Read about the religious support for lifting of the Boy Scout ban.
The Boy Scouts of America dominated the news media again this week, and religious support continued to strongly favor dropping the ban on gay scouts and leaders. The United Church of Christ released a statement of support and participated in National Scout Sunday. Presbyterian and Methodist leaders also spoke out against the ban. Under pressure to make a decision, the BSA elected to push back the vote to their national meeting in May.
Read more about the Presbyterian Church's response.
Across the pond, the UK Parliament passed marriage equality legislation in spite of opposition from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a Hindu temple in Sussex will begin performing weddings for same-sex couples. An anthology of gay Hindu stories was also released this week. Unrelated, an awesome grandma stormed out of a homophobic sermon in a show of support for her grandson.
Read about the Family Research Council trying to co-opt Scout Sunday.
Multiple articles this week called on the evangelical church to evolve on their position about LBGT equality. LGBT Jewish families were excited this week when they discovered a new kids' book for Purim that features two dads. A transgender teacher at a Catholic prep school in Queens was fired after working for 32 years and is suing the school for discrimination; students have started a petition in support of the teacher, who was well liked and popular.
Anglican
- Over Objections of New Arch. Of Cant., UK Okays Marriage Equality
- Religion Dispatches, February 5, 2013
Baptist
- Baptist Leaders Predict ‘Mass Exodus’ From Scouts Over Gay Leader Decision
- Christian Post, January 29, 2013
- The First Time I Heard the Word 'Lesbian'
- The Huffington Post, January 30, 2013
- Would you confront a pastor as this gay man did?
- John Shore, January 30, 2013
Boy Scouts
- Boy Scouting community divided over news that national group may lift ban on gays
- The Washington Post, January 28, 2013
- BSA: Gay, OK?!
- Religion Dispatches, January 29, 2013
- For Gay Boy Scouts, the fight goes on
- The Washington Post, February 1, 2013
- Connecticut UCC member and former Boy Scout pushes for anti-gay policy change
- United Church of Christ News, February 1, 2013
- United Church of Christ congregations call for Boy Scout policy change during National Scout Sunday
- United Church of Christ News, February 1, 2013
- Anti-gay group tries to co-opt "Scout Sunday," but people of faith call for inclusion
- San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, February 2, 2013
- Where do the Mormons stand on the gay scouting issue?
- Box Turtle Bulletin, February 4, 2013
- Salt Lake Scouts: Keep no-gay policy—for now
- The Salt Lake Times, February 4, 2013
- Presbyterian Clergy Call for End to Ban on Gay Scouts
- GLAAD, February 4, 2013
- Commentary: Boy Scout policy shift would benefit everyone
- United Church of Christ News, February 5, 2013
- Loyal and Obedient: a Perspective from a Gay Eagle Scout
- Reconciling Works, February 5, 2013
- Southern Baptist Convention: "Catastrophe" to lift gay ban on Boy Scouts
- CNN, February 5, 2013
- Boy Scout leaders to vote on ending ban against gay membership
- CNN, February 6, 2013
- UCC advocates disappointed by delay of Boy Scout's anti-gay policy revision
- United Church of Christ News, February 6, 2013
- Deferred Boy Scout decision forces churches to make choice of their own
- Houston Chronicle, February 6, 2013
Catholic
- “An English Gay Catholic”
- Patheos, January 29, 2013
- Colorado Catholic Adoption Agencies Say They Won’t Serve Gay Couples, Suggest It’s Not ‘Safe’: Video
- Towleroad, January 29, 2013
- Transgender teacher sues Catholic prep school for alleged discrimination
- CNN, January 29, 2013
- Catholic Bishops to SCOTUS: Deny Marriage Equality Because Being Gay is Just 'Conduct'
- Think Progress, January 30, 2013
- Don't legalize gay marriage, bishops tell Supreme Court
- The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 31, 2013
- Vatican signals options for protecting gay couples
