Showing posts with label Lesbians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lesbians. Show all posts
Saturday, June 06, 2026
Tuesday, June 02, 2026
Same Sex and the Seminary: Building a Joyful Life Together that God Sees
Alexander Carpenter
How did you first meet, and what drew you to each other in the beginning?
Kendra and Roxan
Well, surprisingly, and ironically we met at seminary.
But our love story wasn’t a clean simple journey that people often imagine when they think of two people falling in love. Maybe it’s just us, but I suspect a lot of queer couples, especially those raised in more conservative religious spaces, understand that reality. Seminary was the last place anyone would expect queer love to happen.
Our lives hold a lot of beauty now, but that’s not necessarily how it started.
I sometimes wish our journey began the way love stories are “supposed” to start, the ways we see in movies or portrayed in social media. You like each other, you go on dates, your friends are excited for you, your families are supportive, everyone celebrates it. But when you are living inside a tight-knit religious community, people often feel deeply invested in your life choices, especially if they feel you are “walking in sin,” and partaking in actions that will lead to your eternal destruction. Believing our budding relationship was something we needed to “repent” of, doesn’t exactly create the cinematic portrayal of romance.
For me, the beginning of our romantic relationship meant the collapse of my relationship with Adventism.
When we met, we were both in seminary trying to understand ourselves, God, and what we were meant to do with our lives. Seminary was a spiritual journey for me, completely existential. For women to go to an Adventist seminary at all, means something else is driving her than the hope to one day be an ordained pastor. We enter school knowing that ordination is not possible for us, but we go anyway hoping that some church will recognize our intelligence and ability to lead, and invite us alongside them in “the work.”
We met in a class where a professor described having excommunicated a woman from his church some years ago because 10 years after she divorced her physically abusive husband, she wanted to remarry. She had been single for 10 years, but this professor believed scripture meant she no longer had the right to marry again. I remember another student, a young man, actually, getting so upset that he walked out of class entirely.
And I remember thinking: Something is very wrong here. Where is the common sense? The compassion, the humanity, the shame. I looked around seeing so many heads nodding in agreement or in silent acquiescence. Roxan did not nod along or fear confrontation. Much like me she had a righteous stubbornness.
It was sad to see the scarcity of those willing to openly challenge what felt so obviously oppressive. For some it was ignorance. For others, cowardice. For Roxan, it was neither.
That was our first real connection.
We would spend hours at the coffee shop after class debriefing on the absurdity and hurtfulness of the myriad of beliefs that continued to deny the validity of our experience and value as women. We admitted to each other and ourselves, all the ways we could no longer force ourselves to carry a yoke of beliefs that were crushing us.
The beginning of our love story felt biblical. Like the Exodus. “You have broken the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders,” (Isaiah 9:4, author paraphrased).
How did you first meet, and what drew you to each other in the beginning?
Kendra and Roxan
Well, surprisingly, and ironically we met at seminary.
But our love story wasn’t a clean simple journey that people often imagine when they think of two people falling in love. Maybe it’s just us, but I suspect a lot of queer couples, especially those raised in more conservative religious spaces, understand that reality. Seminary was the last place anyone would expect queer love to happen.
Our lives hold a lot of beauty now, but that’s not necessarily how it started.
I sometimes wish our journey began the way love stories are “supposed” to start, the ways we see in movies or portrayed in social media. You like each other, you go on dates, your friends are excited for you, your families are supportive, everyone celebrates it. But when you are living inside a tight-knit religious community, people often feel deeply invested in your life choices, especially if they feel you are “walking in sin,” and partaking in actions that will lead to your eternal destruction. Believing our budding relationship was something we needed to “repent” of, doesn’t exactly create the cinematic portrayal of romance.
For me, the beginning of our romantic relationship meant the collapse of my relationship with Adventism.
