ+ folks: From NPR: Trans religious leaders say scripture should inspire inclusive congregations: Evangelical Christianity has played a big role in the political debate around transgender issues, and the spate of legislation it's led to. And so that position is widely known: God created humans, separated into male and female – categories that are innate and immutable. But religions speak with more than one voice. And other Christians are using their sacred texts to embrace a broader understanding of gender. -snip- "I think that's how we bring heaven to Earth: Having these hard conversations and creating more relationships, and creating more opportunities to be in relationship with difference." LGBTQ+ is not only okay, it’s holy. If you are a “gender-expansive Christian” looking for an online home (in addition to DKos, of course!), you may be interested in the Transmission Ministry Collective. Well aware that it can be uncomfortable discussing gender in Christian spaces or discussing Christianity in LGBTQ+ spaces, since 2020 TMC has been developing: A community committed to growing in faith, supporting each other, and healing the world…. Transmission Ministry Collective believes that people of all gender identities and expressions are fully loved by God and should be supported at every level by their Christian siblings. We believe that God made humans co-creators and stewards of creation, and therefore the ways in which trans and gender-expansive people may choose to steward their bodies through medical and/or social transition constitutes faithful action. Let’s amplify these voices and others who reach out to work toward religious inclusion. I know some of you wonder, why bother? If religions are going to be hateful, just don’t be religious. But for many, religion and spirituality are important in our lives. When the haters pretend to be religious to justify their hate, it may help those who hear them to discover that there are religious folks who instead practice love and acceptance, and even joyful expression of differences. Those who need to hear include struggling children brought up in right-wing traditions. And politicians who may be searching for ways to fight back. Please feel free to add other resources in Comments below! And finally as always, let’s elevate our Community Cred and repost The Needs List! From Aashirs nani (with permission) on Helping Humpday! PLEASE NOTE: When sending via PayPal, be sure to select “Send to family/friend” to avoid fees on either end. Be aware, both donor and recipient, that GFM not only charges fees, but also money received through that platform is treated as taxable income. If you are requesting help through GFM, also be aware that there can be delays in accessing the money. COMMUNITY NEEDS LIST AS OF 5/03/23: Please note also that Chef Bobby Neary, “@nuevopioneer,” has passed away. We will continue to post his favourite charity to honour him — please consider a donation to the Satos, the street pets of Puerto Rico! Bobby adopted his own Sato, Missilu, as well as raised funds for PR’s Satos. I’m in for a mickle each week toward a variety of DKos members on the Needs List. I hope you’ll join me. Always glad to see the needed amounts gradually decreasing! If helping financially isn’t the right choice for you at this time, you can still help. Tip and rec the diary so it stays visible. Share on social media: Twitter, Facebook, whatever platform you use, to bring the attention of others outside our daily readers. And offer words of encouragement to people who are struggling. It can be scary to be struggling, and it can feel lonely. Let them know we understand and are here to help. If you have time, please visit the diaries above and leave comments for their authors. Those words of encouragement are vital! If you don’t like fundraisers, please just move along. They are a longstanding tradition at DKos — Until we vote in enough progressives to create a much stronger social safety net! (Maybe in 2 years.) We have needs! (h/t strawbale) [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/4/2167520/-Thermal-Thursday-Progressive-Christianity-and-LGBTQ-Again Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/