Based in New York City, the non-profit LGBTQ Christian organization, Parity, has released a series of “Queer + Christian” videos during Pride month designed to help queer youth reconcile their sexuality and gender identities with their faith.
Traditional cultural and religious perspectives on queer sexualities and genders often produce internal discord for young people and conflict in their families and communities. All too often, even in LGBTQ-affirming churches, leaders lack the understanding and experience needed to effectively support queer youth as they cope with these cultural crosswinds. With LGBTQ youth facing high rates of drug and alcohol abuse and suicide, the videos seek to address the challenging issues that young adults face when they are Christian and LGBTQ-identified.
The “Queer + Christian” series can be viewed and shared freely on YouTube and on Parity’s website (http://parity.nyc/queer-christian). Topics include defining the contradictions and opportunities when you are queer and Christian, exploring reasons why LGBTQ stay in the Christian church, answering difficult questions about LGBTQ representations in the Bible, and how to care for yourself as a young, queer Christian. Hosted by Executive Director, the Rev. John Russell Stanger and Youth Program Coordinator, Candace Simpson, the videos offer informative and hopeful messages about expressing one’s full self within communities of faith.
Rev. Stanger said, “’Queer + Christian’ offers young LGBTQ adults an accessible foundation from which to explore issues of identity and faith. And it offers parents and youth ministry workers theologically sound tools to help them address the pastoral concerns of queer youth.”
The videos were funded by The Small Change Foundation and The Palette Fund.
Parity is a faith-based organization that creates open and nurturing spaces where LGBTQ people can reconcile their identities and faith. Parity builds bridges across denominational lines by partnering with a broad diversity of Christian communities. They create connections between the sacred and the secular by partnering with faith-based and non-religious community-based organizations.