When we met, we were both in seminary trying to understand ourselves, God, and what we were meant to do with our lives. Seminary was a spiritual journey for me, completely existential. For women to go to an Adventist seminary at all, means something else is driving her than the hope to one day be an ordained pastor. We enter school knowing that ordination is not possible for us, but we go anyway hoping that some church will recognize our intelligence and ability to lead, and invite us alongside them in “the work.”
We met in a class where a professor described having excommunicated a woman from his church some years ago because 10 years after she divorced her physically abusive husband, she wanted to remarry. She had been single for 10 years, but this professor believed scripture meant she no longer had the right to marry again. I remember another student, a young man, actually, getting so upset that he walked out of class entirely.
And I remember thinking: Something is very wrong here. Where is the common sense? The compassion, the humanity, the shame. I looked around seeing so many heads nodding in agreement or in silent acquiescence. Roxan did not nod along or fear confrontation. Much like me she had a righteous stubbornness.
It was sad to see the scarcity of those willing to openly challenge what felt so obviously oppressive. For some it was ignorance. For others, cowardice. For Roxan, it was neither.
That was our first real connection.
We would spend hours at the coffee shop after class debriefing on the absurdity and hurtfulness of the myriad of beliefs that continued to deny the validity of our experience and value as women. We admitted to each other and ourselves, all the ways we could no longer force ourselves to carry a yoke of beliefs that were crushing us.
The beginning of our love story felt biblical. Like the Exodus. “You have broken the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders,” (Isaiah 9:4, author paraphrased).
Monday, January 20, 2025
L.A.’s lesbian fire chief under fire by bigots and blazes
Trump, Musk and other conservatives have placed the blame on out Fire Chief Crowley and her DEI measures
Jan 14, 2025 Updated Jan 15, 2025
Photo of LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley (Courtesy of LAFD's Flickr)
Though climate change and electrical systems are the biggest culprits behind the fires in the Greater Los Angeles area, the alt-right is pointing the finger of blame to LGBTQ+ people – particularly toward lesbian Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and her DEI measures.
While L.A braces itself for ‘critical to extremely critical,’ weather conditions that will pick up again on Monday evening, the LGBTQ+ communities of L.A brace themselves for how they will continue to be used as political pawns at the peak of disaster.
Alt-right accusations
Podcaster Megyn Kelly accused Chief Crowley of "focusing on diversity instead of planning for disaster," on The Megyn Kelly Show. The former Fox journalist was referencing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion measures that Chief Crowley advocated for in a strategic plan for 2023 to 2026.
Kelly slammed Chief Crowley saying "...who gives a sh-t if the fire chief is gay, I’m sorry but who gives a flying fig about who she sleeps with."
Elon Musk and Bill Ackman both took to social media to attack the DEI initiatives – with little to no evidence. Musk boldly stated on X that “DEI means people DIE,” but never posted anything that backed up that correlation.
In 2022, Crowley took the position as LAFD Chief and during that same year, established a DEI bureau. Musk and Ackman shared the video of Kelly alleging that Crowley is at fault for the fires and have not acknowledged the evidence from multiple reports that point the finger of blame toward the city’s Department of Water and Power.
Though climate change and electrical systems are the biggest culprits behind the fires in the Greater Los Angeles area, the alt-right is pointing the finger of blame to LGBTQ+ people – particularly toward lesbian Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and her DEI measures.
While L.A braces itself for ‘critical to extremely critical,’ weather conditions that will pick up again on Monday evening, the LGBTQ+ communities of L.A brace themselves for how they will continue to be used as political pawns at the peak of disaster.
Alt-right accusations
Podcaster Megyn Kelly accused Chief Crowley of "focusing on diversity instead of planning for disaster," on The Megyn Kelly Show. The former Fox journalist was referencing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion measures that Chief Crowley advocated for in a strategic plan for 2023 to 2026.
Kelly slammed Chief Crowley saying "...who gives a sh-t if the fire chief is gay, I’m sorry but who gives a flying fig about who she sleeps with."
