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The relationship between religion and LGBTQ+ individuals can be fraught with challenges due to differing beliefs, interpretations of religious texts and societal attitudes. LGBTQ+ people often struggle to reconcile their identity with their faith. Faith communities in Lynn have both shunned and supported the LGBTQ+ community. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church held Tuesday night dinners to support HIV positive people in the 1990s, advocated for marriage equality in 2003 and sponsored an LGBTQ+ youth group in 2015. First Lutheran Church held an Ecumenical AIDS Service in 1995 and marched in Boston’s Pride parade.
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Upbringing: New York, New Jersey and a Secular Jewish Life
Religion was imortant to my family.
Saint Stephen's was a huge part of my life.
We were not religious but went to church.
I grew up in the Episcopal Church.
My mother was disillusioned with the Episcopal Church.
Gays were ousted and shunned.
Illness means you have sin in your life.
My mother was having this affair with a priest.
I was a super, super spiritual kid.
Being queer was not reconcilable with being a Christian.
I knew then that God didn't hate me.
Dad's priest said they aren't doing anything wrong.
47 Central, best church I'd ever been to.
Kids thrown out by religious families.
Be explicit about being in solidarity with LGBTQ folk.
Mama D transitioned into Pastor Donna.
There was all these things she couldn't do.
My Phoenix Rising church didn't survive COVID.
First suicide attempt
A Strict, Christian, Chaotic Upbringing
Parents had bad experiences with the Catholic church.
I was indoctrinated into being an altar boy.
My religious walk started on my niece's death.
My parents were like born again Christians.
We grew up Catholic.
It's not like religious here in America
Religion was not a big part of growing up.
My whole family is deeply religious.
We thought we were condemned to be alone.
I considered an ex-gay ministry.
That struggle was also playing out in my own mind and heart.
I was so in love with the nuns.
God means everything to me.
My shame and guilt were strong.
God's will is for the well being of all people and of all beings.
My other mama is picking me up.
We belong to God and each other.
If you're gay, you're going to hell.
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© 2024 United Lynn Pride Inc.
United Lynn Pride Inc. is a 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Non-Profit Organization
EIN: 88-4123340
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