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Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a study indicating approval of marriage equality is on the rise for every religious group. In Utah, a queer atheist writes about his experience visiting the heart of Mormon country while being invited to speak at an interfaith conference. Churches throughout the country split on Scouts’ welcoming of gay youth. The first gay-friendly mosque opened up in Europe to uphold Muslim law that no one should be turned away from prayer.
Read our blog post about improving approval of marriage equality from religious groups in America!
The Church of England has issued a statement officially declaring that they will no longer work to obstruct the marriage equality bill that is currently going through Parliament. Evangelicals rise in power in Brazil, a country known for its unusually high rate of anti-LGBT crime. And Bishop Gene Robinson writes on positive steps the church has been making through the past decade.
This pride was truly a celebration for the first openly gay Lutheran bishop, Rev. Guy Erwin, as he joined in the tradition of riding in a car during the march at Los Angeles Pride! Tel Aviv hosted gay pride in Israel, and Sweden saw its first gay Jewish wedding. Pilgrims United Church of Christ congregation in Minnesota picks up the pieces after anti-LGBT vandalism incident. Meanwhile, Ohio pro-LGBT Catholic is uninvited to speak at a high school graduation, while Business Insider reports rich, Catholic countries are most accepting of gays.
Atheist
A Queer Atheist in the Heart of Mormon Country
Religion Dispatches, 6/6/13
Catholic
Rich, Catholic Countries Are The Most Accepting of Gays
Business Insider, 6/5/13
Integrity, truth inspire gay priest’s coming out
Windy City Media Group, 6/5/13
Rockford Diocese urges continued partnerships with Scouts
Chicago Tribune, 6/6/13
Speaker for Catholic graduation disinvited because he supports gay marriage
The Columbus Dispatch, 6/7/13
Discrimination complaint filed against Regis Catholic Schools
WQOW Online, 6/7/13
Ohio Catholic School Disinvites Pro-Gay Graduation Speaker Then Blames Him For Not Showing
Think Progress, 6/7/13
Diocese won't reinstate gay teacher fired from Watterson
The Columbus Dispatch, 6/12/13
Christian
Celebrating Real Diversity (Even When It Feels Dangerous)
Chicagopride.com, 6/5/13
Gay and Christian: Believers Speak
Provoketive Magazine, 6/5/13
Episcopal
FAQs About God, Jesus, the Bible and Gay People
Huffington Post, 6/6/13
Gene Robinson: On gay bishops, what a difference a decade makes
Washington Post, 6/7/13
Evangelical
Evangelicals in Brazil rise in power with consequences for Catholics, gays
Huffington Post, 6/10/13
International
UK Parliament asks Queen to allow gay couples to marry in royal chapel
Gay Star News, 6/10/13
Gay Dean again tipped to be first openly gay Church of England Bishop
Pink News, 6/10/13
Police conducting purges and arrests of LGBT people in Greece
6/11/13
Interfaith
God at the Gay Pride parade
Religion Dispatch, 6/11/13
Jewish
Tel Aviv holds annual gay pride parade, thousands march in gay-friendly Israeli city
Washington Post, 6/7/13
Israel celebrates gay pride, but struggle for equal rights persists
Haaretz, 6/7/13
Sweden sees first gay Jewish wedding
The Jerusalem Post, 6/11/13
Lutheran
Openly gay bishop elect to march with Lutherans at LA Pride
GLAAD, 6/8/13
East Grand Forks church showing acceptance of gay community
WDay News, 6/9/13
Lutheran church’s first gay bishop has area ties
Tulsa World, 6/10/13
Gay Lutheran bishop elect to attend White House LGBT event
Los Angeles Times, 6/11/13
Methodist
Pastor's stance on gays may cost him his job
WBNG, 6/7/13
Mary Ann Kaiser removed from ordination process because of sexual orientation
GLAAD, 6/7/13
Furor over block to gay clergy candidate - #StandWithMaryAnn
The United Methodist Reporter, 6/11/13
Muslim
First gay-friendly Mosque in Europe
WEST, 6/7/13
United Church of Christ
Geoffrey Black to march with Iowa Pride parade
UCC.org, 6/7/13
Minnesota UCC remains committed to inclusion in the face of vandalism
UCC.org, 6/7/13
Should churches cut ties with Boy Scouts?
Fox News, 6/7/13
Church Hosts St. Joseph's First Gay Pride Festival
St. Joe Channel, 6/8/13
Calvary United Church of Christ in Reading votes to be an open and affirming church
Reading Eagle, 6/8/13