Elon Musk and Bill Ackman both took to social media to attack the DEI initiatives – with little to no evidence. Musk boldly stated on X that “DEI means people DIE,” but never posted anything that backed up that correlation.
In 2022, Crowley took the position as LAFD Chief and during that same year, established a DEI bureau. Musk and Ackman shared the video of Kelly alleging that Crowley is at fault for the fires and have not acknowledged the evidence from multiple reports that point the finger of blame toward the city’s Department of Water and Power.
At a news conference, the department said that “three million gallons of water were available when the Palisades fire started,” but the demand was four times greater than they had ever seen in their system.
Janisse Quiñones, chief executive and chief engineer of the LADPW, stated that they pushed their system "to the extreme," for 15 hours straight, which in turn significantly lowered the water pressure.
The rapidly-growing list of critics speaking against Chief Crowley are not only leaving themselves open to defamation lawsuits, but also spreading misinformation that turns the attention from the real culprits like climate change and infrastructure failures by the Department of Water and Power.
Janisse Quiñones, chief executive and chief engineer of the LADPW, stated that they pushed their system "to the extreme," for 15 hours straight, which in turn significantly lowered the water pressure.
The rapidly-growing list of critics speaking against Chief Crowley are not only leaving themselves open to defamation lawsuits, but also spreading misinformation that turns the attention from the real culprits like climate change and infrastructure failures by the Department of Water and Power.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Friday, November 23, 2018
Macy's Thanksgiving parade praised after including first same-sex kiss
By John Bowden - 11/23/18 12:42 PM EST
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was praised on social media Thursday after two women were broadcast kissing in what is believed to be the first same-sex kiss shown on-air during the annual event.
Actresses Isabelle McCalla and Caitlin Kinnunen, who star in the Broadway musical "The Prom," shared the kiss at the end of a televised performance of one of the show's musical numbers.
The moment was praised by LGBTQ activists and other supporters of gay rights on Twitter, who called it an important moment of representation for gay youths.
"Two girls. Just kissed. On live TV. On the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I suddenly cried," "Spongebob Squarepants" writer Tina Landau said on Twitter.
"What a lesson you just taught the country on the @Macys thanksgiving parade!" added fellow Broadway actress Caissie Levy.
The two actresses do not have public Twitter accounts, but one of their co-stars, Josh Lamon, tweeted that he was "proud" of the two for the on-air kiss and added the next day that he had been targeted by anti-gay abuse in the hours following the parade.
"The first #LGBTQ kiss in the Parade’s history. We here at @ThePromMusical have never been so proud," Lamon tweeted.
Source
Saturday, November 11, 2017
An Update on The Lesbian Couple Baptized Into the Chico SDA Church
November 10, 2017
Gerry Wagoner
On February 2 of this year, Fulcrum7 broke a news story about a lesbian couple that was baptized into the Chico Seventh-day Adventist Church in northern California.
Alice Machado was baptized by Ginger Harwood, a former associate professor at the La Sierra University theology department.
Some of you may recall that on February 2, 2013, Ginger Harwood and Kendra Valentine (formally Haloviak) were both ordained as Seventh-day Adventist ministers, even though the action was out of harmony with the expressed will of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ginger Harwood is a long-time supporter of LGBT+ activism. Fast forward three years and Ginger Harwood is knowingly baptizing a “married’ lesbian into the Chico Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Due to wide exposure of the story on Fulcrum7, the NAD was obliged to issue a statement on the situation at Chico. Near the end of the statement are these words:
The North American Division has full confidence in the leadership of the Northern California Conference (NCC) in addressing this issue.
Update:
After the baptism of Amber and Alice Machado, Jim Pedersen, Ricardo Graham and Dan Jackson were each contacted repeatedly about the situation, and asked to recommend appropriate disciplinary measures for Dan Wysong of the Chico Church. They apparently did nothing about it, until the story broke.
On October 10 2017, the president of the Northern California Conference sent this letter out to pastors in the NCC:
On February 2 of this year, Fulcrum7 broke a news story about a lesbian couple that was baptized into the Chico Seventh-day Adventist Church in northern California.
