Believe Out Loud: a Campaign for Vocal Support of the GLBT Community by Churches

So often, we in the gay community are at direct odds with the religious community.  Accordingly, even if unfairly, we stereotype them just as much as they stereotype us.  And although there is certainly plenty of evidence that much (most) of our opposition for equal rights comes from those with deeply embedded religious views, we must be wary of casting such a wide net that we classify our friends and allies as enemies.

With this perspective in mind, I was fascinated and pleased to see this article from The Advocate describing a campaign called, “Believe Out Loud.”  The recently launched campaign encourages religious allies, ministers, churches, etc. to be vocal with their support.  While many churches have varying degrees of acceptance of the GLBT community, it is necessary to announce that support, both to welcome the community and to spread the message of equality.

Believe Out Loud’s website, which launched since the Advocate article was published, states: “It’s not enough to believe that these individuals should be welcomed in their church communities—we must sing their welcoming as loudly as we sing the hymns. Because welcoming the LGBT community is itself a form of hymn—an expression of the ideals upon which our religious faith rests.”

The website also has some very nice resources.  First, it links to the Institute for Welcoming Resources, which helps you locate welcoming and affirming churches in your area.  Also, specifically in the Believe Out Loud’s resource section, I love the piece, “Why We Can’t Stay Silent.”  I appreciate this message so much, because the ideas transcend to all facets of the gay community.  Here are some strong points from it:

• Silence can be viewed as giving permission for acts of discrimination, hate speech and violence.
• Silence lets stand the myth that same sex attraction is a matter of choice.
• Silence can be interpreted as supporting the idea that same sex relationships are fundamentally expressions of deviant behavior.
• Silence denies the right of public recognition of gay commitment to long term loving relationships expressed in the bonds of marriage and relegates these relationships to the status of immoral acts.
• Silence does not help deepen our understanding of LGBT issues. It leaves us to rely on misconceptions, myths and opinions expressed by others and results in a growing alienation of LGBT persons from the faith community.

It is these reasons, and many others, why it is important for allies to be vocal with their support and for those in the community to come out.

On that note, I also want to specifically thank all of the allies out there, those that I know personally and those that I do not.  I don’t think we (GLBT community) say it enough, and I’m sure they (allies) would say it’s nothing to be thanked for, but the personal experiences I have had and the support and acceptance I receive mean so much to me.  So thank you, and be loud with your support.

If you want to keep up with the Believe Out Loud campaign, they have a Facebook Fan Page and Facebook Group.

Believe Out Loud, Institute for Welcoming Resources, Religion, The Advocate