(RNS) — Religion News Service is proud to introduce its newest blogger, Eliel Cruz, who will write on the intersection of sexuality and religion on Faithfully LGBT, a new blog launching today.

On Faithfully LGBT, readers will be introduced to the stories of bisexual and transgendered people of faith, as well as perspectives from LGBT people of color. The blog will also cover practical approaches for how faith communities can minister to the LGBT people in their congregations.

“I want LGBT people to be able to celebrate their faith in all religious spaces,” said Cruz. “I’m a bisexual man born and raised in the Church. My sexuality has shaped my faith in how I read Scripture and in my ability to connect with those typically marginalized by the Church.”

RNS Publisher Heidi Thompson said Faithfully LGBT is part of a new RNS initiative funded by the Arcus Foundation to cover the religious experiences of LGBT people of color.

“We’re thrilled to have Eliel join the RNS blogger line-up. His writing is provocative and exciting. Whether its confronting racism, challenging anti-religious discrimination within the LGBT community, or taking on degrading images of women in pop culture, he just doesn’t let anyone off the hook,” she said.

Cruz, a freelance journalist and student at Andrews University, is the co-founder and former president of Intercollegiate Adventist Gay-Straight Alliance Coalition, an organization created to support LGBT students at Seventh-day Adventist colleges. His writing on religion and sexuality has appeared on Mic, Huffington Post, and The Advocate.