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**"Hope in God"**

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I am a Gay Black CHRISTIAN woman
I joined the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1984 because I needed (and still need) to Worship God without feeling like a 2nd-class citizen, either because of my gender, race, or sexual orientation.

Despite what many "well meaning" people say, I believe that who I am is no accident. My sexuality, like my gender and my race, is a deliberate creative reflection of God, not an accident, not a sin, not a sickness.

Why have I created this Web Site?

Normally, I'm a pretty easy going person, but there is one thing that drives me crazy, and that's the lie that God hates gays and lesbians (homosexuals)!

It drives me crazy because :

1) I hate lies,

2) such lies give homophobes justification for "bashing" , even murdering LesBiGay people, and

3) worst of all thousands of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual people (as well as their family and friends) believe that God hates them!

This site exists to say:
Nothing is further from the truth!

To quote the Rev. Troy. D. Perry, Founder and Moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, "God did not create Gays and Lesbians so He could have something to hate!"

The truth is, Sexuality, whether Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or heterosexual is a gift from God, every bit as much as God's love and God's grace are gifts! There is only one Creator who created all of humanity, and that Creator calls his creation good!

God does not just "tolerate" us. God does not expect us or even want us to live in fear of expressing our love. This is not wishful thinking on my part.

Clergy, theologians, scholars and ordinary lay people around the world have studied the Bibical texts most often used to condemn Gay and Lesbian people . And what they have discovered is this: Those texts (Bible verses) have been taken out of context, "mistakenly" translated, or deliberately twisted to say something the original writers never intended! (This should not be too surprising, since the Bible has in the past, and still in some places, quoted to "justify" racism, sexism, anti-semitism, neglect of the poor, and so on. )

What is really amazing, truly "good news" is that many scholars, theologians, clergy, and laity have found a number of Bibical texts that they believe speak positvely of, and about LesBiGay people.

But the bottom line for Christians, i.e., followers of Jesus the Christ, should come from Jesus Himself, who said:

" I give you a new Commandment, that you love one another, Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciple.
John 13: 34-35"

Maybe it's just me, but I can't see how it's possble to be racist, sexist, homophobic, or a bigot of any sort and keep this commandment!!
Like St. Paul, as a a Gay Black woman, I "know in whom I have believed". I know God loves me, and God loves you. To those who would say otherwise, all I can do is say, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!"
If you'd like to know more about what Scripture does and does not say about LesBiGay people follow the links below:

	A "Table of Contents" A List of the 90 plus pages on this Web Site
	Good News: A look at pro-LesbiGay Texts
	The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches has 300 congregations in 16 countries!

News and my Views

I'M RESOLVED

by the Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry, Founder and Moderator of the Predominantly LGBT Metropolitan Community Churches

For 2005, I'm resolved to carry on the work for social justice and legal equality for my LGBT brothers and sisters --?nd resolved not to be discouraged by the temporary setbacks we experienced in 2004. The journey toward LGBT equality has always been one?f many steps forward -- and occasional steps backward. But the journey continues to move forward! For example, I am once again calling on LGBT people to go to courthouses and marriage bureaus on Valentines Day, February 14,?o apply for marriage licenses. There is something empowering about standing up to our government and?sking for equality -- and it's also a powerful?pportunity to carry our message to the larger society through the press and media. I'll be at my local courthouse on February 14 -- and I'm encouraging LGBT people?n cities and towns all?cross the US to join me in these important public actions.

MCC's Rev. Troy Perry Responds To Bush Amendment
A Public Statement
From Metropolitan Community Churches

___________________________________
info@MCCchurch.org . www.MCCchurch.org
___________________________________
February 24, 2004

Statement By Rev. Troy D. Perry

Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
Today, the President of the United States endorsed a constitutional amendment barring the legal recognition of same-sex marriages -- a shameful stand that violates the president's pledge to be a "uniter, not a divider." History will record that President Bush has played to the worst of politics -- pitting one group of Americans against another. A constitutional amendment as proposed by President Bush would mark the first time in U.S. history an amendment has been used to deny legal rights to a minority group within this country.
The President has taken exactly the wrong stand. The promise of this nation is "liberty and justice for all." By his actions today, the President has squandered an opportunity to expand the rights of America's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens in a regrettable effort to pander for re-election votes.
The reality is that same-sex marriage in no way threatens the marriages of our heterosexual friends and neighbors. Every year, Metropolitan Community Churches perform more than 6000 same-sex weddings which celebrate love, commitment and relationship. These are noble ideals which should be honored and celebrated -- not attacked and denigrated.
Our community must now face the very real threat of increased hostility because of the President has fanned the flames of divisiveness. That LGBT communities have long been targets of anti-gay hate crimes and violence, and the use of LGBT people as a wedge issue to gain votes will only feed hatred in this country.
The predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Churches know something about the effects of hate. As I reported to the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, 21 MCC churches have been the targets of firebombing and arson, and many more have been vandalized and desecrated in anti-gay hate crimes -- solely because of the sexual orientation of our members. The President's actions leave our people fearful, and subject to a new wave of anti-gay discrimination. Hatred, bigotry, and discrimination must not be enshrined in our nation's Constitution. Today I call upon all people of goodwill to reject the politics of divisiveness and to unequivocally oppose this proposed constitutional amendment.
/signed/
Rev. Troy D. Perry
Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
Founded in 1968, Metropolitan Community Churches includes 43,000 members and adherents in 300 congregations in 22 countries. MCC churches provide positive, affirming Christian ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender persons, along with their friends and families. Rev. Troy Perry is the first openly gay member to serve on the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission and a past delegate to the White House Conference on Hate Crimes.
For Additional Information, Contact: Jim Birkitt MCC Communications Department 8704 Santa Monica Boulevard, Second Floor West Hollywood, CA 90069 Tel. (310) 360-8640, Ext. 226 E-Mail: info@MCCchurch.org Website: www.MCCchurch.org

Check out my "Inspirational" site: http://Rainbow-Christian.tk

A MEMORIAL

Past "News and Views"

Pages of Special Interest
	Applying the Golden Rule Practical ways to "Do unto Others"!
	Christans Racialy Equal and Together for Encouragement A Ministry of the Great Lakes District of UFMCC
	Sin and the Sodomites: An examination of homophobia, fact, and faith
	Law of Moses or Commands of Jesus?
	Responses to Anti-Semitism and Hate
	A Gay/Lesbian Christian Bibliography

SUPPORT DISNEY AGAINST THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST BOYCoTT

White Ribbon Campaign
Raising Awareness about Gay-Teen Suicide
And remembering those who we've lost

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If, however, you wish to tell me how that God "hates the sin and loves the sinner", or repeat the lie that God "hates homosexuals", or tell me how "such and such portion of Scripture says..." please go elsewhere! Build your own webpage to do that, perhaps.