Christian Denominations and Gays

These links were originally from glbtq.com – once an excellent encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture but now archived. Used with Permission.

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While denominations such as the Metropolitan Community Church and the Unitarian Universalists welcome full participation by glbtq members and clergy, others are divided over glbtq issues, and some are ardent supporters of the most homophobic elements of the New Right.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/metro_comm_church.html
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/unitarians.html
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/new_right.html

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Churches of the Anglican Communion include the Episcopal Churchand the Church of England. The recent consecration of 
(b. 1947), an openly gay man, as a bishop in the United States brought tensions within the worldwide communion into sharp focus.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/anglicanism.html
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/robinson_vg.html

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The socially and politically conservative Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) has long been antagonistic to the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people.

http://glbtq.com/social-sciences/church_of_jesus_christ_of_latter_day_saints.htm

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The core of Evangelical Christianity is its emphasis on convincing non-Christians to join the Christian faith. Evangelicalism is closely related to fundamentalism and tends to be both socially conservative and hostile to glbtq people and sensibilities.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/evangelical_christians.html

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Spurred by the gay liberation movement of the late 1960s, a number of religious groups–including specifically Gay and Lesbian Churches and Synagogues–have been formed to address the needs of gay and lesbian believers.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/gay_lesbian_churches.html

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The Metropolitan Community Church was founded by Rev. Troy D. Perry in 1968 to minister to the glbtq community. Today, the denomination has more than 40,000 members in 300 churches in 18 countries.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/metro_comm_church.html
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/perry_t.html

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The Christian group known as the Quakers is officially known as The Society of Friends. The Society of Friends, especially its conservative branch, has been a leader among Christian religious denominations in accepting homosexuality and gay and lesbian identity.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/quakers.html

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The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the Western world. It may be the institution most responsible for the suffering of individuals involved in same-sex sexual relationships.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/roman_catholicism.html

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The Salvation Army is an Evangelical Christian sect founded in the nineteenth century, which has recently become an arm of right-wing conservatism. During the late 1990s, the sect campaigned in favor of sodomy laws and against glbtq rights.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/salvation_army.html

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The United Church of Canada has been instrumental in the increased acceptance of glbtq rights, including same-sex marriage, in Canada.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/united_church_canada.html

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The United Church of Christ has attempted to make its churches a “place of extravagant welcome” for glbtq people.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/united_church_christ.html

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The Unitarian Universalist church in the United States has been outspoken in support of human rights–including, since 1970, those of the glbtq community. Though many of its members do not describe themselves as Christian, the church has Protestant historical roots.

http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/unitarians.html

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Many thanks to glbtq.com for compiling this list! Used with Permission.