Leading Organizations Partner to Make Faith Communities More Welcoming of LGBT People

Leading organizations today released a curriculum designed
to help faith communities support and embrace lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) people and their families. The National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources, COLAGE and
Family Equality Council announced that this multimedia curriculum will
go a long way in providing the necessary tools to make faith
communities affirming of LGBT people and their families.

"While many churches have done very well welcoming individual
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members into their midst, many
have not done so well with LGBT families," says the Rev. Rebecca
Voelkel, Institute for Welcoming Resources and faith work director of
the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "But LGBT families deserve the
same love and honor as all of God's beloved families. This curriculum
helps congregations extend God's extravagant welcome to all of God's
families - especially LGBT families."

All in God's Family includes concrete tools to educate faith
leaders, including a step-by-step guide to supporting LGBT families of
faith and tools for facilitating group learning, community dialogue,
Bible study and community action planning to highlight LGBT families in
our communities. Additionally, the curriculum includes Families Like Mine, a book about adults with LGBT parents written by Abigail Garner, whose father is gay; the youth-produced documentary In My Shoes: Stories of Youth with LGBT Parents; and a CD containing the phototext exhibit "That's So Gay: Portraits of Youth with LGBT Parents."

"I know many LGBT parents who struggle with faith," says Jennifer
Chrisler, executive director of Family Equality Council. "It can be
difficult to find a congregation that feels welcoming and supportive.
Though they want raise their children in a community that shares their
values and beliefs, LGBT parents also want their children to be
embraced. That's why we partnered to put together All in God's Family: Creating Allies for our LGBT Families.
We know there are thousands of congregations out there that want to
embrace our families. We want to give them the tools to do so more
fully."

"For youth and adults with LGBTQ parents, finding a faith community
where your family is respected and reflected can be a challenge," says
Meredith Fenton, COLAGE program director. "COLAGE is pleased to be a
partner on All in God's Family: Creating Allies for our LGBT Families
and invites your faith community to use these tools to move beyond
acceptance to full inclusion and celebration of LGBTQ families."

All in God's Family: Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families
can be acquired for a suggested donation of $50.00. As a special
promotion, the first 50 congregations to request the curriculum will
receive it for free. All in God's Family: Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families can be acquired at www.WelcomingResources.org.