Alice Machado was baptized by Ginger Harwood, a former associate professor at the La Sierra University theology department.
Some of you may recall that on February 2, 2013, Ginger Harwood and Kendra Valentine (formally Haloviak) were both ordained as Seventh-day Adventist ministers, even though the action was out of harmony with the expressed will of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ginger Harwood is a long-time supporter of LGBT+ activism. Fast forward three years and Ginger Harwood is knowingly baptizing a “married’ lesbian into the Chico Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Due to wide exposure of the story on Fulcrum7, the NAD was obliged to issue a statement on the situation at Chico. Near the end of the statement are these words:
The North American Division has full confidence in the leadership of the Northern California Conference (NCC) in addressing this issue.
Update:
After the baptism of Amber and Alice Machado, Jim Pedersen, Ricardo Graham and Dan Jackson were each contacted repeatedly about the situation, and asked to recommend appropriate disciplinary measures for Dan Wysong of the Chico Church. They apparently did nothing about it, until the story broke.
On October 10 2017, the president of the Northern California Conference sent this letter out to pastors in the NCC:
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Mormon church accepts homosexuality
— some say it's not enough
Updated: Thursday, October 27, 2016, 1:09 AM
Mormons can be homosexual, acknowledge the existence of transsexuals and still stay true to their religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) announced Tuesday — but gay parishioners immediately pounced on the new stance, slamming the church for not doing enough.
In a video posted on a brand-new website called "Mormon and Gay," LDS leader L. Whitney Clayton says, "I now speak directly to church members who experience same-sex attraction or identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. We want you to know we love you. You are welcome. We want you to be part of our congregation."
The website features testimonials from gay Mormons and church leaders who plead for acceptance and LGBTQ recognition. The effort appears a stark reversal from the church's passing of unambiguously anti-gay policies last year, which included not allowing children of gay parents to be baptized.
But despite apparent acceptance, the church has not amended its stance on marriage, which it maintains is a sacred bond between a male and a female.
Rally held to protest Mormon Church's new anti-gay rules
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Elder L. Whitney Clayton said people who identify as gay are now welcome. (MORMONANDGAY.LDS.ORG)
That is not sitting right with some LGBTQ Mormons, who are urging their elders to consider also changing the church's stance on marriage in order to completely complement its newfound message of acceptance.
Ann Pack, a transgender woman active in the church, called the new stance "a step forward, albeit a very small step forward" in an interview with The Guardian.
While it might superficially be preaching acceptance, Pack argued that the church still implies that homosexuals and transsexuals should remain in the shadows, or keep their sexualities to themselves.
Mormons can now identify as gay — but some parishioners claim that's not enough. (GEORGE FREY/GETTY IMAGES)
"They should be included and welcomed, not just the people who choose to be celibate," she said.
Pro-LGBT Mormons devasted by new church rules
Jena Peterson, 39, identifies as gay but has been married to a straight man for 12 years in what she defines as a "mixed orientation marriage."
Peterson was initially going to be featured in one of the videos on the "Mormon and Gay" website but backed out after it became clear to her that the church is still holding on to the same stance on marriage.
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"They should be included and welcomed, not just the people who choose to be celibate," she said.
Pro-LGBT Mormons devasted by new church rules
Jena Peterson, 39, identifies as gay but has been married to a straight man for 12 years in what she defines as a "mixed orientation marriage."
Peterson was initially going to be featured in one of the videos on the "Mormon and Gay" website but backed out after it became clear to her that the church is still holding on to the same stance on marriage.
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The effort appears a stark reversal from the church's passing of unambiguously anti-gay policies last year, which included not allowing children of gay parents to be baptized. (RICK BOWMER/AP)
"My concern is that the website gives off the perception that mixed-orientation marriages are doable for anybody when in reality they are not," Peterson said.
LDS officials did not immediately return a request for comment.
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