- Religion News Service, February 4, 2013
- Catholic bishops conflicted over gays, immigration
- Associated Press, February 6, 2013
Christian
- Proposed B.C. Christian law school attacked pro-gay activists over voluntary morality pledge
- Lifesite News, January 29, 2013
- What conservative Christians should learn from Dan Cathy
- The Washington Post, January 31, 2013
- Five simple lessons from Shane Windmeyer's friendship with Chick-fil-A's Dan Cathy
- The Washington Post, January 31, 2013
- UK: Pro-gay Christians urged to pray ahead of same-sex marriage vote
- Pink News, February 1, 2013
- Top gay Christian says new archbishop's plan to attack gay marriage is 'horrific'
- Gay Star News, February 4, 2013
- Grandma Storms Out of Homophobic Sermon, Makes Gay Grandson Proud
- Queerty, February 5, 2013
Episcopal
- Bishop Gene Robinson Accepts Award For Commitment to LGBT Equality
- Believe Out Loud, January 29, 2013
Evangelical
- Evangelical Churches Refine Message On Gay Issues
- The Huffington Post, January 31, 2013
- Evangelical churches try to find right balance on gay issues as public opinion evolves
- The Washington Post, January 31, 2013
- Megachurch Pastor: We're "American Al Qaeda" for Opposing Homosexuality
- Religion Dispatches, February 3, 2013
- 'Ex-Gay' Blogger for the 'Christian Post' Caught on Grindr, Admits his 'Disobedience to Christ'
- Towleroad, February 5, 2013
- To Matt Moore, the Christian "ex-gay" blogger found on Grindr
- John Shore, February 5, 2013
Hindu
- A gamut of gay voices
- The Hindu, February 2, 2013
- Same-sex couples can now marry at Hindu temple in Ifield
- Sussex, February 2, 2013
Jewish
- LGBT Jews Excited About Kids' Purim Book with Two Dads
- The Jewish Press, January 31, 2013
- Schmekel: 100% Trans Jews
- Keshet, February 1, 2013
- Chuck Hagel: Time for liberal Jews to decide
- The Washington Times, February 1, 2013
- It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a gay Jewish superhero!
- The Times of Israel, February 5, 2013
- French Jewish leaders weigh in against gay marriage
- The Times of Israel, February 6, 2013
Lutheran
- Rockford area churches join movement for LGBT inclusivity
- Rockford Register Star, February 5, 2013
Marriage Equality
- RI State Council of Churches Endorses Same-Sex Marriage
- The Providence Journal, January 31, 2013
- IL Takes First Step Towards Gay Marriage With Senate Executive Committee Approval
- Queerty, February 6, 2013
- Why Orthodox Jews Should Not Oppose Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
- The Jewish Press, February 6, 2013
Metropolitan Community Church
- An Open Letter to Obama on the National Prayer Breakfast and LGBT People
- Huffington Post, February 7, 2013
Mormon
- Mormon-owned Marriott against anti-gay-marriage law? Hardly a surprise
- The Salt Lake Tribune, January 29, 2013
- LDS Church won’t comment on possible change in Boy Scouts’ gay policy
- Standard Examiner, January 29, 2013
- Younger Mormons more accepting of gay Utahns, panel says
- The Salt Lake Tribune, January 31, 2013
Muslim
- Imam in US Mosque: Islam Does Not Ban Homosexuality
- Mermi, January 30, 2013
- UK: Government minister Sayeeda Warsi condemns anti-gay east London ‘Muslim vigilante’ groups
- Pink News, January 30, 2013
- A Muslim Voice for Gay Rights
- Gay Star News, February 1, 2013
- "Hidden Voices" brings awareness to LGBT Muslims
- The Michigan Journal, February 5, 2013
Politics
- Gay Controversies Tempered as National Prayer Breakfast Returns
- Time, February 6, 2013
Quaker
- Gay Marriage: The struggle for equal rights is a Quaker one, too
- The Independent, February 2, 2013
Unitarian Universalist
- Door County: Courts will decide on same-sex marriage
- Greenbay Press Gazette, January 30, 2013
- UN Tackles Gay 'Conversion Therapy' For First Time
- The Huffington Post, February 1, 2013
- Truth and Meaning: Civil rights for all
- Midland Daily News, February 2, 2013
United Church of Christ
- Otis Moss III to headline Open and Affirming Banquet at General Synod 2013
- United Church of Christ, February 5, 2013